I can't wait to go home and try this! I don't think the exposure compensation button is one I've used before so something new to play with. :D You ladies should be charging for all this great advice! ;)

I'm going to read all these links and really try to spend some time with the camera tonight (if the pupsters will let me :rolleyes:). Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Believe me, Bonny....I'm still learning about this D90 allllllll the time. I still feel like I know so little about it....so every time I type something up here, it helps me learn more too - so maybe you should charge US :p?

The exp comp button is slick and easy (thankFULLY!) - and can be super handy when dealing w/ lighting situations.

I totally agree with Ann. I'm still learning every time I pick up my camera. We are here and want to help. Don't forget that when you use exposure compensation to put it back to 0 after you are done because it will stay on the last value you left it at. Just a quick tip: Pippin's coloring right now is pretty dark. If you are taking close-ups of her, the camera meter will see all of her dark hair and want to open up and add more light. To counteract what the meter is doing, you will need to use minus exposure compensation. I had that problem when I was taking photos of my dogs on my black leather couches. The meter was fooled by all of that darkness, so my dogs never were properly exposed without using the minus exposure compensation. The opposite effect happened when I took pictures of them in the snow. All of that white snow with the sun reflecting off it fooled the camera meter, and the pictures became too gray and the dogs were too dark. With snow I had to use + exposure compensation. Just play around with it, and you'll see on your own. That's the wonderful thing about digital because you can instantly see the results.

I don't know if you've seen the digitutor site, but it might be helpful to you. Below, I have also added some very short links from Nikon about aperture, exposure, and taking good pet photos. They are very quick. You can look at them in time when you get a chance.

D90 | Digitutor | Global Site | Nikon Imaging

Understanding Maximum Aperture from Nikon

Creative Use of Depth of Field from Nikon

The Equalizer from Nikon

Pet Project from Nikon

A Basic Look at the Basics of Exposure from Nikon

I like the sound of that - I can do easy!! :D

I have seen the Digitutor site, but it's been quite a while since I've looked at it. I need to go back there. The others are more sites I haven't seen - I am adding them to my reading list. Thank you again - I love all this great information!! :thumbup::thumbup:

I just read a little more about the exposure compensation feature and I really can't wait to try this. Tomorrow I may just bring the camera to work with me so I can try new things as soon as possible! :D

I wasn't able to work with the camera like I'd hoped to last night. I did spend a few minutes trying out the exposure compensation but every picture I took was too dark (I tried adjusting it to +1,+2,+4 and then the other way to -1,-2,-4. I must be doing something wrong - I have a few days off this week so I will definitely be spending more time and reading the links that have been provided. :)

I'm not really sure what's going on without knowing the highest ISO you have set on your camera. It could be that with the shutter speed you have set (it may be too fast to bring in enough light), there just isn't enough light entering the camera. It needs to be a combination of enough ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. If the shutter speed that you've chosen is fast and the camera can't adjust to a higher ISO based on the value you chose, even with a wide open aperture, there may not be enough light for a proper exposure. I think I would stay away from manual just now until you're more comfortable. I'm not saying this because it's you. There is such a huge learning curve with the camera itself and when you use manual mode, you really have to focus on exposure more. That takes away from focusing on composition, at least for me. I also don't think exposure compensation really works on manual.

I tried to do some research, but I only came up with a little. The forum that I like is fredmiranda.com. The Nikon board can get very technical, but the photographers are great and very helpful. I've read it for three years, but I've never posted there. I stay away from the other forums, because they can get heated and there is too much fighting and bragging. What I found was something from photo.net and dpreview (not a place I'd normally like to frequent, though). I don't know if any of this helps. When you play around, if you can let me know the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed that's being chosen and what kind of light (indoors, outdoors, bright, low), I can probably help you. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful now.


Re: Full Manual Mode: Nikon D90 - D40 / D5000 Forum: Digital Photography Review

From Nikon forum at photo.net problem with exposure compensation - Photo.net Nikon Forum
as I recall, EC in manual mode works differently than what you'd expect. EC moves the zero point of the meter up or down but doesn't adjust the exposure variables at all. it's up to you to modify the variables based on the new 'zero' point. It makes sense in that it biases the meter only.

Don Cooper http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/m.../sub10plus.gif, Jan 25, 2010; 09:11 a.m.
Howard is correct, when shooting in manual mode the exposure compensation values do nothing to the exposure. I believe when using flash it's an entirely different approach dictated by the flash settings.


Vijay Eesam , Jan 25, 2010; 12:18 p.m.
Thanks to Howard & don cooper ,,, as i told i am new to digital photography ,,,, i was actually confused and was expecting EC to work in manual mode ,,, ,,, and expecting good results in low light with out changing shutter speed and ISO ,,, as i usually increase the EC when am shooting with flash ,,, with out changing any values of shutter speed ,,,,
now i understood that i got confused and was in perception that it was working fine ,,, i still cant belive ,,, it supposed be as it is now,,,,,

If you were too dark across the board - then it sounds like you didn't have enough light for the camera to start from --?-- that's my first guess. I would play with exp comp in a situation where you kinda know you have fairly good light, but juuuuuust not quite enough....where you need a tool (like increased ISO or exp comp) to help you punch it up (w/out resorting to flash).

Lisa - I use DPreview mostly for tech reviews of equipment or blah blah. But oh man, the forums over there? Holy ALL. They will rip you to SHREDS, don't you think, at times? I mean, I feel so bad for people new to photography (or, even NOT new to photog) over there at times, bc if you show some technical-newbie-ness at the wrong moment, or to the wrong person - you could be just shredded and ridiculed over there.

I just wanted to come back with an update.....I've been reading the great links Lisa provided and working with my camera a lot more. You guys have given so much helpful information, I have a lot more confidence to pick up the camera and try out new things. Thank you!!!! :D

I feel like I'm in a good place for lighting/exposure with the prime lenses (35mm & 50mm f/1.8), but I'm having a harder time with my other lenses. I haven't worked with them as much so hopefully it's just a matter of time. :)

The photography classes I took in April are being offered again in October. I really enjoyed those classes and the instructor, so I've signed up to re-take the second class - which went a little more in depth on these topics (& went a little over my head I think ;)). I'm also taking a new class that sounds pretty exciting to me. I really believe that all the help y'all have given me, along with the time I'm finally spending learning and working with the camera, will help me have a much better understanding of the classes this time around. Here's a brief description of the classes:

1) Learn about proper ISO settings, lighting, shutter speeds, apertures and creative approaches that will enhance your photography.

2) Applying creative techniques, apertures and shutter speeds to make the perfect exposure on all images. The first class will be a walking photo field trip around downtown.