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Question: How can I take clear snapshots at night!?
The flash makes pictures look grainy!. Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Joseph ~ I don't know whether you are using a digital or film camera because the difference can be extreme!.
If you are using film, then certainly a tripod is a must [in fact for either type of camera]
With film, as has been said, the longer the exposure the more grainy the print ~ except that if you have a good local photographic shop that stocks "professional" film they may have colour film in the size for your camera which has a "S" or "L" printed on the pack ~ the "L" means that its produced for long exposure and will not have the same grainy problems that normal film will give!.
You say that you are using "flash" so I am assuming that you are taking shots of something quite close, and not, say, a street scene, so an up date of your flash unit could well help!.
If you are using digital, then you need to look very carefully at what the camera can take as far as alternative flash is concerned, to the one built into it already
Try this ~ at night ~ take your camera, and shoot a number of pictures, making a note of each one, speed, aperture etc, and when you look at the results, you will be able to see exactly which settings worked and which didn't ~ but get a tripod for night work, unless, as you put it, you are just taking "snapshots" of friends etc, and not pictures of streets, building, and that sort of thing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Use a tripod, faster film and a slower shutter speed!.
Night scenes require a firm hold and fast film!. The faster the film the more grainy the negative which translates onto the photo!.
A stronger flash will allow more light onto the film and would reduce the graininess!.
Replace the current flash you have with a superior flash, that should help alleviate your problem!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Clear in an interesting term!. To be "clear" one would have to have exposures that are in focus, with no camera or subject movement!.

An image can be "clear" even with a lot of grain (high ISO film) or noise (older DSLR's and most P&S cameras with ISO setting over 1600)!.

When a photo you took with a flash is digitally noisy, you will have to take your ISO setting off "auto" and try shooting again at 200 ISO Www@QuestionHome@Com