Aperture Question

Loire

Hi,

Not sure if there's a general Q&A thread here, so please move Mods if there is.

I was taking some photos of the small one yesterday evening in the kitchen. There was plenty of light, but I wanted to max the AP to play with depth of field. when I set the AP to 3.5 (at about 50mm), my photos came out very over-exposed. I would have thought that even though I was at 3.5, the camera would just fire at a much faster speed to compensate? ISO was set to 100. My daughter was about 2 feet away from me. Just wondering what I am doing wrong? I'd rather not post family photos if that's OK though and acknowledge this makes it more difficult to diagnose.

Thanks
Loire.

Kenny Logins

What shooting mode?

Loire

Kenny Logins wrote: »

What shooting mode?

Hi,

It was set to Aperature Priority

Loire.

magicbastarder

was the light extremely contrasty? i.e. are there also areas of deep shadow in the frame?

OldGoat

Does the camera have exposure compensation set to overexpose a little?

Loire

magicbastarder wrote: »

was the light extremely contrasty? i.e. are there also areas of deep shadow in the frame?

Hi

It was bright alright no question and the subject was perhaps too close. I suppose I was looking for my daughter to more or less fill the frame. I can't remember if there were shadows but at a guess I would say no.

Loire

Loire

OldGoat wrote: »

Does the camera have exposure compensation set to overexpose a little?

Hi,

That could be the case, but I'm not sure!

Loire.

toe_knee

Sound like exposure compensation. What camera are you using?

Loire

As a reference, I was trying to accomplish something like this (stumbled across this site yest):

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVH96MHcUiQ/VQLFqPH3D9I/AAAAAAAACNw/ZU7XXIex9nA/s1600/Red%2BCard.jpg

Would anyone point me in the direction / options to try to achieve something like this? I'm guessing a darker room with a flash bouncing off the ceiling, but what about AP / Shutter settings? Sorry for the basic questions, I think I just need to get those books referenced on the other thread and get reading!

Loire.

Loire

toe_knee wrote: »

Sound like exposure compensation. What camera are you using?

Hi,

Nikon D40 with 18-55 kit lens

Loire.

Kenny Logins

The EXIF data (right click on the photo, properties - details) will tell if something was amiss. Look for exposure bias and metering mode I suppose..

Loire

Thanks, I'll try that.

CabanSail

Were you using Matrix, Centre Weighted or Spot metering?

Loire

CabanSail wrote: »

Were you using Matrix, Centre Weighted or Spot metering?

LOL...I have no idea neither do I know what you are referring to! RTFM for me I think

Kenny Logins

Loire wrote: »

LOL...I have no idea neither do I know what you are referring to! RTFM for me I think

Bottom right -

(pic from http://givemefreeart.com/Articles/Logans-Nikon-D40-Review.php )

Loire

Thanks, I'll check it out!

Just on my question with the link above, any ideas how I would go about shooting a photo like that?

Loire.

Kenny Logins

That looks like a wide aperture and a flash with a small modifier, maybe a bounce card (flashbender?) or small softbox type thing.

Kenny Logins

Ah, yep. It's here - http://aperturzphotography.blogspot.ie/

Loire

Kenny Logins wrote: »

That looks like a wide aperture and a flash with a small modifier, maybe a bounce card (flashbender?) or small softbox type thing.

Perfect, thanks. Looks like I was on the correct path with a wide aperature but I should have used my flash pointing at the ceiling for bounce? i'll try that!

Kenny Logins

Oh, you did use a flash? Ceiling is too big, you want an A4 sheet or something.

Loire

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Oh, you did use a flash? Ceiling is too big, you want an A4 sheet or something.

I didn't use a flash, but maybe I should have to take out the light on the face (ie to throw some light behind the object, if that makes sense?). Interesting re the A4 sheet..

W0LFMAN

Switch to manual and control the shutter speed.