TIL I was making a huge mistake with my camera settings in low light malls

I was in the old, dark basement of the Fairview Galleria last weekend, trying to get a shot of the empty fountain. My photos kept coming out grainy and blurry no matter how still I held the camera. I figured that was just how it goes in those places. Then, another explorer saw me struggling and asked if I was shooting in 'Auto' mode. I said yeah, and he just laughed and said, 'Man, that's your whole problem. Your camera is cranking the ISO way too high trying to find light that isn't there.' He showed me his setup: a simple tripod, the ISO locked at 800, and a long shutter speed. The difference was night and day. I'd been relying on the camera to figure it out for years, and it was always wrong. Has anyone else found a specific camera setting that made a big difference for those super dark food courts or anchor stores?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas.tyler10d ago

Ever try manual mode with a slow shutter and low iso?

james_kim5d ago

My old D3100 in that abandoned Kmart changed my mind about auto mode for good.

gavinramirez10d ago

What shutter speed are you using for those long shots? Thomas is right, manual is the only way to go in a dead mall. Forget auto, it just guesses. You need to set the ISO low, like 800 or 1600 max, and let the shutter stay open for a few seconds. A tripod is non-negotiable, or just set the camera on the floor. Your photos will be clean, not that grainy mess auto gives you.