Extreme HIGH ISO photography tricks. Whatever you do, don't do THIS!

Summary

In this video, professional wildlife photographer Sim D shares tips for shooting in challenging low-light conditions during a photo safari in Kenya. He discusses strategies for capturing wildlife before sunrise and after sunset, utilizing techniques like shooting with wide apertures, high ISOs, and slow shutter speeds. Sim D also demonstrates how to enhance photos with processing techniques such as noise reduction, contrast adjustments, and sharpening. Viewers will learn how to handle difficult lighting situations and improve their photography skills in low light. Part two will cover dealing with overly bright conditions.

Takeaways

• 📸 The video discusses challenges faced when shooting in difficult lighting conditions such as low light and overexposure, with the focus on low-light photography.
• 🌅 In low-light scenarios, it's crucial to arrive early to make the most of the golden hour. Shooting pre-dawn action is recommended rather than waiting for more light.
• 🔦 Using a wide aperture (like f/2.8 or f/4) and high ISO settings are necessary to capture sharp wildlife images in very low-light situations.
• 💡 The 'spray and pray' method is useful in low-light photography, taking multiple shots at low shutter speeds to increase the chances of getting a sharp image.
• 🔍 Processing tips for low-light photos include raising whites and reducing shadows to increase contrast and liveliness, but caution is needed to avoid oversaturation.
• 🦁 A young male lion was shot at 1/15th of a second, ISO 3200 in pre-dawn light, demonstrating the use of low shutter speeds to capture wildlife in poor lighting.
• 🎨 Low-light artistic effects can be achieved by intentionally using slow shutter speeds to create motion blur, especially in dynamic scenes like flying flamingos.
• 📷 In some cases, fast shutter speeds are necessary to freeze action, such as capturing bee-eaters in flight during the last moments of sunset.
• 💡 The 'Expose to the Right' (ETTR) technique helps reduce noise by brightening the image during exposure, even in high-ISO settings like ISO 12,800.
• 👍 Despite the challenges of high ISO, using appropriate exposure and processing methods can lead to cleaner, sharper images in low-light photography.

Q & A

What are some common challenges when photographing wildlife in Kenya?

In Kenya, photographers face challenging lighting conditions such as very low light during pre-dawn and sunset, and harsh, bright light during midday. These conditions make it difficult to capture well-exposed images without proper techniques.

What is 'spray and pray' in wildlife photography, and why does the creator recommend it?

'Spray and pray' is a technique where the photographer takes many shots, hoping that a few will be sharp. The creator recommends it in low light when shutter speeds are slow, as it increases the chance of getting at least a few usable photos, even if most are blurry.

How can photographers compensate for low light in pre-dawn conditions?

To compensate for low light, photographers can use wide apertures, increase ISO, and shoot at slower shutter speeds. Using good stabilization techniques, like resting the camera on a bean bag, and shooting many frames increases the chance of getting sharp photos in low light.

What are some post-processing techniques to improve photos taken in low light?

In post-processing, photographers can add contrast by increasing whites and reducing shadows to make the image pop. Slight vibrance and vignette adjustments can also help. Noise reduction software like Topaz DeNoise is useful for reducing noise and sharpening details.

What is the 'expose to the right' (ETTR) technique, and why is it useful?

The 'expose to the right' technique involves exposing an image slightly brighter than the scene to push the histogram towards the right. This technique helps reduce noise, especially in high ISO shots, as it allows more light onto the sensor and prevents underexposure.

Why is it better to expose an image brighter at high ISO than to underexpose and raise the exposure later?

Exposing an image brighter at high ISO allows more light onto the sensor, which results in less noise. Underexposing and brightening the image in post-processing often makes noise more noticeable, leading to lower image quality.

What are some camera settings the creator recommends for low light wildlife photography?

The creator suggests using a wide aperture (like f/4 or f/2.8), increasing the ISO to 3200 or higher (depending on the camera's capability), and shooting at a slow shutter speed, such as 1/15th of a second, to maximize light capture in low-light conditions.

What is the technique for capturing artistic wildlife motion shots in low light?

To capture artistic motion shots in low light, the creator suggests using very slow shutter speeds (e.g., 1/15th of a second) and tracking the subject's movement. This creates a motion blur effect, which can be visually striking even if the entire subject isn't perfectly sharp.

What are the creator’s tips for photographing backlit birds in low light?

When photographing backlit birds, the creator suggests positioning the camera so the background is dark and the light is behind the birds. Using a fast shutter speed (e.g., 1/2500th of a second) and focusing on the perch helps capture the moment when the birds' wings are illuminated.

How does noise in high ISO images differ between modern full-frame cameras and older or smaller-sensor cameras?

Modern full-frame cameras handle high ISO better, allowing photographers to push ISO up to 6400 or even 12,800 with manageable noise. In contrast, older or smaller-sensor cameras may produce much noisier images at ISO 3200 or higher, making it important to keep ISO lower on such devices.