What's wrong with this picture?

[reader0428]

This is my second photo shoot ever. Trying to get practice with portraits. I have a Canon Rebel XS and was using a fixed 50mm/f1.8 II lens (no filters on it - I know I need to get one). Why is this picture (#1) grainy? Is it because I was shooting into the sun? I have other pics shot into the sun that are not so grainy though. #2 is a little better but still a bit of noise to it.

Both of these were shot in aperture priority mode at f5. #1 shutter speed was 1/4000, #2 shutter speed was 1/2000. ISO (auto mode) was 1600 on both. Any other CC welcome - I am trying to learn!

[KJ Smith]

Amanda,

Your ISO was way higher than should have been needed.
That accounts for the noise.
The lower the ISO, the better.

[DHaass]

Yes, ISO is too high. Take it off Auto and choose your own ISO. Don't let the camera do it for you. There is no way you need to be shooting at those shutter speeds anyway. You should be able to handhold at 1/lens focal length easily, allowing you to drop the ISO to something like 100 or 200. In this case 1/60th should work, giving you some leeway on aperture choices.

If you shoot into the sun like you did you need to use fill flash, unless you are trying for a silhouette. Her face and whole right side will be in shadow otherwise.

If you let the sun drop a little more closer to sunset, you can place her facing the sun and get some nice golden light without using any flash or having her squint.

[reader0428]

I thought so too, but I looked back through the other pics from the shoot - even the ones where the sun was at my back and shining right on her, or the ones in open shade - the ISO was 1600 on all of them, and that was in ISO auto mode, with very little noise on the frontlit and shady imagese. I wonder why the camera didn't dial down the ISO, especially in the direct light?

[reader0428]

Dhaass - thanks. I wanted a shallow depth of field, but at f1.8, I was getting totally overblown exposures. I dialed the aperture back to f5 to control the light a little bit, but let the camera pick the shutter speed for me. This was kind of an impromptu shoot, she had toddler that was ready to eat, so we couldn't wait another 30 minutes for the sun to go down more. :-) Can I successfully use the on-camera flash with a backlit portrait like this? Would I need a diffuser of some kind?

[KJ Smith]

I am sure you were posting when Doug replied.

He is right. Pick your own ISO. Don't depend on the camera.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by reader0428

Can I successfully use the on-camera flash with a backlit portrait like this?

Some on camera flashes are adjustable. You can check your owners manual to see.

I like to turn mine down. -1 1/3 stop.

[reader0428]

Thank you Kevin and Doug! I'll fiddle with the ISO and fill flash on my next practice session.

[DHaass]

By lowering your ISO you will reduce the light available to the camera but get a finer picture with more detail. This will also effectively reduce your shutter speed. If on camera pop-up flash is all you have, you do what you have to. It's only good for about 8-10 feet, so you need to be in close. You want enough fill to keep the face from being dark, but not enough to make it look like flash.

At some point you need to get an external flash off camera to control the light better and do a better job of portraits. Even if you went with something like a 430EX and a cheap bracket to start out, it would be a huge improvement over the pop-up. You do what the budget allows.

[SpeedRacerSlots]

Go back, read the manual and get out of the "Basic Shooting Modes" where ISO is auto-set.
At least go to "P" that way you can select your own ISO.
Especially with a 1.8 lens, anything in those "Basic" modes will pretty much defeat any of the benefits of the 1.8 lens.

Want to take advantage of the 1.8... then you will have to be shooting in Av or M.

Dont want to be frustrated with your 1.8 lens?... start shooting at f2.0 or maybe up one more step. Fully open at 1.8, you are going to find it difficult to not have a soft photo.

Greg

[toverman]

Your shutter speed was too high, which forced the camera to pick a high ISO to compensate. I used to have a Rebel XTi, and most shots at ISO 800 or above was really pushing it. I never use auto ISO, mainly because none of my current camera bodies offer it (that I know of).

A low-cost option is to make or buy a set of reflectors. With a backlit subject like this, you could have played with the distance, sizes and colors to reflect a pleasing light back on her face. Flash is a great tool (my Rebel did not allow adjusting the built-flash), and you might try that next. But just starting out, I'd recommend learning how to use available light to your advantage. The price is right!

[reader0428]

Greg - I was shooting in Av, but had the ISO setting set to auto. I almost never shoot in any of the auto shooting modes or even P - I'm usually in Av, occasionally in Tv or M depending on what I'm shooting. Now I know to set the ISO myself instead of letting the camera select.

Todd-a reflecter set is next on my equipment wish list. I know that would make a huge difference in those backlit portraits.
Thanks y'all!

[SpeedRacerSlots]

I just re-read the Original thread...

Both of these were shot in aperture priority mode at f5.

If your pictures came out at ISO 1600, thats because you had it set there.
The ISO in AUTO mode will only set between 100-800.