Photo Irritation

[EmilyRussom]

This is a photographic expression of my irritation - and also includes Tiki!



For all of the genius camera owners - why does the background always appear MUCH clearer than the foreground?

She went outside today - and then went to the store with us - she had a fabulous time!

Still - the camera - which is very awesome and expensive - annoy more than I ever thought possible?

I'm open to any and all feedback.

 

[Caramell]

I'm definitely NOT a camera expert, but I think that kind of stuff usually happens when the subject is too close to the lens, so if the lens isnt too powerful, it doesnt focus as well. Also it happens to me if I use the zoom function and put the camera closer to the subject, so I usually set my camera to take large sized pics and then just crop them later.

Hope I helped in some way!

 

[EmilyRussom]

LOL.... thanks

I think I'm jealous of some of the absolutely gorgeous closeups people have achieved.

It has aperture settings of ALL KINDS, and in addition to that - name a setting with fifteen sub-settings - it has it.

I'll figure it out or go insane trying. One out of twelve pictures looks great.

 

[Beardednoob]

LOL.... thanks

I think I'm jealous of some of the absolutely gorgeous closeups people have achieved.

It has aperture settings of ALL KINDS, and in addition to that - name a setting with fifteen sub-settings - it has it.

I'll figure it out or go insane trying. One out of twelve pictures looks great.

I am also jealous of some of the more recent pictures I have been coming across though they most likely are using very expensive equipment. :wink:

 

[Mirthy]

They there, this is Mirthy's hubby, the camera expert of the two of us so not saying a heck of a lot there but here goes.

The problem is that the focus is not the foreground like you wish but the background. Usually this is caused by what you are focused on. Most cameras when you press lightly on the button it focuses on the center of the image in view although sometimes your settings might change this, such as focusing off center or looking for a face to focus on. Another problem might just be that the very center of the photo wasn't on the dragon. There is also the possibility that other factors affected the auto focus, like the sensor is dirty, or there is something that the sensor is picking up rather than what you wish to focus on, like the glass of a viv. But simple experiments might help you find where the focus likes to be. Put a very obvious object like a wine bottle in front of you close on a table and focus on the very top of it it while keeping the table out of the shot. The auto focus will auto adjust when it is in the spot that it likes to favor. move above the very top of it until it focuses on something other than the bottle and then to the right or left until you find the sweet spot. Or you just have to work with manual focus to get it right if it just doesn't want to work for you.

Ok the next thing to cover is aperture. Its represented by F4 to F20 or so, the lower the F number the more it focuses just on the subject and it blurs the rest while the higher the number the more it draws everything else into focus, making for less blur....the advantages? well other than what was said, the more you want in focus the more light needed. F4, for instance requires less light. F20 works well outside during the day....Now for the look, for a portrait, using the lower numbers makes for a better look, making the focus of the picture be more important and the rest softer, the higher numbers lessen this effect until it basically draws everything into focus, so using the F20 might solve the focus problem.

If you want more I can do shots along with explaining everything. I tried to simplify things a bit but can go into greater details and technical jargon, If its a digital, just keep shooting until you get these points down, and as always, have fun with it.


((and hi from Mirthy, too!))

 

[EmilyRussom]

WOW. And I do mean wow. THANK YOU. That was a very kind, in depth post

There's also something called, "exposure comp" that goes from -2.0 to +2.0 - I will play with that too I KNOW this thing has the capabilities of producing a stellar picture - I just need to figure out how, LOL!

 

[roseplummer]

Cute dragon!
I have no camera expertise to offer lol

 

[suzjohnson]

Sometimes when I'm in a hurry and don't want to change settings, I put the camera in Portrait mode, back away then telephoto subject to fill viewfinder. Gets nice soft backgrounds. What kind of camera do you have?

Suzanne

 

[Atrax]

Next time use Macro function ("Tulip/flower" sign), that will make shots from close distance clearer and more focused.

 

[suzjohnson]

Next time use Macro function ("Tulip/flower" sign), that will make shots from close distance clearer and more focused.

I should try that. Thanks! I see you have Ts. Me too, only 9 though.

Suzanne

 

[Atrax]

Next time use Macro function ("Tulip/flower" sign), that will make shots from close distance clearer and more focused.

I should try that. Thanks! I see you have Ts. Me too, only 9 though.

Suzanne

Yes I do have T's, they are amazing animals too.

 

[suzjohnson]

LOL.... thanks

I think I'm jealous of some of the absolutely gorgeous closeups people have achieved.

It has aperture settings of ALL KINDS, and in addition to that - name a setting with fifteen sub-settings - it has it.

I'll figure it out or go insane trying. One out of twelve pictures looks great.

Emily, I got two videos through Amazon put out by Blue Crane Digital that takes you through the basics as well as advanced topics. They've been so helpful. They do them for a lot of camera models and might have them for yours as well. I also tried the "For Dummies" book, and it is good, but the videos are much quicker. You can stop the video and practice what they have just demonstrated. Really neat!

I have to apologize for not noticing that in the photo you displayed, your dear dragon was out of focus. I really shouldn't do this without my glasses and I should read an entire posting.

Suzanne

 

[Mirthy]

There's also something called, "exposure comp" that goes from -2.0 to +2.0 - I will play with that too I KNOW this thing has the capabilities of producing a stellar picture - I just need to figure out how, LOL!

exposure comp affects things related to how dark or how light you want your subject to be. I think the plus will make it lighter and minus will make it darker. Depending on the camera it affects a few things, even flash to cause the effect, this helps create a control over lighter colored subjects so they aren't washed out, or darker ones from looking like shadows, or it can make such into such if that is what you wish. Experiment and have fun.