DIY Network

Many evening events begin at one of the best times of the shooting day, about an hour before sunset, when the light gives everything a golden hue. But as darkness falls, it becomes increasingly difficult to record high-quality pictures. The following tips can help turn the situation to your advantage:

1. Turn on outdoor lights. This won't completely solve the problem, but any additional lighting helps.

2. Carry a flashlight with you as you videotape if you don't have a camera light. This allows you to illuminate specific areas, like a person's face or a game board.

3. Avoid pointing the light directly at the subject. Instead, point it a few feet above her head, so the light hitting the subject will be diffused.

4. An inexpensive way to brighten the area is to use a shop light with a100-watt bulb clamped to a chair back, placed at the event perimeter.

5. Use two clothespins to clip a sheet of white posterboard to the rim of the shop light. This will act as a filter and soften the light by allowing it to reflect off the posterboard. The warm hues appear much more natural than a light pointed directly at the subject.

   Safety tip: Check the light and the posterboard often to ensure they don't become too hot.

6. Move in close to the subject rather than zooming in from a distance. When the camera is close to the subject, it opens up the lens, which allows in more light. When you zoom in, you are narrowing and compressing the picture, which in turn closes down the lens.

7. The infrared camera option will pick up more detail, but it will record in black and white. It will also make a person's eyes glow in the dark, so if your camera includes this option, it's best to stay with medium shots. For most settings, it's an option that won't be needed. For times when there is no light or flash light available, however, this option does allow you to see in settings that are pitch dark.

8. One key to good nighttime photography is to work with the environment around the shoot instead of trying to alter the setting dramatically. Pictures shot at night will always reveal less detail than pictures shot during the day, but this can work to your advantage, since shadows provide a natural sense of drama and mystery.