Why do my photos look like this?

bonniescards07 · May 20, 2008

I shot this with a Canon EOS 30D at ISO 1600. . very low light.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2pyov1u.jpg
how do I get rid of the noise?? or how can i prevent it?

Also, a lot of my pictures get blurry/out of focus when they're at 100%. How can i prevent this and get a clear image all the way through?

JimmyO · May 20, 2008

bonniescards07 said:
I shot this with a Canon EOS 30D at ISO 1600. . very low light.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2pyov1u.jpg
how do I get rid of the noise?? or how can i prevent it?

Also, a lot of my pictures get blurry/out of focus when they're at 100%. How can i prevent this and get a clear image all the way through?

Just about all non-pro cameras will look like this at that high iso, if you need to you can try programs like noise ninja or you can try blurring it out in photo shop.

And your blurry pictures are probably from shutter soeeds that are to long.

SBlanca · May 20, 2008

don't think it should be THAT noisy...dunno, i've taken photos at ISO 1600...dunno, take more pics, try with a tripod if you're not using one, post here again or contact someone who knows more

amandakifer · May 20, 2008

the noise can get pretty bad at 1600 if you are not exposing the image correctly. You need to expose the photograph as far right on the histogram as possible without cutting off the highlights.

Are you using auto or manual focus on your lens? Too slow shutter speed and a wide open aperture (with it focus where you don't want it to be) could all be reasons for the blurry images. Your images should be tack sharp at 100% but without seeing an example I don't know the cause.

sultan · May 20, 2008

Turn down the ISO and use a faster lens. Try to speed up the shutter too if possible or use a tripod.

bahandi · May 20, 2008

sultan said:
Turn down the ISO and use a faster lens. Try to speed up the shutter too if possible or use a tripod.

wouldn't speeding up the shutter speed only increase the noise?

myself, i would try tripod or extreme bracing, lower ISO, slower shutter speed, larger aperture... please correct me if i am wrong...

*Mike* · May 20, 2008

bahandi said:
wouldn't speeding up the shutter speed only increase the noise?

Shutter speed has nothing to do with noise, so long as the image isn't under-exposed. Pushing the exposure in post will always create more noise than a properly exposed shot.

Why did you shoot at f/7.1? You could have opened up the lens and dropped the ISO...

PhotoDonkey · May 20, 2008

So is it fair to say that higher ISO will produce grainier images? Is this also true when shooting film?

*Mike* · May 20, 2008

Yes, and yes. However, it is more of a problem with digital - it's less attractive. Many film shooters will consider the grain when choosing film, and buy a specific film for the grain it produces in prints...

bahandi · May 20, 2008

*Mike* said:
Shutter speed has nothing to do with noise, so long as the image isn't under-exposed. Pushing the exposure in post will always create more noise than a properly exposed shot.

Why did you shoot at f/7.1? You could have opened up the lens and dropped the ISO...

noted... thanks

croomaniac · May 20, 2008

F7.1 is for the DOF?

*Mike* · May 20, 2008

croomaniac said:
F7.1 is for the DOF?

Mmmm. I don't think that's the case here... he didn't need to stop down this much for DOF purposes. The image itself doesn't call for all that much depth, and he's not using a particularly long focal length that he needed to offset.

Maybe he could chime back in... Was the f/7.1 an intentional choice born of necessity?

croomaniac · May 21, 2008

*Mike* said:
Mmmm. I don't think that's the case here... he didn't need to stop down this much for DOF purposes. The image itself doesn't call for all that much depth, and he's not using a particularly long focal length that he needed to offset.

Maybe he could chime back in... Was the f/7.1 an intentional choice born of necessity?

well, that much (f7.1) is very much needed to get extra macro.. and a P mode won't do that for a purpose, surely it was intentional.. :er:

Atropine · May 21, 2008

*Mike* said:
Shutter speed has nothing to do with noise, so long as the image isn't under-exposed.

Not entirely true Mike. Long exposures (above 1s) may cause another kind of noise referred to as "stuck pixels".

Senor Hound · May 21, 2008

Atropine said:
Not entirely true Mike. Long exposures (above 1s) may cause another kind of noise referred to as "stuck pixels".

Perhaps I'm wrong, but at this point in the photographer's learning, it would be best to say it doesn't. I could be wrong.

If you do the photo again, I would use an ISO of 800 or 400, and set your aperture to f/3.5 (or the closest possible to this). Then try it again. If you want to learn more about photography, any book SHOULD go over shutter speed, aperture and film speed, but if you want a REALLY detailed book that has tons of information, then try "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. But you might want a beginner book first, like a Dummies book or anything to that liking.

Good photos, by the way. You're really doing a great job!