First attempts. . . feedback please. . . .

[Dmariehill]

Here's the first picture that I tried with my new camera. I grabbed the camera and just snapped a quick shot. Part of the problem is that there's a door that shines light from behind me right on her when I'm taking the picture. And the blur is because she was jumping. This was on the camera's auto setting which I want to not be in the habit of using. I've been playing with the ISO setting today. I'm thinking that if I try this shot in the am with an ISO of 1600 that might help with the color. Any tips for not blurring when she's moving? And what other setting should I start playing with?

In this one, her back is to that door, with an ISO of 6400. I think this one looks better.

 

[jwbryson1]

What camera are you using? The ISO is way too high. You need a good flash that you can either use off camera or that you can bounce off the ceiling or the walls to get good light. Use as low an ISO as possible. Not sure which camera you are using but most consumer level DSLRs start to get noisy above ISO 800, and particularly so at ISO 6400.


EDIT: I see that you are using a Rebel T4i. Get the ISO down and get a good speed light like the Canon EX 430 II or the EX 580 II and move the light around. Also, pay attention to your backgrounds. These are nice shots of your baby, but they would be classified as a "snapshot" to most serious photographers. If you want to shoot portraits, pay attention to your background and avoid the clutter.

To avoid motion blur, you will either need to shoot at a higher shutter speed (1/125+), or use a flash which will stop the motion. Read your user's manual cover to cover 3x.

 

[weepete]

A custom white balance (if you have the option) should sort out most of the colour issues, check your camera manual on how to set one. When you know how its quick and easy. Alternatively set it to the indoor setting if you can't.

Setting the ISO won't help you with the colour, it just increases the sensors sensitivity to light, but can produce digital noise the higher you go.

For shots of the kids try choosing a shutter speed of 1/125th or 1/250th of a second, the faster you go the less motion blur you will get, but the thinner your depth of field will be, for the same ISO setting. Try and focus on the subjects nearest eye if you can.

Ralphh posted a great article about this topic here:

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...s-worry-about-than-mastering-your-camera.html

I'd have a play with Av and Tv modes first, but learn how your light meter works before you do anything!

 

[pixmedic1]

do you have an editing program? you can fix color and white balance issues in post if they aren't too bad.

 

[kundalini]

Here's the first picture that I tried with my new camera. I grabbed the camera and just snapped a quick shot.

There's your initial problem. You want better pictures? Stop taking the same snapshots that all your friends are taking.

Part of the problem is that there's a door that shines light from behind me right on her when I'm taking the picture.

Actually, with a bit of knowledge and experience behind you, you might find this is beautiful light. Composition and timing will come soon enough with experience,

And the blur is because she was jumping.

Even the built-in pop up flash can be your friend in these circumstances. Set appropriately, the flash can freeze your subject and still give a sense of motion. Yes, an external flash can be of a benefit, but learning what your camera is capable of, as is, can give you a boost. RTFM.

 

[cynicaster]

Here's the first picture that I tried with my new camera. I grabbed the camera and just snapped a quick shot. Part of the problem is that there's a door that shines light from behind me right on her when I'm taking the picture. And the blur is because she was jumping. This was on the camera's auto setting which I want to not be in the habit of using. I've been playing with the ISO setting today. I'm thinking that if I try this shot in the am with an ISO of 1600 that might help with the color. Any tips for not blurring when she's moving? And what other setting should I start playing with?

In this one, her back is to that door, with an ISO of 6400. I think this one looks better.

My $.02:

Here we see a fine example of how Auto can let you down. There are artistic uses for "motion blur", but IMO, this isn't one of them, and I'm guessing you would have preferred the photo be sharp.

Little kids just love to make quick/erratic movements, so this is going to continue to happen if you don't learn how to force your camera to use a quick shutter speed. The typical kit lenses aren't the best for indoor shooting without a flash, so you're going to need to open up the aperture all the way in most situations.

Try aperture priority mode on the dial, and set your aperture to wide open (smallest numerical f/number). Take a reading of the scene with your camera (press the shutter button down half way). In the viewfinder, you will see the shutter speed the camera is planning to use. If it is slower than, oh, 1/80th of a second then bump the ISO and try again. Actually, 1/100th would probably be even safer if you can swing it.

The wide open aperture is going to mean some areas of the photo will be out of focus. Set the focus on the kid's eyes--a little bit of a soft focus on the hands (for example) is not a big deal if the eyes are sharp.

Once you get a handle on that, start paying attention to what is in the background. The cluttered coffee table, sleeping dog, and adult feet are kind of a drag.

If you want to get into flash photography, everything changes.

 

[CherylL]

Congrats on your new camera! I got my T4i about 8 months ago and very happy with it. I'll second the settings suggestion that cynicaster posted. If you have enough light inside, try an ISO of 400 to start with. The one thing that helped me to learn the camera was reading the manual many times, tutorials at Lynda.com, and experimenting. I was in Auto mode about a month and then Av mode for about 6 months. Experiment with the settings. If you are in Av mode you can adjust your flash for a lower intensity. I like using the one center point versus the nine. What lens did you get?

 

[Dmariehill]

Thanks everyone for the input. The first thing I noticed with this camera was I really need to pay attention to the background more. :blushing:
CherylL, I got the 18-135 mm IS STM lens and yesterday I was just starting to play with the Av mode, so I'll look at the manual and see about adjusting the flash. I only have the built in flash at the moment. I figured I'd start with one all around lens and then add items as I figured out what I really needed.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I'm going to try them out.

Weepete - I read that article yesterday evening. I got some great takeaways from it. And definitely, for quick snapshots when the baby is doing something I really just want to catch as a snapshot, auto will work well for me. My mom has been on her DSLR for 8 months now and hasn't gotten off of auto although some of the things she's not liking with her pictures could be fixed if she'd learn the camera. I'm thinking these daytime playshots are a good chance for me to play, experiment and get comfortable while I improve.

 

[Dmariehill]

I haven't been on here for a while as I've been playing with the camera and all your tips.

First up - Jwbryson1 - thanks for the flash recommendations. For mother's day I got the 430EXII which is working quite well for me. You're right it makes a huge difference. And being able to adjust the bounce of the light is helping with the washout I was getting from the regular flash.

Kudalni - Thank you - I hadn't really paid attention to composition before. I've been trying to do that now. I'm noticing what's in the background. Sometimes, I'd rather have the cute snapshot of what the babies doing and I'll lose that to fix the composition. But I'm trying to think about it before I sit her down to play now.

Weepete - Thanks for the ideas on shutter speed and TV mode. I played with that and it makes a huge difference. Now I've moved to manual mode. I've got my settings perfect for outside shade now and don't have to edit the pictures except for some cropping here and there. I'm close on the inside pictures. Once I get used to the flash, I think I'll have that resolved.

Cynicaster - thanks for the tips on where to focus for her motion shots. That has really helped a lot! I hadn't been paying attention to where I had the camera focusing. And again, the composition tips - I needed to be reminded to think of those things.

I think this is one of the coolest motion shots I've gotten in the last 2 months. And I think it's an improvement over where I was before. . .


And here's an example of a shade shot that I didn't have to edit. . . I was really excited that I got the color right with the camera!


Thanks for all your tips! They are really helping me learn this camera!!