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Originally Posted by BonBon  I did discover that on f/1.8 having the focal point set exactly is very important, just as you talked about here Ann. I can easily tell the pics where the focus was on the tail instead of the face. |
Yes, exactly. At 1.8 (for ex.), the DOF is so flippin' shallow, that if you've focused on Pippin's eyes, and then she has moved a HALF inch - those eyes may now be OUT of the field of focus.
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Originally Posted by BonBon When I was using the A-mode, the camera would default to a very low shutter speed...usually either 20 or 40. So, I set the camera in manual mode and upped the shutter speed. That helped get rid of the rest of the pesky blurring.  But, it caused me lighting problems. So I reduced the shutter speed back down some and I engaged the auto-ISO function of the camera to self adjust for me. I found that I get the best results in direct sunlight using a very high shutter speed. Indoors, I need it quite a bit lower but at least 100 to prevent blurring. |
What happened here is - you may have been at 1.8 (for ex), which lets tons of light in. However, it still may not have been enough light. So, camera tries to adjust to slower shutter speed - this causes blur bc of camera shake. So then, you went to manual and forced a faster shutter speed - but then, you didn't have enough light.
A couple of easy things to try here next time, which are slick: 1) skip auto-ISO; instead, increase ISO to 800 (800 can cause some graininess in pics...I actually like that look in some cases); increasing your ISO will "let more light in" --or-- 2) adjust your exposure compensation - maybe 2 levels (this is easy to do, but I can't really type it up, just look up exp. comp. in the manual)
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Originally Posted by BonBon Mainly, I found I need a LOT more practice.  A lot of what I learned in class is coming back now that I'm actually using the camera. I'd like to be able to leave it in manual mode, so I'm trying to find lots of different lighting and other situations to practice in.  |
Manual mode can teach you sososososo much! It involves more steps, sure, but it really helps you see how aperture affects shutter speed and vice versa. Then, after you get done w/ manual mode - it makes A mode that much slicker (bc A mode is basically manual mode, but it saves a few a steps in the process). Manual is just fun, too. It also teaches you about your light meter.
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Originally Posted by BonBon Here's a picture I took this weekend that I really like...I know, I'm strange.
It was taken in manual mode in bright direct sunlight, and I love the grass blurred in the background and how it's captured the individual strands of Tate's shaggy do while he plays with his brother, Maddox.  |
Love it. Great fur detail, super action pic!