Author Topic: Son's 1st Semi Formal dance ugh (Read 663 times)

camerafreak1970 · « **on:** February 09, 2012, 09:05:44 AM »

Hi guys, So my son (16) has his 1st dance this Saturday.

It's hard to say if we'll take pictures outside or inside ( live in MN, and this winter sucks big time, barely any snow). Will be between like 5:00 and 6:00 when we take pictures (Central USA time). Still seems to be good lighting then.

So if lots of light, no matter which way I shoot when outside, what would you recommend for settings for ISO, Fstop/Aperture?

How about if there is less light?

Inside settings?

I haven't had tie to read my book on exposure, booooo.

Also:

Av= You choose it when Aperture (depth of field) is your main creative priority.

TV= You choose the shutter speed and the camera chooses what aperture and what ISO make a proper exposure?

Is that right?

One last thing, I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but the focus is driving me nuts! It focuses in on on face but not the other one that is right next to it. I think I'm using TV or AV, or it will focus on one shoe but not the other ( will try to post picture later).

I'm just bummed as I still don't get too many awesome pics when using auto settings .

Any tips appreciated.

Hybrid AWD · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:48:27 AM »

You need to play with the camera settings. The amount of light depends on the settings. No one would be able to sit here and tell you ISO 400, 1/200 shutter and f/8 without being able to see the light amount in the room. On top of that, are you talking about fluorescent lighting or natural lighting from outside? So many factors.

AV = Aperture Priority
You set the apperture it determines the rest

TV = Shutter Priority
You set the shutter speed and it determines the rest

A-Dep = Auto Depth of Field

As for the focusing, do you have it set to Auto-Focus or Spot Focus? Also what is your aperture set at? If one person is behind the other person and you have a shallow DoF then they will come in blurry. If the people or object are standing next to each other you shouldn't be having an issue.

A tip that I use is when I have it set on spot focus, I normally have the "red dot" blink on one subjects face and then I pull it towards the 2nd person. I dont know if this is helping, hurting or what, but it seems to work just fine for me. It also prevents me from accidently focusing on an object in the background.

camerafreak1970 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2012, 10:07:19 AM »

Quote from: Hybrid AWD on February 09, 2012, 09:48:27 AM

You need to play with the camera settings. The amount of light depends on the settings. No one would be able to sit here and tell you ISO 400, 1/200 shutter and f/8 without being able to see the light amount in the room. On top of that, are you talking about fluorescent lighting or natural lighting from outside? So many factors.

AV = Aperture Priority
You set the apperture it determines the rest

TV = Shutter Priority
You set the shutter speed and it determines the rest

A-Dep = Auto Depth of Field

As for the focusing, do you have it set to Auto-Focus or Spot Focus? Also what is your aperture set at? If one person is behind the other person and you have a shallow DoF then they will come in blurry. If the people or object are standing next to each other you shouldn't be having an issue.

A tip that I use is when I have it set on spot focus, I normally have the "red dot" blink on one subjects face and then I pull it towards the 2nd person. I dont know if this is helping, hurting or what, but it seems to work just fine for me. It also prevents me from accidently focusing on an object in the background.

I've been playing with it for a month, constantly, it's still hard to figure out. It will all sink in, I know, just lots going on right now.

To answer your question, when we will be outside, should be full light still I'm thinking. Inside, will be inside our home, No florescent though. Will just do auto settings like portrait etc I guess.

When you say "I normally have the "red dot" blink on one subjects face and then I pull it towards the 2nd person", I'm not very familiar with the red dots yet, what do you mean by "pull"?

Hybrid AWD · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2012, 12:27:37 PM »

So the red dot is the focal point. When you press 1/2 way down on the shutter, the red dot should blink along with an audible beep (unless it's turned off). That is where it's focusing. I have it set up to where I am selecting what I want the cameras focal point to be. Once I press half way, the light comes on, I then move back towards the middle of the subjects.

The reason I do this is because if I were to have the focal point setup for manual (in the middle) and I put the centering point in the middle, it might try to focus on something in the background vs. the people.

The picture I have attached isn't the best, but it might help with my point I am trying to make.

Notice how the people in the foreground are out of focus and the person in the background is in focus. This is because I have my camera set to manual focusing points and have the middle selected. Knowing that, when I took the picture I know having AF on with my lens, it was going to concentrate on whatever was in the middle. In this case, it was the person in the background. Had it been set to automatic focusing points, it could have focused on the people in the foreground and not the guy in the background. Hopefully this makes some sense to you... even though it doesn't have much to do with your original question.

And just to mention one more thing. This image was taking in a low lit bar at night with the monochrome setting being used on the camera. ISO was most like 6400 or 3200 and that is why (imo) this picture is garbage. The lens being used was my Tokina 11-16mm set at F/2.8 most likely and a shutter speed of somewhere around 1/50 I would guess.

Skippy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2012, 12:48:23 PM »

Let me try to help Hybrid out a little with his explanation.

He is assuming that you have chosen a focal point. You do that by pushing the top right button with the blue + on it. When you push that you can select a focal point. He is using the center point as do an awful lot of photographers as it is the best focal point. Now what he is doing is he is half pressing the shutter to set that focal point on whatever thing he wants to be the primary focus. In his shot above it was that kid in the background. Then he holds that shutter half way and recomposes the shot. Meaning that he holds the shutter button half way to keep the focus locked and then he moves that camera around to get everything in the shot that he wants but the sharp focal point is going to stay at the distance of the firs subject that he locked focus on even though he moved his camera.

The key to all of this is to keep the shutter half pressed while you re compose your shot.

Now if you are shooting outside then avoid shooting into the sun as that is going to just make everyone dark and meter for the sky.

As a rule of thumb always keep your iso as low as you can. 100 - 400 is good working order. 800 can be used but you will start to introduce artifacts called digital noise at anything over 100 and 800 is about close to as high as you want to go. 1600 if it just has to happen to get the shot but try to avoid.

Aperture is going to probably be pretty wide open as I am not thinking that you are going to have great light at that time of day and if you are shooting portraits then you want a shallow DOF anyway so whatever the widest aperture is then that is where you will likely be. Maybe it is going to be 5.6 depending on the zoom level but also consider that the wider the aperture is, (that is the smaller the number), then the more light you will let in and the faster the shutter you will be able to shoot.

If the light is a little lower and you are down in the 1/15 or lower shutters then use a tripod and get your subjects to hold still.

camerafreak1970 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2012, 12:49:47 PM »

Quote from: Hybrid AWD on February 09, 2012, 12:27:37 PM

So the red dot is the focal point. When you press 1/2 way down on the shutter, the red dot should blink along with an audible beep (unless it's turned off). That is where it's focusing. I have it set up to where I am selecting what I want the cameras focal point to be. Once I press half way, the light comes on, I then move back towards the middle of the subjects.

The reason I do this is because if I were to have the focal point setup for manual (in the middle) and I put the centering point in the middle, it might try to focus on something in the background vs. the people.

The picture I have attached isn't the best, but it might help with my point I am trying to make.

Notice how the people in the foreground are out of focus and the person in the background is in focus. This is because I have my camera set to manual focusing points and have the middle selected. Knowing that, when I took the picture I know having AF on with my lens, it was going to concentrate on whatever was in the middle. In this case, it was the person in the background. Had it been set to automatic focusing points, it could have focused on the people in the foreground and not the guy in the background. Hopefully this makes some sense to you... even though it doesn't have much to do with your original question.

And just to mention one more thing. This image was taking in a low lit bar at night with the monochrome setting being used on the camera. ISO was most like 6400 or 3200 and that is why (imo) this picture is garbage. The lens being used was my Tokina 11-16mm set at F/2.8 most likely and a shutter speed of somewhere around 1/50 I would guess.

Hey, there is something kinda cool about that picture and the middle guy being in focus I think!

Ok, so when you say "move back" do you mean you zoom the lens back or physically step back?

You know, what you just outlined is VERY important. I think it's half of my problem really. Definitely need to read up on the red dots before Saturday! I think rpavich outlined some things as well, but the outside dots, I also can't recall their purpose. Anyway, even though I got off track, I am on to solving this by the info you just gave me!

Here is a picture of my son trying on pants and stuff ( no it shows just his feet), as you can see, one foot is blurry and one foot isn't. I assume that is because I probably had the middle red dot on his white sock?

IMAGE

Tips on what I should have done?

Snapper · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2012, 12:55:20 PM »

You obviously had the focus point on his right foot which is in focus. I notice that you were shooting at f/1.8 - try to remember that small 'f' numbers give a small depth of field, which is why everything else is blurred. If you try the same shot with a higher f number, more will be in focus but your shutter may be slower because less light is hitting the sensor. The camera, left to its own devices, will raise the ISO to 'help' you keep the shutter speed as fast as possible (if you are in Av mode). This is O.K. as long as it doesn't go too high, as Skippy said.

HTH

camerafreak1970 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2012, 12:58:44 PM »

Quote from: Skippy on February 09, 2012, 12:48:23 PM

Let me try to help Hybrid out a little with his explanation.

He is assuming that you have chosen a focal point. You do that by pushing the top right button with the blue + on it. When you push that you can select a focal point. He is using the center point as do an awful lot of photographers as it is the best focal point. Now what he is doing is he is half pressing the shutter to set that focal point on whatever thing he wants to be the primary focus. In his shot above it was that kid in the background. Then he holds that shutter half way and recomposes the shot. Meaning that he holds the shutter button half way to keep the focus locked and then he moves that camera around to get everything in the shot that he wants but the sharp focal point is going to stay at the distance of the firs subject that he locked focus on even though he moved his camera.

The key to all of this is to keep the shutter half pressed while you re compose your shot.

Now if you are shooting outside then avoid shooting into the sun as that is going to just make everyone dark and meter for the sky.

As a rule of thumb always keep your iso as low as you can. 100 - 400 is good working order. 800 can be used but you will start to introduce artifacts called digital noise at anything over 100 and 800 is about close to as high as you want to go. 1600 if it just has to happen to get the shot but try to avoid.

Aperture is going to probably be pretty wide open as I am not thinking that you are going to have great light at that time of day and if you are shooting portraits then you want a shallow DOF anyway so whatever the widest aperture is then that is where you will likely be. Maybe it is going to be 5.6 depending on the zoom level but also consider that the wider the aperture is, (that is the smaller the number), then the more light you will let in and the faster the shutter you will be able to shoot.

If the light is a little lower and you are down in the 1/15 or lower shutters then use a tripod and get your subjects to hold still.

Thanks Skippy! I am understanding this more and more. GOT IT! I should have said to him I am newbie, and don't think I did. Sorry Hybrid AWD! Thanks for the help to all of you! I've copied and pasted all of the replies to my new WORD document! You guys are such great help!

So the picture I just posted, I should have pushed the button down half way, while holding it there, backed up or whatever to get both feet in the 8 dot area?

camerafreak1970 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2012, 01:01:20 PM »

Quote from: Snapper on February 09, 2012, 12:55:20 PM

You obviously had the focus point on his right foot which is in focus. I notice that you were shooting at f/1.8 - try to remember that small 'f' numbers give a small depth of field, which is why everything else is blurred. If you try the same shot with a higher f number, more will be in focus but your shutter may be slower.

HTH

Oh ok! That helps too....ahhhhhhh, I can feel the stress leaving my brain already! I have more hope! Thanks Snapper!

Snapper · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2012, 01:18:50 PM »

Quote

So the picture I just posted, I should have pushed the button down half way, while holding it there, backed up or whatever to get both feet in the 8 dot area?

If you had done that, probably nothing would have been in focus! When he said 'move' he meant slightly swing the camera to the left or right and not move forwards or backwards.

camerafreak1970 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2012, 01:20:59 PM »

Quote from: Snapper on February 09, 2012, 01:18:50 PM

Quote
So the picture I just posted, I should have pushed the button down half way, while holding it there, backed up or whatever to get both feet in the 8 dot area?

If you had done that, probably nothing would have been in focus! When he said 'move' he meant slightly swing the camera to the left or right and not move forwards or backwards.

Oh ok, got it! Thanks!

camerafreak1970 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2012, 01:46:32 PM »

I see a BIG improvement by just learning about those dots and moving the camera a bit! WOW! I know this isn't a great pic or great quality, but it's much better!

TESTER 1

Snapper · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2012, 01:56:49 PM »

Quote from: camerafreak1970 on February 09, 2012, 01:46:32 PM

I see a BIG improvement by just learning about those dots and moving the camera a bit! WOW! I know this isn't a great pic or great quality, but it's much better!

TESTER 1

You are certainly getting there, but have you noticed how the ISO (that is, the camera's sensitivity to light) has gone up to 1600? Your shutter speed in the 'foot shot' was 1/400th of a second but in the remote controls shot it has slowed down to 1/250th of a second because you shot with a narrower aperture (4.5) instead of 1.8.
Because the aperture is smaller (higher f/stop to get more in focus), the camera has compensated by increasing its sensitivity to light...

camerafreak1970 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2012, 02:05:11 PM »

Quote from: Snapper on February 09, 2012, 01:56:49 PM

Quote from: camerafreak1970 on February 09, 2012, 01:46:32 PM
I see a BIG improvement by just learning about those dots and moving the camera a bit! WOW! I know this isn't a great pic or great quality, but it's much better!

TESTER 1

You are certainly getting there, but have you noticed how the ISO (that is, the camera's sensitivity to light) has gone up to 1600? Your shutter speed in the 'foot shot' was 1/400th of a second but in the remote controls shot it has slowed down to 1/250th of a second because you shot with a narrower aperture (4.5) instead of 1.8.
Because the aperture is smaller (higher f/stop to get more in focus), the camera has compensated by increasing its sensitivity to light...

Yep, I know. I didn't even think of it, I was just excited that I have the answer ( more then likely) to the blurring thing for the most part! lol I will work on that. So, lower ISO I should have done, and lower Fstop number right?

EDITED: Ok I didn't get that right did I?

Snapper · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2012, 02:16:07 PM »

There is always a trade-off - to get the ISO down, the shutter speed will have to be slower and the chances of getting blurry pictures will increase UNLESS you either get more light on the subject that you are focussing on (possibly by using flash) or you put the camera on a tripod, table etc so that it doesn't shake. Any shutter speed slower than 1/30th of a second (as a ball park figure) will mean that hand-holding will produce blurring.

Try out different f/stop, ISO and shutter speed combinations and you will soon find out the differences!

Author Topic: Son's 1st Semi Formal dance ugh (Read 663 times)

camerafreak1970

Son's 1st Semi Formal dance ugh

Hybrid AWD

Re: Son's 1st Semi Formal dance ugh

camerafreak1970

Re: Son's 1st Semi Formal dance ugh

Hybrid AWD

Re: Son's 1st Semi Formal dance ugh

Skippy

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camerafreak1970

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Snapper

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camerafreak1970

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camerafreak1970

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Snapper

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camerafreak1970

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camerafreak1970

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Snapper

Re: Son's 1st Semi Formal dance ugh

camerafreak1970

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Snapper

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