Forget the Flash -- Raise the ISO

Taking pictures indoors usually means the camera fires the flash. This creates dark backgrounds, unsightly shadows and frequently red-eye. You can avoid many of these unwanted characteristics by turning off the flash and using the light available in the room.

Room light, ISO 800, no flash

Modern digital cameras have an amazing ability to "see in the dark" without the flash. You can apply this by increasing the camera's sensitivity to light with a higher ISO setting. Start with ISO 800 for indoor shots during the daytime and raise the ISO to 1600 or 3200 for night-time pictures. Depending on your camera, you might see some noise (digital "grain") at the higher ISOs, but this won't be noticeable in small images posted online or printed 4x6 inches.

Learn more about taking photos without flash in dim conditions in Getting to Know Your Digital SLR Camera on November 17, 2018, in Missoula, Montana. Click here to register.