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(0 votes) 11:47 am
October 27, 2012
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nikon d3100
exposure at 1/8sec at f/5.3
focal length 40mm
ISO 400
with flash
the place was kind of dark so i needed lots of help for the lighting…edited it in PS lightroom. I have a question though…i dont know why im having trouble getting a crisp shot. i think most of my profile shots are a bit blurry on the face. suggestions?
12:32 pm
September 7, 2012
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Welcome here Cerise, your subject looks beautiful.
Now, I assume you are using the kit lens 18-55mm. What you needed to do is to check your focusing, the picture seems to be out of focus and without that you may never get a sharp image. Next is your aperture, in your position and using the kit lens, I will choose aperture of F 3.5 and not 5.3 as used in this shot. I will want to check my exposure compensation as well and bump it up to say +1 or +2 depending on how dark the areas is. The shutter speed you used is very likely to give sharp image without blur unless if you are using a tripod. Consider these suggestions, alternate the options and let us see the results. Am sure you will be happy thereafter. Remember to take so many pictures and choose the best. That’s what i do always.
Look at these famous qoutes in photography
1. ”your first 10, 000 photographs are your worst” Henry Cartier Brenson
2. ”Everyone will take one great picture, I’ve done better because I’ve taken two” David Bailey
12:33 pm
September 7, 2012
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One last comment, your watermark is rather too big and a tad distracting.
2:32 pm
VIP Student
September 15, 2012
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Cerise…. Which focus mode are you using? I would suggest AF-S with the center focus point on the subject’s eye. For this, you will have to take the camera out of Auto Mode and user either P,S,A or M. I would suggest Aperture Mode for this picture as the subject is not moving.
You can focus on an eye, usually the closest to you. Then, while continuing to hold the shutter button halfway down, recompose the picture and press the shutter down all the way.
As far as what aperture to use…. the smaller the number means the larger the opening and the more narrow depth of field. I’m not sure that changing from 5.3 to 3.5 would improve the focus. It would mean that your focusing would have to be more precise as you would have a more narrow depth of field.
And yes, the logo is much too large and noticeable. It does appear to be the trend.
Mandrake
-- Mandrake --
4:50 pm
September 7, 2012
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Mandrake changing aperture is not going to change focus but rather enable more light onto the sensor as the condition appeared dark. Hope this clarifies my earlier position.
I am not a fan of focus and recompose though.lol
12:36 am
October 5, 2012
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I think this photo was edited multiple times, sometimes photo may have good focus and everything, but if you do multiple editing it will reduce its quality atleast based on my experience. That is why it is always better to make sure that your setting is good to make editing at the minimum.
8:13 pm
November 22, 2012
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My friend,
Don’t panic is not you fault
Low Light focus
9:18 pm
October 27, 2012
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thanks Oksana and everyone! very helpful 
i will consider all your suggestions. still learning the craft. glad to have discovered this community. kudos!
2:29 am
November 22, 2012
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Cerise;
I don’t know if D3100 has 3D , it help a lot to focus in dark enviroment if you can set it in the borders of two zones contrast.
I do’t know if u understand my macaroni English
Oksana in
Lesson18 – AF Fine Tuning (Back Focus and Front Focus)
3D focus more or less do the same
3:02 am
November 22, 2012
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Quote from Silky on November 29, 2012, 20:13
My friend,
Don’t panic is not you fault
Low Light focus
8:25 pm
October 27, 2012
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dear everyone, i am not that well-versed with the focus settings just yet.. il take mandrake’s suggestions on putting it on AF-S next time. and yes, im using the kit lens. earlier i was in a party..i had trouble taking a shot at dark environment. all the lights were off but the disco lights..and my camera was on AF-A. it wont fire, guess because of the low light..but with this case, what could have been done? how do u take pictures at situations like this? now im starting to appreciate the work wedding photographers do..
10:00 pm
VIP Student
September 15, 2012
Offline
cerise… While in AF-A mode the shutter release will only fire if the camera can achieve proper focus.
It is not surprising that it could not under the circumstances that you describe.
Perhaps you would be able to get a good photo in manual mode, but i don’t really think you are ready for that.
Here is a link to basic focusing. The site is also very good for your camera. Enjoy.
http://www.cameratips.com/d310…..ikon-d3100
Mandrake
-- Mandrake --
12:06 am
November 22, 2012
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Mandrake;
Excelent link know the limitation and advance of cameras is very healthy advice. I expend all this week looking for expanation of how to work with superposicion imagen in D5000 because I not understand well the expanation of manual, if you find someting about I will apreciate.
Thanks you
I thing the shutter speed of 1/8sec is the reason of unsharp image. In most cases then you are holding the camera, shatter speed of 1/8sec will cause the camera shake. In the situation like this and with 40mm lens I should not go slower then 1/60 (rare 1/30). It also depends how steady you are able to hold the camera.
If you are using flash, which gives you extra light, there is no reason to use a slow shutter speed. Also when shooting with flash, Manual mode in the camera is the way to go. If you have an external flash, you can use TTL mode, which will adjust the power of the light exposed from the flash accordingly to the setting in the camera.
The Aperture priority mode can cause very slow shutter speed.
The other challenge you might face in dark conditions is that your camera is not able to focus at all. This is when lens will just go back and forth and could not find the focus. Some cameras are better then others with focusing in the dark. It depends on the focusing illuminator light. There some lenses which can even block it. One of the solutions to this problem is to have a flash light. You can light the subject with it, which can help you to focus.
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