I tried again today. I wont post the pics because the subject is out of focus and the background looks great. (Figures, the one day I got a decent sky to shoot against. Grr! My settings in P mode were ISO 400, SS125, F5.6. So, that's what I set them at in Manual and then popped up my flash. I am guessing I was too far from the camera, so that's why the subject is out of focus. (I'm guessing the subject was 7-8 ft. away) Sorry, I have no experience (manual) whatsoever with outdoor so I really do not know what I am doing wrong. Should I have up'd the ss? Maybe changed the aperature to F9-11? Yikes, I might get kicked out of summer school! If I am driving you guys nuts, I am really sorry.

SandraJean:

I tried again today. I wont post the pics because the subject is out of focus and the background looks great. (Figures, the one day I got a decent sky to shoot against. Grr! My settings in P mode were ISO 400, SS125, F5.6. So, that's what I set them at in Manual and then popped up my flash. I am guessing I was too far from the camera, so that's why the subject is out of focus. (I'm guessing the subject was 7-8 ft. away) Sorry, I have no experience (manual) whatsoever with outdoor so I really do not know what I am doing wrong. Should I have up'd the ss? Maybe changed the aperature to F9-11? Yikes, I might get kicked out of summer school! If I am driving you guys nuts, I am really sorry.

 

Im am betting you just forgot to focus on your subject and then recompose and instead the camera just focus on the background. You should have posted it anyway, this is a good learning experience for everyone... and we all may have learned something. Keep trying..NEVER give up  

 what cha think moosey....should we boot this loser out of school for trying too hard?

As you explained, it sounds like you nailed the assignment, if background and subject looked good other than the fact that the subject looked like something after a heavy night of drinking.

 
To be honest...I think it is FAR to easy to lose a focus point in the camera world. I would need 1000 fingers to count how many times the cameras I have used sometimes grab on to something I clearly did not intend..

Makes me sometimes want to go back to manual focus..

If you have followed our vibe from the start of these assignments...we are trying to get everyone to try and focus (no pun intended haha) on one thing at a time. If you fixed your mistake from the previous shoot...GOOD ON YA !...

 The fact that another one popped up don't mean a thing...

Pep talk done..

Now.. are you trying to do a self portrait with these, without the help of an assistant of some kind? Because that can be tricky for sure for focus issues.

Are you using a timer? or a remote to fire your camera?

You may want to use manual focus for this one, and focus on the Chair you are sitting on BEFORE you go sit down,

 That way the camera is focused before you head over for your self portrait. (may not be perfect..but close).

Maybe try that and see what happens..

Also...all you guys and dolls, (especially those who are reading and not posting due to shyness)...

Remember, the whole point of these is to work in a stress free environment, and try to build on your failures, and turn them into successes.

A phrase keeps coming into my head...." If you already knew how to do this stuff, you would not be reading this thread" This place is TRULY a stress free place to learn.. Take 3 tries, or 3000 tries... With the brainpower residing in Moose's left antler, we WILL find a way to fix what ails ya.

Have fun with this stuff...never let it get you down.. think of it as a puzzle... and we are all just searching for that little piece.

Gtrman

gtrman:

Makes me sometimes want to go back to manual focus..

This is a stupid question I'm sure:   but, you don't manualy focus?

depends on what i'm doin...but mostly auto...

my middle name is lazy

Thanks!!

gtrman:

Now.. are you trying to do a self portrait with these, without the help of an assistant of some kind? Because that can be tricky for sure for focus issues.

 

Are you using a timer? or a remote to fire your camera?

Yes, this was another self portrait as there was no one available to assist. So you're right, I didn't re-focus at all. I just changed from P to M, made my settings the same, popped up the flash, set the timer, push the button and ran up the stairs to get into the pic.

I do really appreciate the encouragement gtrman, moose, eric... I'm sure you've heard it a ton, but I have learned SO much in these tutorials. I have such a better understanding of what each function does. And if you want to see my tries today, I am happy to post them. Maybe you can tell me which would have been best, if they were in focus? (No wise cracks on my goofy expressions! LOL) I think I fixed my decimal point issue though! Doh!

# 1 - P Mode (I believe my settings were ISO 400, SS 125, F 5.6

# 2 - Manual with same setting as in P Mode, FEC was 0

# 3 - Manual with same setting as in P Mode, FEC was .3 (Maybe this one would have been ok?)

# 4 - Manual with same setting as in P Mode, FEC was +.3

# 5 - Manual with same setting as in P Mode, FEC was +.7

# 6 - Manual with same setting as in P Mode, FEC was +1.  (Sorry for being a page hog, everyone. Thank you though.)

Ohhh you were doing Selfs... Yeah you would have had to focus on something in manual focus like the hand rail or something.

Don't tell anyone they are out of focus.. say,  It's a "Glam Blur" 

See gtrman, not only is she hardworking...she is cute to boot!

Oh BTW the background exposures were perfect and you found out how to use the FEC and it's effect so  A+ 

Hehe... yeah, I did that on purpose! Thank you for the nice compliment and the great grade! Yahoo!! Happy dance!

And I did start trying some other stuff, right after I did these. Me on the bench swing under a shady tree... but it began to rain so I stuffed the camera under my shirt and ran into the house! (But I was using the same method. P mode, then manual with flash) I know what I did wrong on this one too... thanks to your good teaching. My Shutter speed was way slow and I was moving a lil on the swing. Err, I mean... I did it on purpose, 'glam blur'!

Here is my homework teach!  I think I still need to work on this one...in camera the color looks good but not so much on my monitor.

"p" mode I think the settings were 1/50 f5.6 no flash

"m" mode no flash

fec +2...oops model on the run!

fec +1

fec +1/3

Please note that my daughter did her own hair just for y'all! Oh and this was my first time using photobucket so I will figure out how to turn the pictures next time.

Awesome you guys... The color issue looks like a White Balance issue.. Which is coming real soon to a Summer School near you.

Plus, you can see how the use of the FEC is almost more of an art than a science..You get to choose how much fill you want, and the effect you want.

But isn't nice to have some BALANCE this week everyone?  That was the main idea and goal. to avoid that ugly "obviously used flash" look to your photos, and balance out the background a bit.

Now comes the fun homework...practise like crazy... any chance you get to work with flash. take these hints and try them out.

Gtrman.. Okay..lets move on to #6 gang... Get your fireworks shots ready !!!

little white balance fix and crop... done done aaaaaand done...

 oops...sorry on the copyright... !  stupid lightroom

i didnt just adopt your daughter did I?

hahah

fixing now

Ohhhh!  I have trouble with that white balance thing....I'm fine with the fix that you did!  Thank you so much!

~neo

 I'm a newbie- my first post! Getting ready fora few intensive senior sessions next week and wanted to make sure I could get this right on the first try! There was a beautiful sunset tonight- I wish we had been more prepared, I could have shot some great photos for my portfolio!

 Here is my try ISO 500, 1/160, f/5.6, 32mm

ok newbie here.. so don't yell at me when I ask this really stupid question.  I have read my manual and did what it said and can not for the life of me, figure out how the heck to change the speed and f./.  It's just stuck at bulb and f6.3.  I'm getting really frustrated.  I have a Canon XTI btw.

Thanks for any help!

Hinich:

ok newbie here.. so don't yell at me when I ask this really stupid question.  I have read my manual and did what it said and can not for the life of me, figure out how the heck to change the speed and f./.  It's just stuck at bulb and f6.3.  I'm getting really frustrated.  I have a Canon XTI btw.

 

Thanks for any help!

Flow these instructions from your manual . If It doesn't work, try setting your camera to Auto and see if your camera is working if it is go back to  Manual mode again and try again.. If it still won't change, Your camera is broken....as long as you are SURE you are following the directions

I'm a dork!  My hubby helped me figure out what I was doing wrong.  I was turning the wrong dial.  thank you for your help! :)

 Gtrman - I LOVE YOU!!!  This is something I have been wanting to do for SO so long.  and now I can!  I didn't get a sunset until this past weekend - do ya believe it?  (It is true, though the days at Cape Cod were great every night I was there the clouds came in just before sunset - unless I was out to dinner or someplace where I could not try it.  lol)