Help please!

[Happy_Mummy]

I got a Canon T2i for Christmas with 2 kit lenses and external flash and I'm struggling a bit finding the right settings for getting the exposure right. I am new to using a dSLR, so I'm sure it is something to do with me and not the camera. Overall I'm finding they turn out dark, not really dark, just a bit underexposed. Hubby thinks the photos are great and clear, but I just feel like I could do better, just not sure how to get there. Any suggestions other than practice and play with settings (obviously key!)? I know it would be best to take photos outside in natural light, but at -10C (14F) to -20 (-5F) I don't really want to drag the kids outside!!! Also I mostly take photos as keepsake memories for family photobooks, so love the candid type photos of the kids playing or reading or birthdays, etc.

I will also say that the area that I shoot in mostly is not backlit with a window, typically there is a wall behind the kids, or our kitchen which is darker. Also I'm reluctant to use a narrow aperture since kids move so fast and become out of focus so fast. I have tried the auto settings as well as aperture priority and shutter priority.

One last question... I take photos of the girls' art work for a preschool photobook. The location I use is our off white carpet near a north facing window for the natural light. I find every photo is dark. I think it is because of the flash's location and how close I need to be to take the photo. That said, it's not like I"m right on top of it - I stand to take the photo, so about 4-5 feet away, could this be out of range of the flash?

I really want to get this figured out before August as that is when #4 comes a long and I would love to have fun with getting some really nice newborn photos!

I will try to add some photos shortly so you can see what I'm talking about the photos being dark.

Any advice would be helpful!

Thank you in advance!

[inkista]

Just for clarification, what are the lenses and flash you have? (I'm guessing an EF-S 18-55 IS, EF-S 55-250 IS, and 430EX, but....) And how are you using the flash? (on the camera hotshoe or off-camera?) And what software do you have for processing your photos?

And can you post some examples with EXIF information? (Completely understand, though, if you're reluctant to put pics of the kids up on a public website).

My kneejerk advice would be increase your ISO to 1600 and get an EF 50mm f/1.8 II, but that could be completely wrong.

[autofocus]

Tori, have you tried bumping up your flash output? Flash photography can be tricky, especially for a beginner. Are you bouncing your flash, or using a flash diffuser? Bounced flash will be more flattering, but you'll probably have to increase the output of the flash. Learning how to read and interpret your histogram to make some of those adjustments will help. BTW, many shots look real good on the camera's LCD screen, but are somewhat dark when loaded on the computer. This is a common problem, and most photos will need to be tweaked a little in post processing. Are you doing any post processing?

[autofocus]

My kneejerk advice would be increase your ISO to 1600 and get an EF 50mm f/1.8 II, but that could be completely wrong

Not sure how helpful this will be. Because of the camera's sync speed you'll still be shooting with the 50mm at a smaller f/stop..probably at ~f/5.6, or there abouts. So the extra speed of the lens doesn't really buy you anything. Bumping the ISO up may also reduce the flash output, so she still may be faced with slightly dark images...only with more noise. I still believe that bumping up the flash is her best option

[inkista]

I was thinking in terms of the new baby and getting shots sans flash, actually. But there's also a reason I said "kneejerk" and added the rider "but this could be completely wrong." I think you're also being premature in coming to a decision on what to do. We don't have enough information to know what's going on and whether the underexposure the OP is discussing is the subject or background or both. If it's just the background that's underexposed and the subject is fine, then increasing the flash output is only going to make things worse.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by inkista

I was thinking in terms of the new baby and getting shots sans flash, actually. But there's also a reason I said "kneejerk" and added the rider "but this could be completely wrong." I think you're also being premature in coming to a decision on what to do. We don't have enough information to know what's going on and whether the underexposure the OP is discussing is the subject or background or both. If it's just the background that's underexposed and the subject is fine, then increasing the flash output is only going to make things worse.

I guess we'll just have to wait for her to fill in the blanks. My interpretation of what she said is that the entire image is underexposed. If the subject in her shots are exposed OK, but with a dim underexposed background I think most would believe the photo to be exposed OK, and that this is somewhat typical when using flash.

[Happy_Mummy]

Inkista you were mostly right the lenses I have are EF-S 18-55 IS, EF-S 55-250 IS, and the flash is 430EXII. As for how I use the flash, I use the camera hotshoe and even though it is on the camera often opts not to use the flash. Typically I bounce the flash off our white ceiling for pics of the kids, but for photos of their artwork I'm using the camera flash. The space I have on the carpet is small and it seemed the external flash that hangs out so far may not be flashing on the picture if that makes sense? It seems to do better with the on camera flash, thus why I guessed that was the case. Due to being pregnant I don't want to be moving the furniture around each time I have to take a photo of their art!

As for post processing I haven't jumped in on that yet. I have been taking pics in jpg. I hardly have time to get photos off the camera. let alone post processing. That and I get so nitpicky with things I could see myself draining hours of my time there? In any case, i have a mac and I'm not even sure what to start looking at for post processing, especially since I don't see using it a whole lot especially at first with my lack of time. I know it could make my photos better, but I'm just not sure tha ti have the time as I said. 4 kids 5 and under are going to keep me hopping since I'm already a bit run of my feet with my 3...

As for posting on fliker am I missing something? I use iPhoto on my mac and I like it for most things, but when it comes to posting most photos I find I have to save them to another folder before they can be uploaded. is there a way around this?

Autofocus - I have not idea how to bump up my flash output, please share! As for the histogram I feel pretty lost with what it is trying to tell me and how to interpret it. I have tried my good friend google, but have not found a really simple description of what it is telling me and how to use the info. I think I already answered the other questions in my reply to Inkista.

I will also say for newborn photos I will need to practice without the flash with on of the girls' dolls as I will likely use our west facing window in the morning ie for no sun, just natural light, but it is in our dinning room, not a place I'm sued to taking photos!

ALso sorry this took me so long to repost. I actually started hours ago and got side tracked several times looking after the kiddos!

Here are the photos I found as an example.

This one is kid's artwork and you can see how dark it is. I took it in auto and it decided it didn't need the flash. Not sure if the camera decided not to use it because it was too close for flash use?

This was taken auto
Shutter - 1/60
Aperture - f5.0
Flash off (I had this one on auto)
ISO - 250
Focal length - 39mm

This one shows the darker colour, and looking at the background it is actually quite accurate in colour - our walls are a pale grey colour. If anything I would say the walls are lighter in this pic than in real life. That said, I find the kids look dark for some reason.

Shutter - 1/60
Aperture - f4.0
Flash on - external flash
ISO - 1600
Focal length - 25mm

I have also included this photo to find out how others would take this photo. I love taking pictures of my kids reading in this corner, however I find it difficult to photograph given the tight space and I think I need a direct flash in the case. As you can see Martin squints as soon as the flash goes off even once. The lighting is normally not so tricky with that bit of sun given that we have an NW facing window in the room.

Shutter - 1/60
Aperture - f5.6
Flash on (external flash pointed at him since I didn't think it would bounce to light him up)
ISO - 400
Focal length - 51mm

[autofocus]

for starters:

You can adjust the flash output as easily as normal exposure
compensation. Flash exposure compensation can be set up to ±3 stops
in 1/3-stop increments. (If the camera’s exposure compensation is set in
1/2-stop increments, flash exposure compensation is set in 1/2-stop
increments.)

1

Press the <

8> button until the
<f> icon and compensation
amount start blinking.

2

Set the flash exposure
compensation amount.

��

Press the <9> button to set the
amount.

��

To cancel the flash exposure
compensation, set the amount to +0.

3

Press the <

8> button.

��

The flash exposure compensation
amount will be set.
This is for setting various numeric settings. Pressing the <6> (plus)

button

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Happy_Mummy

...Typically I bounce the flash off our white ceiling for pics of the kids...

Just a thought. But the flash's head swivels and tilts. You could bounce the light off the wall behind you, or above and to the back of yourself. You don't have to bounce it 45° forward. See: this article.

Ok, one more question. What mode do you normally use on the camera? (green-box auto, P, Av, Tv, M).

As for post processing I haven't jumped in on that yet. I have been taking pics in jpg. I hardly have time to get photos off the camera. let alone post processing. That and I get so nitpicky with things I could see myself draining hours of my time there?

Your intuition is correct. Post-processing can be a real timesink, but in this case, I also think it can pretty much help you out. Looking at your example photos, I don't really see any severe exposure issues, and all of them are within the realms of post-processing.

In any case, i have a mac and I'm not even sure what to start looking at for post processing...

For now, I'd say just stick with iPhoto until it frustrates you.

As for posting on fliker am I missing something? I use iPhoto on my mac and I like it for most things, but when it comes to posting most photos I find I have to save them to another folder before they can be uploaded. is there a way around this?

Are you using iPhoto '09? Or iPhoto '11?

... have not idea how to bump up my flash output, please share!

If you are using the flash in eTTL mode (it will say "ETTL" on the LCD), then you can use what's called flash exposure compensation (or FEC). On your T2i, use the flash control menu:

Go to the first red shooting menu, and at the bottom of the list, select "Flash control".
Then select "External flash function setting", then "flash exposure compensation". From there, you should be able to adjust the flash to be brighter or dimmer.

As for the histogram I feel pretty lost with what it is trying to tell me and how to interpret it.

Try this article: Understanding Histograms.

[Happy_Mummy]

The wall behind me is normally our black entertainment centre. Would that still work for bouncing the light? It seems really far away, but maybe not. I typically don't have it on the 45 angle, typically I have it right up so it goes off the ceiling.

As for the mode, I normally try to avoid complete auto (green box) as I figure it is pointless to have a camera like this if I use it in auto! I have tried Av and Tv. I did better with Av than with Tv, but I'm sure with practice I would judge what shutter speed was needed for the available light. It's just playing, but it is rare that I have time to truly play with the camera settings, a barrier that I need to overcome otherwise I won't get there. When I just want (or need) the photo to turn out I use portrait for the kids, so far it has worked out, I was worried the depth of focus would be too narrow for the kid's movement, but it works. Again though I don't want to only shoot on the auto modes, so I am trying to push myself to use the more manual settings.

As for iPhoto, it is actually iPhoto 08. And just to confirm, the adjustments could be done in iPhoto just by going into adjust and using the Levels line at the very top? I have tried messing with things individually to no avail.

Thank you for explaining the flash adjustments. I'm sure once I get far enough through my manuals it would make sense, but I'm trying to get through reading the dry material and I'm not doing the greatest!

Thank you for the article on the histogram. Now I understand more what it is for, now to try to apply it!