Urban and Rural Decay Photography

Six Shooting in Low Light

FIGURE 6.1 Forest Haven Children’s Development Center in Laurel, MD. Sonyα300 with Tamron 17–50 mm f/2.8 at 17 mm (25 mm equivalent) @ f/2.8 ISO 400. © Chris Folsom

Why shoot in low light? There’s no straightforward answer to this question, but sometimes it’s as simple as there’s no light in the location that you’ve chosen to shoot. Even in the middle of the day you may find yourself inside an abandoned structure with no windows at all, or if there are windows, the sunlight coming through them may be dim and filtered through years of dirt and grime, obscuring the light until it’s a dull wash.

Shooting at night often ...