Bad light is the bane of wildlife, nature, and landscape photographers, especially if you want to get things right in the camera without struggling to fix a poorly exposed shot with Lightroom or Photoshop. Problematic light typically means bright, contrasty conditions or situations when things are really dark.

We addressed the first problem in an earlier tutorial and today you’ll learn how to cope with the latter. Instructor Simon d’Entremont is an accomplished Canadian pro, specializing in wildlife imagery, and he walks you through the steps he takes to capture great images when the light is far from ideal.

Simon describes the concern like this: “Light is our most precious resource because its quality and quantity dictate our equipment choices and camera settings while impacting our results.” Because we often require the precise amount of illumination, too much light can be a big challenge and too little is problematic as well.”

There’s an important warning all this; namely, not to become a “light snob” who only goes out to shoot when conditions are perfect. A better approach is to follow Simon’s advice, and learn how to make the most of whatever Mother Nature provides. And it only takes him 14 minute to explain how to do that.

Along the way you’ll see how Simon captured an amazing low-light photograph with a $400 camera. He also makes a surprising observation, especially coming from a top pro, that “great photos don’t have to be all about image quality.”

Simon’s tips not only pertain to shooting outdoors under dim, gloomy conditions. As you’ll see, his method also works wonders when shooting indoors, like at a dimly-lit music venue. Before jumping into specific techniques, Simon discusses several reasons why low light is problematic for image quality and leads to poor results—even for experienced professional photographers.

First of all, low light typically requires high ISO settings that can introduce ugly noise artifacts that that rob images of sharpness and contrast. Another common concern is that dim conditions can result in photos with unnatural, muted colors that don’t accurately portray what we saw through the viewfinder.

So what can you do to avoid all these concerns? Watch the video to find out. That way you won’t be tempted to stay home when the light isn’t right. Simon’s instructional YouTube Channel is a great source of information for anyone who shoots in the field, so make sure to pay a visit and see what he has to offer.

And don’t forget to watch the tutorial mentioned above, so you’ll also understand how to shoot stunning outdoor photos under excessively bright, contrasty conditions.

Are you in the habit of always letting the camera make decisions on your behalf? If so, sooner or later you’ll want to switch out of Auto and experiment with other exposure modes than provide far more control. Otherwise you’ll have difficulty expressing your creative of vision as your skills evolve.

Don’t worry: This isn’t one of those silly tutorials insisting that “you’re not a real photographer if you don’t shoot in Manual mode.” What you’ll learn instead is how and when you’re much better off shooting in either Aperture Priority, Program mode, or Shutter Priority. Of course, there’s also a discussion of Manual Mode too.

This instructional video comes from the Behind the Tripod YouTube channel— a  great source of information designed to help inexperienced shooters elevate their skills. A clear understanding of how to refine exposure is essential to your growth. So pull up a chair, hit the Play button on the video, and sit back and watch instructor Steve Mill explain how the various options on your camera’s Mode dial function.

Keep in mind that that there’s no magic exposure mode that’s ideal for every situation. Thus, part of the process is understanding which option is the optimum choice, depending upon the specific subject at hand. You might even find it helpful to have a camera handy while watching Mills’  10-minute explainer so you can cycle through the modes as they’re discussed.

Your assignment is to stop being a passenger, learn how to drive your camera, and start taking photos you’re proud of beginning today. Mills admits that the Auto mode is the easiest “and least scary” way to shoot photos while relying upon the latest camera technology to achieve a good shot. But “good” really is good enough if you want to create imagery that’s truly special.

When thinking about exposure there are three primary considerations, aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Depending upon the mode of your choice, the interplay between this trio of variables works in different ways to let the correct amount of light to hit the camera’s sensor. This simple equation is often depicted in a graphical form known as the “Exposure Triangle.”

With all this in mind, it’s now time to take a deep breath, launch the quick video, and elevate your skills. Once you’re done watching head over to Mills’ instructional YouTube channel for more straightforward lessons like this one.

And if you occasionally shoot with a phone, be sure to check out our recent post with an ultimate guide to the iPhone camera and important photocentric settings.