Are you using a dSLR? If you are I can give you some pointers..
RaynesWhat came first, the chicken or the egg?..
Yes, but I don't have a seperate flash yet, only the camera mounted one. I guess that should be my next purchase..
Any tips would be appreciated..
John..
There are two ways you can go, 1st don't use flash and try to get naturall looking photos, 2nd get a flash learn how to use it to make natural looking photos. When indoors you don't have a lot of light so without flash you going to need to boost the shutter speed up to get crisp shots. You will want your shutter speed twice you lens focal length..
For faster shutter, boost ISO, and try to open up the aperture. Also if you use TV or AV settings that can help..
I would say get an External flash, it can do wonders when bouncing off of a ceiling for natural looking photos. You also won't have to worry to much about blur when using flash. The onboard flash really just washes out the color, and is not that great..
RaynesWhat came first, the chicken or the egg?..
The thing that usually helps indoor shoots more than anything else is setting the camera to allow as much ambient light into the shot as possible. This shot is already at ISO 1600. You cant really go much slower than the 1/50 second shutter speed of this shot without risking motion blur. You used an aperture of f/4.8, I dont know what lens you used, but a wider aperture would allow in more ambient light. If however, it's a consumer grade lens, then using a wider aperture could well adversely affect the image quality..
Your best option is probably to bounce the flash from the ceiling, which would mean buying a shoe mount flash..
Composition-wise, the frame is a little cluttered. If you are prepared to have a near black background, then using a faster shutter speed and a much lower ISO setting, would allow you to isolate the subjects from the background with the direct flash..
Brian A...
Thank you both. A seperate flash will be my next purchase..
Hugowolf wrote:.
This shot is already at ISO 1600. You cant really go muchslower than the 1/50 second shutter speed of this shot withoutrisking motion blur. You used an aperture of f/4.8, I dont know whatlens you used, but a wider aperture would allow in more ambientlight.Brian A..
Brian, it was the maximum aperture on the kit lens at that zoom level (I believe it was 35mm). I'll try moving closer for a wider aperture..
How did you find the EXIF?..
I found it by, saving the photo, and with a plugin from microsoft it shows the images deatils..
D809-5-07f/4.81/50ISO1600WB-AutoFlash-FiredMetering-Center35mmsRGB.
The flash is the best bet, keep ISO down when you get your new flash..
RaynesWhat came first, the chicken or the egg?..
Raynes wrote:.
I found it by, saving the photo, and with a plugin from microsoft itshows the images deatils..
D809-5-07f/4.81/50ISO1600WB-AutoFlash-FiredMetering-Center35mmsRGB.
The flash is the best bet, keep ISO down when you get your new flash..
RaynesWhat came first, the chicken or the egg?.
Very cool, thank you Raynes...
Dear Johnny,.
If you want really good pics of your kids, I suggest you don't worry about getting that accessory flash just yet: you'll get far better pictures without it, using ambient light..
Good pics are more a matter of making the best use of what you have, than using fancy equipment i.e., you can get good pics even with a digital point and shoot..
Suggestions:.
#Make sure you have all the drapes open to let in the daylight and turn the flash off. (If you need more light, put the lights on as well.).
#Catch the kids doing something (interacting with each other or other family members, friends, playing with toys, board games, hobbies, blowing soap bubbles or reading etc. Do not always have them looking into the camera..
A really good one here is: looking at the flame of a nearby candle: either a solo candle by itself or several (on a birthday cake)..
Don't be afraid of back/rim/side-lighting: these often produce stunning results..
#Once you have taken several (dozen?) shots, crop them: really tight. (Either on camera or using a programme on computer -such as Picasa). You will be amazed how often you can get several different really excellent crops from a single shot (capturing expresssions)..
I have some really excellent results using nothing but a point and shoot (Sony DSC W-100) doing just the above, using "programme" mode..
Best wishes!..
JohnnyB2 wrote:.
Raynes wrote:.
I found it by, saving the photo, and with a plugin from microsoft itshows the images deatils..
D809-5-07f/4.81/50ISO1600WB-AutoFlash-FiredMetering-Center35mmsRGB.
The flash is the best bet, keep ISO down when you get your new flash..
RaynesWhat came first, the chicken or the egg?.
Very cool, thank you Raynes..
Seems a bit odd doing that to find the settings, why didnt you just download the picture, right click > properties > summary, Shows the photo details in there.....
Bounce flash, camera that is good at high ISO, fast (low F) prime lens, tripod and/or image stabilization, bring in some more lights (and/or turn on all the lights). those are some things that can help...