Day 7 - Low Light Still Life

Without much time on my lunch hour for photography, I was forced to improvise this shot. I took it in a local restaurant while I waited for a friend to join me.

I'm actually quite pleased with it. I like the quality of the light, the various shades of red, the complementary shapes of the lamp and the salt and pepper shakers and the overall structure of the shot.

Low light pictures are always difficult but especially with a point-and-shoot camera. I know that I am able to use the onboard computer to adjust the shutter speed and open the aperture somewhat but I still haven't delved that deep into the instruction manual. As a result, I tried to overcome the low light conditions by placing the camera on the table-top, using the lens cap to raise its angle, then very carefully hitting the shutter release button, trusting the camera's computer to compensate for the lack of light by opening the aperture as wide as possible and slowing the shutter down.

At that point, the biggest worry is the shake of my hand causing a blur in the picture. For once, that ridiculous digital-camera delay between me pressing the shutter release and the camera actually taking the picture worked for me: the delayed reaction meant my shaking finger was well away from the camera and it had become still again before the aperture clicked slowly open and closed.