Learning low-light photography with candlelight at home

Testing low light photography with candlelight and experimenting with camera settings using my Canon EOS R7.

PHOTOGRAPHYPERSONAL REFLECTIONS

3/16/20263 min read

One of the things I have always wanted to become good at is photography. I have an Instagram account where I gradually post my photos. Still, this is a field where I feel I lack a lot of knowledge, even though I think the photos I take are already decent.

Now that I have more time, I feel it is important to invest in learning more about it. Recently, I decided to experiment with low-light photography. Gab was away on a trip with his friends, so the whole apartment was quiet and mine for the evening.

I sat in the dining room and lit the two candles I had. One of them was almost finished while the other one was stronger. I used my Canon EOS R7 and tried different settings to see how each setting result would be in low light. I worked in manual mode (M) and adjusted the ISO and shutter speed to observe how the results changed.

Below are the results of these small experiments. I added the camera settings on each photo so it is easier to track the main changes.

Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.
Low light candlelit living room with candles glowing on a wooden table and a sofa in the background.

Try 1:Af3.5, speed: 1/20s, ISO 1600

Try 2: f3.5, speed: 1/125s, ISO 1600

Try 3: f3.5, speed: 1/125s, ISO 3200

Try 4: f3.5, speed: 1/125s, ISO 16000

Try 5: f3.5, speed: 1s, ISO 6400

Try 6: f3.5, speed: 1s, ISO 20000

Try 7: f3.5, speed: 2s, ISO 6400

Try 8: f3.5, speed: 2s, ISO 20000

Try 9: f3.5, speed: 4s, ISO 3200

Try 10: f3.5, speed: 8s, ISO 20000

My favorite is try 8. Try 10 is also interesting, but it is a bit too bright and the candlelight looks overly strong which makes the scene feel less natural.

During these tests, I also realized that I need more candles. Why candles? Because I love the yellow-orange light they produce. It is very soothing and calming to the eyes 🙂

Since I didn’t want to spend too much money buying good-quality candles, I bought good wax and some candle molds and tried making them myself. It was my first attempt, so the candles are not perfect yet. I am learning how to avoid those mistakes next time 🙂but for now, they are doing the job.

Three homemade candles cooling in glass containers on a marble surface with wooden sticks holding th
Three homemade candles cooling in glass containers on a marble surface with wooden sticks holding th

Next, I will try a new series of photos using the settings I liked the most and more candles. I will post those photos in separate blog posts.

Have a nice Sunday night and talk soon 🙂

It costs me a lot cheaper to make it myself