Blurry Photos

[amolitor]

Stop using manual mode. Manual mode is a stupid rite of passage thing, and it's there for when things are extremely weird.

Go to work sorting out "shutter priority" and "aperture priority" modes, and how exposure compensation works instead. Manual mode is just making you move dials around that the camera is perfectly capable of moving around by itself -- and it will turn them the right way all the time.

Most of the time you want aperture priority, bigger numbers -> more depth of field, smaller numbers, less depth of field.
If you're shooting moving objects you may want shutter priority -> slower shutter speeds, more blur; faster shutter speeds, less motion blur.
If you want the picture darker, dial exposure compensation into the negative range.
If you want the picture brighter, dial exposure compensation into the positive range.

 

[MirandaJo]

Stop using manual mode. Manual mode is a stupid rite of passage thing, and it's there for when things are extremely weird.

Go to work sorting out "shutter priority" and "aperture priority" modes, and how exposure compensation works instead. Manual mode is just making you move dials around that the camera is perfectly capable of moving around by itself -- and it will turn them the right way all the time.

Most of the time you want aperture priority, bigger numbers -> more depth of field, smaller numbers, less depth of field.
If you're shooting moving objects you may want shutter priority -> slower shutter speeds, more blur; faster shutter speeds, less motion blur.
If you want the picture darker, dial exposure compensation into the negative range.
If you want the picture brighter, dial exposure compensation into the positive range.

Thank you. I have used Shutter Priority before... here are some photos of kids on a water slide that I took using Shutter Priority. I try to use shutter priority and Aperture Priority but again my photos come out dark and it drives me nuts-o! lol. these photos didnt turn out dark though. Which Im happy with!

 

[480sparky41 40]

....... Manual mode is just making you move dials around that the camera is perfectly capable of moving around by itself -- and it will turn them the right way all the time...........

Now I've heard everything.

 

[amolitor]

....... Manual mode is just making you move dials around that the camera is perfectly capable of moving around by itself -- and it will turn them the right way all the time...........

Now I've heard everything.

Not even close, I have much more radical ideas than this.

 

[chuasam]

a) the original photograph looks fine
b) worrying about sharpness is a fool's game. sharpness does not make the photograph, and a little unsharpness almost never ruins one.

The original photo is adequate.
Embrace the blur!

 

[480sparky41 40]

....... Manual mode is just making you move dials around that the camera is perfectly capable of moving around by itself -- and it will turn them the right way all the time...........

Now I've heard everything.

Not even close, I have much more radical ideas than this.

Well, if all cameras make all the right choices all the time, why spend the money on any other method? Just make cameras with only Auto. No need for shutter priority, aperture priority, manual, program, or any other mode. If the camera's perfect, that's all we'll ever need.

 

[MirandaJo]

Thanks Chuasam

 

[amolitor]

Well, if all cameras make all the right choices all the time, why spend the money on any other method? Just make cameras with only Auto. No need for shutter priority, aperture priority, manual, program, or any other mode. If the camera's perfect, that's all we'll ever need.

Oh, oops. It's sparky, I forgot.

There are two possibilities: One is that you don't understand how priority modes + exposure compensation work, and the other is that you are willfully misrepresenting what I said. I actually don't give a damn which it is, because you are rude.

 

[The_Traveler]

First, you are trying to learn too many things much too quickly.

Start using aperture preferred mode and learn to pick your f stop and let the camera pick the shutter speed.
Then learn to use exposure compensation to fix what the camera can't understand about the exposure.

Use Peterson's book and do the exercises.

Your pictures don't look sharp because the faces are all in the deep shade and there is no directional light to provide the appearance of sharpness.

Get one subject in the shade but facing the sun so that any reflected light will light their faces.
Shoot at the best f stop (perhaps 5.6) and then look at the pictures.
Don't try and learn while taking pictures that count.

And ignore the damn back and forth sniping that seems endemic to this thread.

 

[480sparky41 40]

Well, if all cameras make all the right choices all the time, why spend the money on any other method? Just make cameras with only Auto. No need for shutter priority, aperture priority, manual, program, or any other mode. If the camera's perfect, that's all we'll ever need.

Oh, oops. It's sparky, I forgot.

There are two possibilities: One is that you don't understand how priority modes + exposure compensation work, and the other is that you are willfully misrepresenting what I said. I actually don't give a damn which it is, because you are rude.

I know perfectly well how they work. Suppose you tell me how I 'willfully misrepresented what you said' instead?

Or did you miss the quote?

 

[MirandaJo]

First, you are trying to learn too many things much too quickly.

Start using aperture preferred mode and learn to pick your f stop and let the camera pick the shutter speed.
Then learn to use exposure compensation to fix what the camera can't understand about the exposure.

Use Peterson's book and do the exercises.

Your pictures don't look sharp because the faces are all in the deep shade and there is no directional light to provide the appearance of sharpness.

Get one subject in the shade but facing the sun so that any reflected light will light their faces.
Shoot at the best f stop (perhaps 5.6) and then look at the pictures.
Don't try and learn while taking pictures that count.

And ignore the damn back and forth sniping that seems endemic to this thread.

Thank you. Ive tried to practice on my daughter, but well shes 4! haha! I need to find that book!

 

[The_Traveler]

Damn near any book will do but you have to do this in some orderly fashion, starting with the basics of the exposure triangle, exposure compensation and how to use natural light.

Any subject will do, it doesn't have to be a person.

Shoot a vase, a statue, anything.
Most of us have been shooting for years and still have to puzzle through situations.

This is not easy and, like any craft, takes knowledge, practice and experience to build skill.

 

[Robin Usagani]

seriously.. dont bother buying books. So many great links on the internet for FREE.

 

[MirandaJo]

Damn near any book will do but you have to do this in some orderly fashion, starting with the basics of the exposure triangle, exposure compensation and how to use natural light.

Any subject will do, it doesn't have to be a person.

Shoot a vase, a statue, anything.
Most of us have been shooting for years and still have to puzzle through situations.

This is not easy and, like any craft, takes knowledge, practice and experience to build skill.

I know that... I just wish I could find some kind of Photography group... You know they have AAA meetings for drunks that are free sometimes or they even have meetings for dancers to get together! Why not have some kind of group meetings for photography! I mean, there are a BUNCH of photographers around where I live! Why cant they be nice enough to help one another out instead of being rude... :/

 

[MirandaJo]

seriously.. dont bother buying books. So many great links on the internet for FREE.

Yeah... I have a hard time finding the correct ones.... :/