D3100 Help! (Pictures added)

PhotoMama22 · Jan 26, 2011

I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I've been using my D3100 for quiet a while now, I use it in A mode, P mode (and even try Auto to see if it's any better) I have all the settings on properly..but as you can see the pictures just look really flat/washed out in my mind....I'm not trying to do anything fancy with them. I use this camera for just fun snapshots of my family however I went from a Canon to the Nikon and I think I might be regretting my decision-I found my canon never really made my photos look this flat. Here are a few pics for you to see what I mean!
Do you think it could be the flash? I DO have to use a flash as my daughter does NOT stop moving and if I don't the photos are REALLY blurry...would buying a SB-400 help with my pictures?? I really dont want to have to edit every picture I take (which are mostly just printed out & framed, posted to facebook, etc) to make it look clear.
Thanks so much everyone

**Edit-after posting the pictures on here they don't look as BAD as I thought...my picture viewer (just the one that automatically opens photos for viewing on windows) makes them look worse..maybe because they are much bigger on there?!**

Sweet mullet she has eh? LOL

Geaux · Jan 26, 2011

They are kinda flat looking, just some saturation would bring the POP you want. SB400 is a waste of a flash to be honest, save up for sb600.

PhotoMama22 · Jan 26, 2011

Geaux said:
They are kinda flat looking, just some saturation would bring the POP you want. SB400 is a waste of a flash to be honest, save up for sb600.

Is that something that I would have to do with editing?? I hate to have to edit pictures I just put on my facebook, etc.

Thanks so much for the advice re. the 400!!

D-B-J · Jan 26, 2011

They just look flat. Little contrast, little vibrance, etc.

Keep trying!

Regards,
Jake

Biggs88 · Jan 26, 2011

It's the use of pop up flash that is killing you. Direct flash washes the detail out of the subjects face.

An sb400 is a waste of time and money. Again, I vote for the SB600(I have one and love it).

With the SB600, you can bouce light from walls, ceilings, ect. . .

That gives you the detail!

bumpylemon · Jan 26, 2011

i bought the sb600....i have the nikon d3100...i also came from a canon..ive been shooting a month...ill show you some of my work ive done for people..

PhotoMama22 · Jan 26, 2011

bumpylemon said:
i bought the sb600....i have the nikon d3100...i also came from a canon..ive been shooting a month...ill show you some of my work ive done for people..

Ok you're good LOL!!
So do you also recommend the sb600 then? Do you find it makes a big difference then what the pop up flash has? I def. want to get another flash for sure! Do you edit ALL your photos? Im guessing the ones you showed me are edited correct?

jake337 · Jan 26, 2011

Try bouncing your pop up flash off the cieling or walls. Just use a grey card or peice of mail, in front of your pop up flash, at an angle. This will give you just a hint as to what a sb600 can do.

KmH · Jan 26, 2011

Get the metering out of Matrix mode, the white balance and ISO out of Auto.

Use center-weighted metering. Better yet is to learn how to control the flash manually and use spot mode metering.

When you know you'll be using the flash, set the white balance to "Flash" and the ISO to it's lowest native setting, probably ISO 200.

NikonNewbie · Jan 26, 2011

I just got the SB600 for xmas...absolute BEST thing I coulda done with the 219 bucks I had to spend

what a difference! totally!

bumpylemon · Jan 26, 2011

yeah i def recommend the sb 600. then if you buy a trigger for it you can do off camera flash.

PhotoMama22 · Jan 26, 2011

Thanks so much for the advice everyone!!

Geaux · Jan 26, 2011

I think we MIGHT be giving a false sense to the OP. I'd say learn how to shoot with your camera first before jumping out and spending another 250 dollars after you just spent 600+. I almost waited 6 months+ until I got my flash and learned what I had first. Almost every picture you see here has had SOME type of editing to them to bring out the coloring/pop.

I would just really hate for you to go out and drop another 250 on something that isn't going to affect the way you shoot b/c you don't understand cameras in the first place. I'm not saying you won't be able to learn it, I'm just suggesting you learn one thing at a time.

bumpylemon · Jan 27, 2011

Geaux said:
I think we MIGHT be giving a false sense to the OP. I'd say learn how to shoot with your camera first before jumping out and spending another 250 dollars after you just spent 600+. I almost waited 6 months+ until I got my flash and learned what I had first. Almost every picture you see here has had SOME type of editing to them to bring out the coloring/pop.

I would just really hate for you to go out and drop another 250 on something that isn't going to affect the way you shoot b/c you don't understand cameras in the first place. I'm not saying you won't be able to learn it, I'm just suggesting you learn one thing at a time.

that is also. but 2 months ago i had nothing. so if you buy the flash..in 2 months you should nail it down. i did post process pics. but the flash made all the difference:hugs: