Help Me!

[jmarie-photography]

I have been having trouble getting crisp clear photos, and it seems like all of my photos are under exposed. I have the Canon Rebel XTi and the Canon 28-135 mm lens. I have tried increasing the ISO and using the light metering system but am still having difficulities. Is it my camera, lens or me?? Any suggestions?

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by jmarie-photography

I have been having trouble getting crisp clear photos, and it seems like all of my photos are under exposed. I have the Canon Rebel XTi and the Canon 28-135 mm lens. I have tried increasing the ISO and using the light metering system but am still having difficulities. Is it my camera, lens or me?? Any suggestions?

You have two different things here: clarity/sharpness, and underexposure.

For clarity and sharpness, the best bet is to make sure you're focusing on the right thing. Your camera should briefly flash (or perhaps continuously) one of the autofocus points when it focuses -- make sure that is where you want it to be. In addition, having a slow shutter speed (such as would happen in low light) will often result in blurring, as your hands shake the camera. This can be helped by using a flash, improving the light, changing the ISO, etc.

Now, the part I'm worried about: you say "... and using the light metering system." What do you mean by this? Your camera has a built-in meter which, in P, Av, and Tv mode, automatically choose the exposure for you -- you don't have to "use" it in any way, it's automatically working for you. Are you using full-manual exposure mode? If so, why? Or, are you using a "semi-auto" mode such as Av and Tv? If so, what sort of settings are you using, and in what sort of circumstances?

More info will help!

[autofocus]

Dave pretty much covered the focus issue above, but cheer up, it's not uncommon for digital shots to come out of the camera a little under exposed. That's why Adobe Photoshop has enjoyed the success that it has. Part of the problem is that there's very little exposure latitude in digital photography...film was far more forgiving. That said, metering correctly at the time of the shot becomes absolutely critical. How you are metering as in Matrix, center weighted, or spot now also becomes very important. Understanding how your camera will respond to various lighting conditions also needs to be understood. As you grow with your camera these will be the things you will need to learn and understand...and by practicing enough, you will learn, and you will continue to learn...it's an ongoing process.

Vince

[jmarie-photography]

I mostly use P & AV modes with an ISO of 200-400, and evaluative metering mode. I mainly take outdoor photos. I may have stated the light metering system incorrectly, I meant I have been trying to use exposure compensation to help with my under exposed photos. It seems like I have to brighten almost all of my photos in photoshop. I do use auto focus but I still feel like my photos aren't as crisp as other photographers. I know I don't have the best equipment at this time and would love to upgrade in the next year or so. I do have a website www.jmarie-photography.com maybe you could give me some feedback.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by jmarie-photography

I mostly use P & AV modes with an ISO of 200-400, and evaluative metering mode. I mainly take outdoor photos. I may have stated the light metering system incorrectly, I meant I have been trying to use exposure compensation to help with my under exposed photos. It seems like I have to brighten almost all of my photos in photoshop. I do use auto focus but I still feel like my photos aren't as crisp as other photographers. I know I don't have the best equipment at this time and would love to upgrade in the next year or so. I do have a website www.jmarie-photography.com maybe you could give me some feedback.

I don't want to reiterate what David said, but as you compose your shot make sure you have a focus point directly on the part of the subject that is critically important..like the eyes in portraiture. While holding your shutter half way down, I find it's best to use your center focus point on that key part of your subject, continue to hold down the shutter half way, recompose your shot, and now completely depress your shutter. That will lock in the focus at that point. Another option, and maybe better, is to move, or dial in your focus point on to the key part of the subject, and shot it that way. Hope this helps

[autofocus]

Jessica, I did go to your web site...I'd have to say you know what you're doing. I didn't see any major exposure problems there...nice work

Vince

[jmarie-photography]

Thanks for the input! It's nice to hear that from someone who understands photography. I have been doing exactly what you stated in your last post for focus, and it has made a difference but I still think my shots don't look crisp (Maybe I am just being over critical of myself) but I wonder if I should have a better lens or camera for portrait photography??

[fletch]

Originally Posted by jmarie-photography

I do have a website www.jmarie-photography.com maybe you could give me some feedback.

Feedback on the website?

What did you make it do to my browser? Why did you want me to disable my pop up blocker? evil!

[irispatch]

Is the 28-135 the only lens that you are using? Have you considered upgrading to a better lens? I tried the 28-135 and found it to be too soft for anything that I wanted to enlarge. I think most photographers doing your type of work are using either the 24-70 f2.8 L or the 24-105 f4 L. If most of your work is done at the upper end of the range then a 70-200 f4L would be a very good choice. Quality work such as yours is ready for an upgrade to quality glass.

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by jmarie-photography

I do have a website www.jmarie-photography.com maybe you could give me some feedback.

Oh dear... your site opened a new window that took up my WHOLE screen, then started playing background music. If I were looking at hiring you, those would be likely to make me leave and find someone else. Sorry, but it's very true -- little (and big) things matter.