errr...having problems with portraiture with d90

[HeY iTs ScOTtY]

ok so here is the deal, i just started tring to shoot people with my d90. im having so much problems. i dont know if its just because im shooting on overcast days or what. that is a whole nother problem i cant get my camera to look right under overcast conditions. it always seems to bright no matter what setting i shoot in. finally at the end of the shhot i just stuck it in manual and had to do it that way and it looked a lot better but damn its a pain in the ass to not be able to shoot in shutter or aperture mode. the white balance doesnt ever seem to look right either. the flash is messing up my pics too, i think i just need a relflect screen for it though. what setting on the flash do people usually shoot in? i have a sb-600. i tried my wb on every setting and i think it looked the best with the flash on an overcast day in the sun setting. which is 5200k i think. i cant wait for a sunny day to see if my pics look better and not so washed out. ill post some for cc in a minute, i need to upload some to facebook. i guess overall im just asking whats the best setting to shoot when using a flash and when shooting people in an overcast day. please help before i give up on portraiture.

 

[newrmdmike]

best setting = completely impossible to answer without being there and being in charge of the creative vision. . . .

practice makes slightly better, and we certainly can't tell you whats happening without seeing anything.

 

[HeY iTs ScOTtY]

i know everyone hates links but for know im just gonna stick it in here till i figure out what ones i want to put on here.

Scott Andersen's Photos - nephews drew and ryan from cali | Facebook

here are a few random shots from the group:

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...01422814358_1190332671_30293698_1503791_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...01422614353_1190332671_30293693_1390798_n.jpg

 

[newrmdmike]

well, i think what i see is more snap shots than portraits, i don't see carefully planned and manipulated light, and if the white balance isn't what you want change it!

start experimenting with shooting in shade on overcast days (works like a huge softbox) experiment with off camera flash and using window light . . . start reading strobist blogs, anything you can do to broaden your horizons.

keep up the work man, and they will slowly begin to reflect the amount of effort you put in.

 

[HeY iTs ScOTtY]

they are just snap shot i guess. i didnt make them pose or anything i just wanted to get some practice with the camera settings for shooting people. i just found these kids hard to shoot because they are white as ghosts and their heads are like flashlights with bright hair.

 

[PhotoXopher]

Fast glass helps too, try and find a Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 or Nikon 50 f/1.8 it'll work wonders.

 

[HeY iTs ScOTtY]

hey if i had the money id have all kinda of lenses and flashes and boxes and lights and stands and and and well i wouldnt have problems..except i wouldnt know how to use any of it

 

[PhotoXopher]

$100 or less for a nice used 50mm f/1.8, not like I recommended $1000+ glass

I do understand, but I'm just saying this because I have 3 little kids and fast glass has saved me many times

Kids are tough due to the fact that there is no such thing as sitting still. Force yourself to stay in manual mode more often... set your shutter to at least 1/500 if you can and adjust the aperture maybe a little under the metered 'proper' exposure. Doesn't look to me like you needed any flash in these photos. With the SB600 you could always try the built in diffuser and see if that helps. Maybe set the flash to -1.5 or so on the camera as well and aim it above them, not at them.

 

[KmH]

Book recommendations:

The Hot Shoe Diaries
Big Light From Small Flashes
by: Joe McNalley.

The Nikon Creative Lighting System
By: Mike Hagen

Light: Science and Magic
An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
By: Fil Hunter, Steven Biver and Paul Fuqua

Last but not least www.strobist.blogspot.com
For Off Camera Flash (OCF) techniques and gear.

 

[NateS]

None of the ones you posted seem to be in focus from what I can see. You need to think about your compositions a bit....or research about compositions. Try with some tighter crops. Get up in their face and make the picture about the person/child instead of about what the child is doing. That might help get you a little more artistic shots. Oh, and buy a 50mm f1.8. For the price it's sharp and the shallow DOF can really help make your shots look less like snapshots. I saw one the other day going for $75 shipped (and I would have bought it if I had the cash at the time.)