NEED HELP ASAP!!!

[Tony S]

Deeky, not all zoom lenses have variable aperture. A lot of them will keep the same aperture no matter what focal length you are shooting at. I have five zooms and only one has an aperture that changes as I rack the lens in and out.

The biggest problem with pushing your exposure in post processing with underexposed images is that it introduces much more noise into the image. The trick is getting the exposure as close to correct as possible and having a way to deal with that noise, be it a noise reduction program or the way you process and image. I find many times using curves and bringing the shadows down reduces noise since it is more noticeable in the dark areas.

 

[TCampbell]

In addition to Tony's Neat Image, Noise Ninja is another popular app, but my favorite so far is Imagenomic Noiseware Professional -- which offers quite a bit of control over specifically HOW it reduces noise (some cameras have more problems with color noise... some with luma noise. I find that usually noise is worse in shadows and dark areas and extremely weak in highlights and white areas (and that's also the case in your image). Noiseware lets me set that so that it tackles the noise appropriately.

The "problem" with noise reduction is that to identify noise, it takes each pixel and analyzes the color values of adjacent pixels to determine if that pixel is an anomaly. If so, it "averages" the pixels to eliminate the noise. The side-effect is that a sharp image will end up being softened slightly. So you do lose the noise, but you also lose some sharpness in the process. Good noise reduction software allows you to control how aggressive it is, but also how to identify which parts of an image need the most noise reduction so that you're not aggressively de-noising the whole thing and ending up with a mushy non-sharp image.

If you've got the budget for a 7D, you might want to test out a 6D. It has substantially better ISO performance for not a lot more money. It wont have the focus system of the 7D. The 5D III would be ideal... but that's starting to get spendy.

 

[aswiftakita]

No I really need to stick with what I have being a canon 40D or move to the 7D. I do 90% fast action and need the fps and the fast focusing more than anything. Right now...I need help in finding the best way to "fix" the photo's as best possible so they can be printed and look decent. At least now I know some different things to do and try for the future workings.

In addition to Tony's Neat Image, Noise Ninja is another popular app, but my favorite so far is Imagenomic Noiseware Professional -- which offers quite a bit of control over specifically HOW it reduces noise (some cameras have more problems with color noise... some with luma noise. I find that usually noise is worse in shadows and dark areas and extremely weak in highlights and white areas (and that's also the case in your image). Noiseware lets me set that so that it tackles the noise appropriately.

The "problem" with noise reduction is that to identify noise, it takes each pixel and analyzes the color values of adjacent pixels to determine if that pixel is an anomaly. If so, it "averages" the pixels to eliminate the noise. The side-effect is that a sharp image will end up being softened slightly. So you do lose the noise, but you also lose some sharpness in the process. Good noise reduction software allows you to control how aggressive it is, but also how to identify which parts of an image need the most noise reduction so that you're not aggressively de-noising the whole thing and ending up with a mushy non-sharp image.

If you've got the budget for a 7D, you might want to test out a 6D. It has substantially better ISO performance for not a lot more money. It wont have the focus system of the 7D. The 5D III would be ideal... but that's starting to get spendy.

 

[Geaux]

I just don't understand how you can set up a store and sell your work when you don't understand ISO or why your pictures are coming out a certain way...

OPs topic has been covered already but the store setup and misunderstanding of how the camera works is bothersome to me lol

 

[deeky]

Deeky, not all zoom lenses have variable aperture. A lot of them will keep the same aperture no matter what focal length you are shooting at. I have five zooms and only one has an aperture that changes as I rack the lens in and out.

The biggest problem with pushing your exposure in post processing with underexposed images is that it introduces much more noise into the image. The trick is getting the exposure as close to correct as possible and having a way to deal with that noise, be it a noise reduction program or the way you process and image. I find many times using curves and bringing the shadows down reduces noise since it is more noticeable in the dark areas.

I understand many lenses do have a fixed minimum aperture. But we have a relatively unknowing photographer with what sounds like not top-end gear (more often non-fixed min ap). It was simply presented as an option for them to look at.

As for dropping the exposure comp and ISO, on my 20D (pretty close to the op's 40D) I have better results with this method than I do with trying to use maximum ISO (1600). Even dropping to ISO 800 makes a big difference. Noise reduction software is far and away better than the noise reduction in our older cameras. Would it be better to get it right in camera? Duh. But when you are limited by gear (older cameras with not-so-great low-light performance), you roll with it and do what you need to.

 

[amolitor]

I just don't understand how you can set up a store and sell your work when you don't understand ISO or why your pictures are coming out a certain way...

OPs topic has been covered already but the store setup and misunderstanding of how the camera works is bothersome to me lol

People want to buy the pictures. There's no reason in the world for the OP to even care about any of this stuff, really, and I think the OP is showing excellent due diligence in sorting out the technical issues to deliver the best possible product, given that there is, apparently, an established market.

 

[aswiftakita]

Stepping up on my "SOAP BOX"....

Ok! I don't mean to be rude at all in this so I apologize in advance...To whom ever this goes to... I AM NOT PERFECT!!! I AM an AMATEUR!.... I AM a HOBBIEST!!! I LOVE Photogrpahy!!! and I have been doing some sort of photography for over 10 years, Yes I know to you WHOOPTY DO!!! But EVERYONE Starts somewhere and EVERYONE needs help and continues to learn as they go even the "PROFESSIONAL" and for ANYONE who says they NEVER or DO NOT need help any more is FULL OF IT!!! My "online store" is a store YES!! But the "charging" that I do is setup to where "THEY" (the people who want them) CHOOSE what they want to pay if anything at all. I tell them for the ones who think or feel or want to "pay" to "Do whatever they think and feel it's worth. The ONLY thing I have EVER charged for is the CD/disk I end up putting all the images on for an individual. ALWAYS the ONLY 'payment" I have EVER ASKED for is for Photo credit to be given. My "STORE" is mainly a "website" for me to "displayand show" the photo's to people and a way for me to keep more copyright control verses just posting them on FB and anywhere else. As for the understanding of the ISO... For your info I DO understand the ISO stuff... It just so happens that since I have never had these issues before and now I am I only figure it would be SMART of me to look for and obtain help so that I can "LEARN" why and be able to improve and fix what I am doing and in hopes to be better and make my photo's better. The same in which I would hope ANY photographer would do.

OK!! Stepping down OFF my "Soap Box"


To everyone else... I really do appreciate ALL your help and understanding on things. I do apologize for all my "questions" lol... I ALWAYS have questions and never anyone who I can take them too and get answers. Also, sorry for any questions I may ask more than once or in different ways if I do... Probably just not understanding things a certain way and needing more or different explanation or described in a different way. Thank you all again and I hope I can keep coming back for more "HONEST" help and direction.

I just don't understand how you can set up a store and sell your work when you don't understand ISO or why your pictures are coming out a certain way...

OPs topic has been covered already but the store setup and misunderstanding of how the camera works is bothersome to me lol

 

[aswiftakita]

THANK YOU amolitor!!! THANK YOU!!! It really is nice to know there are people like you out there and for understanding! I'm here to find, learn, fix and improve and hopefully find some GOOD photography friends/possible mentors as well! You have a wonderful day!

I just don't understand how you can set up a store and sell your work when you don't understand ISO or why your pictures are coming out a certain way...

OPs topic has been covered already but the store setup and misunderstanding of how the camera works is bothersome to me lol

People want to buy the pictures. There's no reason in the world for the OP to even care about any of this stuff, really, and I think the OP is showing excellent due diligence in sorting out the technical issues to deliver the best possible product, given that there is, apparently, an established market.

 

[Geaux]

To everyone else... I really do appreciate ALL your help and understanding on things. I do apologize for all my "questions" lol... I ALWAYS have questions and never anyone who I can take them too and get answers. Also, sorry for any questions I may ask more than once or in different ways if I do... Probably just not understanding things a certain way and needing more or different explanation or described in a different way. Thank you all again and I hope I can keep coming back for more "HONEST" help and direction.

Why so mad?

I was being honest and giving my opinion. Seems like the only "honesty" you can deal with is positive.

 

[aswiftakita]

LOL, NOPE!!! I wasn't "MAD" at all!!! As no one likes "honesty" in the negative at all but we all have to deal with it in life. I don't know who doesn't prefer the positive. I just already had stated this, about my "store" and was getting "irked" to have people keep "harping" on whether or not they "agree" with my store or not considering... that wasn't at all why I was here. I already admitted I may or may not be ready for it and that my "charging" is pretty limited to if any. Like I said I use it as a primary place to display my photo's to people, that's all. I'm here to learn and fix and improve, not to keep "explaining" myself to people. That's ALL!!! Just because we may not agree on what I do with my pics doesn't mean we can't all help each other to improve and better ourselves for whatever reason. But, now we all know each other's "opinions" so let's move on!! Have a wonderful day!

 

[emdiemci]

I just don't understand how you can set up a store and sell your work when you don't understand ISO or why your pictures are coming out a certain way...

OPs topic has been covered already but the store setup and misunderstanding of how the camera works is bothersome to me lol

I thought the same thing. I think it's great your learning. But if you don't know about ISO try to get real good at shooting, then sell. It's not like $5-10 will make a difference.