Newbie here- what am I doing wrong here?? PLEASE Help!!!

[kvphotography]

Obviously I am very new to this, so please go easy on me! Thank you for your help in advance!

I shot the first picture in AV mode, using a canon XSi, aperture 5.6, ISO 400 with no flash and the subjects were too dark. I did not want to use ISO 800 b/c it looks too grainy on my camera.

So, I tried to use the build in flash and it totally washed out the subject! YIKES!

What should I have done to make this shot come out right?

[Kalrog]

My first guess would be that you were metering wrong. What is your exposure metering set to? Is it set to full screen or center weighted or spot? The problem is that there is too much difference in the brightness between the people and the background in the first picture. So it metered on the background and that is exposed properly. What you probably wanted to do was expose for the people and let the background be a bit blown out. If you want them both properly exposed, then you have to work with fill flash a bit and learn how to do that.

[jonnydonut]

with the xsi you can actually adjust the power of the flash. You could turn is down and that might help. it's some button probably on the top and then you use the scroll wheel. The subjects are so dark because the light meter is reading the whole frame, instead of just the people. You can adjust that and turn on "spot metering", or you can actually change the exposure. On the xsi I believe you hold down some button with a " +/- " and then scroll. You'll want to move the dial to the right +1 or +2. This will make the whole frame brighter, and will wash out the background.

The best advice is to read the manuel, go out and just shoot shoot shoot. try every setting and see what is does for you. Experimentation is the best method, and with digital, you have instant review and free test shots, so fire away.

[marcosb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDvsu...embedded#t=125


hope helps

[kvphotography]

Thank you Kalrog. My exposure metering is set to evaluative metering. I am not even really sure what that means, but I assume it means that the camera decides what the lighting looks like.

I am wondering if I need an external flash for this type of situation or if I just need to understand my camera better! LOL Thank you SO much for your help!

[danchez]

Originally Posted by kvphotography

Thank you Kalrog. My exposure metering is set to evaluative metering. I am not even really sure what that means, but I assume it means that the camera decides what the lighting looks like.

I am wondering if I need an external flash for this type of situation or if I just need to understand my camera better! LOL Thank you SO much for your help!

is always a good first step.

[Flea77]

You need to use what is called "fill flash". The problem is that the background is so bright that if you expose for it, you get the first pic where the people are too dark. If you exposed for the people, the back would be completely washed out. You need to add just enough flash to brighten up the people without making them look like ghosts like they do in the second pic.

I do not know the specifics with the camera you have, some have a "fill flash" mode, some you can vary the intensity of the flash manually. Try a little experimentation and see what works. Either way, none of it has anything to do with the ISO.

Allan

[kvphotography]

Oh wow, thank you Jonny! I had no idea that was even there! I am not quite sure I am doing it right, but I am going to pull out the manual and just practice with it until I figure it out! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your knowledge!!! I have been trying to figure this out forever! :)

kvphotography added 10 Minutes and 11 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Marcosb- what a great video!! That really helped! I am such a visual learner, so that was perfect!! I can't wait to try it again with my new knowledge! Thanks so much!

Flea77- thank you for your insight. I will look into the flash settings to see what kind of control I have over them with my camera! Great info!

There is such a learning curve to all of this! I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's time & expertise!! THANK YOU!

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by kvphotography

Thank you Kalrog. My exposure metering is set to evaluative metering. I am not even really sure what that means, but I assume it means that the camera decides what the lighting looks like.

I am wondering if I need an external flash for this type of situation or if I just need to understand my camera better! LOL Thank you SO much for your help!

Evaluative means it looks at the whole scene and sets the exposure. Most of your scene is bright sky so it exposes for that and makes the people look dark. Fill flash would be good like someone said, or over expose the sky to get correct exposure on the people or shoot manual. Hope this helps?

[kvphotography]

Thank you ldelacruz! I have learned so much tonight! I can't wait to go out again and try everything! Thank you!

[CaptainTom]

the first image has been properly described as needing fill flash.
the second image is not the fault of the flash. the flash cannot blow out the background like that. It is the metering because you activated the flash.

Using AV is good but you need to monitor the camera settings to make sure you are not wanting to use a shutter speed that is outside the sync speed range of your camera. When you activate the flash, the camera will drop the shutter speed to sync speed and the aperture remains the same, and the image is over exposed.

[CaroleHayes]

Hi Kelly!

Looks like you're getting some good advice, and I have nothing to add to it—just wanted to say "Hi!"

That, and if you keep asking good questions, you'll find lots of good help here! : )

[kvphotography]

Hi Carol! It's great to see you on here! Everyone has been so helpful! I have been trying to figure out this problem for a while, and now I think I know what I need to do differently! Looking forward to seeing you today! :)

[CaroleHayes]

I promise I'll be there this time!! I have a reminder on my computer, and Clint has TWO on his!

[KdLaneJr]

Flash exposure lock (FEL). Read up on it and remember to use it in these situations. It will provide a good starting point. From there you will want to learn how to add + or - flash exposure compensation (FEC). Setting a -1/3 to -2/3 FEC and using FEL in conjunction will help you reach your desired results. You will also need to locate the high speed sync setting for your flash and turn it on.

I'm not familiar with the Xsi controls, so if I've mentioned any settings/adjustments here that are not available to you I apologize ahead of time.