low light pictures

[jake]

 i need some help on setting my camera up for low light pictures, i realize this after last night i blew a picture of a huge buck, because it was just before dark, but i was able to set up on him while he was chasing i mean chasing a doe, and most the time i have my camera on manual so that i can set the shutter speed and aperture but when i took the first couple pics of him and looked at them on the review screen on the back of they camera they were too dark, so i flipped it to manual thinking that would help, but when i did that it made the shutter speed so slow because of the low light that it was just totally blurred, so after the the buck had continued on his merry way i messed around with the camera, and figured out that i needed a shutter speed on like 150 and a aperture of like 5 but when i did that if what ever i was taking a picture of was moving it would be just blurry as all hell, i guess i just need a few tips on low light pictures, if you have any advise i would love to hear it thanks a ton guys

 

[Antlershed]

The reason it is happening is because when you switched it over to use a longer shutter speed (more time to gather light), the camera and the object must remain completely still until the picture has taken or it will be blurry. Nearly impossible to do without a tripod.

[boneaddict]

You MUST be on a tripod, and your animal has to stay still.  There is no secret other than that.  Its very hard.  I had trouble with it all day yesterday.  Animals moving always in the morning and late eveing, then to top it off withthe snowing and dark skies.  It was suposed to be shooting light at about 0630.  It was much close to 7.  I rattled my antlers at 0645 and the first buck was staringat me at 0646, and the second one at 0650.  The first buck held, bujust not enough light to capture im and he was very close, but just not enough for my litle flash.  The second buck walked by within 20 feet, but never stopped moving.  You have to just ejnjoy the antlers as they walk by.  The biggest muie I saw was at 0430 pm and again, not enough lightfor pics.  Just had to sit and watch in the binos.  I didn't even bother with the tripos because he was on the trail and they never stop.

[popeshawnpaul]

It also sounds like the camera lens you are using doesn't have the capability and speed to shoot low light pictures and stop the action.  I don't know for sure without knowing what you are shooting with.  As a general rule, don't use manual mode.  Use aperture priority and set your f stop to the fastest speed you got.  Then if you missed the shot then you know it can't be shot.  Also, push your iso speed up to the highest your camera has.  It may be grainy but you at least may get the shot...

Shawn