Travel Photography | Bhaktapur at Night | Why You Don’t Need Flash Here?

© 2014 Wazari Wazir | Night Activity at Bhaktapur | Bhairabnath Temple |  Taumadhi Tole Square Bhaktapur | Nepal | 50 mm | ISO 2500

The photograph above were taken at Bhaktapur, just after the sunset. They were chanting and playing some kind of a traditional musical instrument. The light were so dim, it was very dark, the only source of light there coming from the candles.

Anyway my point here is that, sometimes, especially those who are new in photography tend to pop up their build in flash or quickly attach a flash to the camera hot shoe and take the shot. The result that you get when using a flash is undoubtedly well lit, the face will be much more recognisable, even though you don’t know any of them but one thing for sure, you will also kills the mood.

Some may say that they will add a warm up gel to their flash, so that the light coming from their flash will blend with the environment, yes, that’s true but the flashing light that came from your flash will undoubtedly distract them, maybe annoying them. Interrupted their performance. So what is the solution when facing this kind of scenario?

Very simple, just push up your DSLR ISO, here I’m using ISO 2500 to get the shot. With a shutter speeds of 1/30. I can also bump up the ISO some more but I just don’t want to add more grains to the scene. The photograph above is what really looks like in real life without any additional artificial light.