I just want to make a suggestion for noobs.

When you are taking pictures, and you are about the hit the shutter, think about the light and ask yourself if it's what you want or if it needs to be improved.

I've read (several times recently) about how someone was "forced to" take the images in the crappy light or "couldn't change anything" about the situation before hitting the shutter and now wants to "fix it in post"

I'm going to suggest that you don't settle for what nature has for you...or for what your indoor environment hands you; change it..modify it...direct it...do something other than just take it.

Start to modify your thinking when it comes to lighting.


If you are in dappled lighting outdoors...do something about it...put up a sheet and diffuse the light, block the light...move, turn...do SOMETHING.

If you are inside and the overhead lights are those "in ceiling" lights that are directional; and your subject will have raccoon eyes...then either move them...have them change their head direction, use a reflector...WHATEVER you have to do but...

Don't settle.


Give this some thought the next time you start to pull the trigger....ask yourself "is the light like I really want it or am I settling?


There is a pretty good book on Amazon called "Shooting in Sh%*TTY light" by Lindsay Adler that is worth getting.

It outlines the 10 crappy lighting situations and how to modify them into something desirable.


Just a suggestion.

Leitz - no need to apologize, I wasn't the least bit offended. :-)

So lighthouse, are you really saying that with a 1.4 lens I can take a landscape photo and the entire scene will be sharp???? I thought 1.4 would give a very narrow (front to back) area that would be in focus. So you would be able to shoot a seascape and the beach would be in focus as well as a boat out on the water?

I will readily admit that I understand completely the speed and ability to shoot in the dark.....it's the dof that still has me scratching my head.

I hope that is more clear. And btw, I'm a she. :-D

Gee you guys make things complicated when it doesn't have to be.
Give the OP a break please.
It is a legitimate question.
Your smart arse answers are unbecoming and show gaps in your knowledge.

The answer - to let in more light, to make it easier for autofocus to work, to use a faster shutter speed, or lower ISO or both.
I am a landscape/seascape photographer.
I can use this lens hyperfocally at F/1.4 in low light letting in 4 times as much light and be in focus from 50 feet to infinity.
That means that I can shoot this in almost total darkness and be sharp from front to back.(depending on the shot of course)

I do a lot of my seascape work after the sun has gone down. I shoot in live view using back button focus, usually with my 17-40 F/4L.
When the live view screen goes black and is unusable, I have put my 50mm F/1.4 on and autofocused for another 20 minutes.