Finding Light, Five Tips For Cheap Photography Gear

I have a Canon T3. It is the bottom-of-the-line for Canon DSLRs. However, it is plenty capable. Shelly's son, Tyler, also has a T3. And, Tyler has a zoom lens, the ultra-affordable EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 II. It doesn't have Image Stabilization(IS) or the fast motor, and it won't shoot in any low-light situation very well.

But, for a lens that retails for less than $200, you can't go wrong. Just go find light.

Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm

Tip #1

The saying is, "Get out early and stay late." Not this time of year. These days, mid afternoon might have the best light. Especially if you are shooting entry-level gear, which tends to be slower.

Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm

Tip #2

Fast shutters are the sharpeners in the field, not Photoshop. The cheap Canon T3 kit usually comes with two lenses, the EF 18-55 with IS, and the 75-300 without IS. I have always said that crisp photos mean the shutter is 2x the focal range. And the math gets bigger as the zoom range gets longer. This means that at 300mm, our shutter should be 1/1000 second as much as possible.

Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm

Tip #3

Contrasts between light and dark can wreak havoc on your photos. Find light that is soft and full.

Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm

Tip #4

Use windows and sunsets to illuminate subjects. Flash is also an underused commodity. Use even the on-board flash when needed. Learn how to mix flash with ambient light.

Canon 5D, EF 24-105mm f4 L, 430EX Speedlite

Tip #5

Shoot at deeper apertures. Using a kit lens like the EF 75-300, stopping down the lens to f9 will get you sharper and better photos. Don't be afraid to shoot ISO 1600 to do this.

Canon T3 & EF 75-300mm

All photos COPYRIGHT MOMENTS TO MEMORIES 2015