Going insane over this!

[joshuasky]

I have a general understanding of how all of the different elements work as I have been working with a vintage Pentax film camera. However I recently switched to Digital and purchased a Nikon D3000. I am generally content with how prints are coming out however I've been having a ridiculously hard time getting lighting while indoors and even sometimes out. For instance: I attached two pictures, one from my slr (f-5.4) and one from my 3 mega-pixel cellphone. Ironically, the lighter one is from my cell. If anyone could tell me what I might be doing wrong or if there's a setting I should change It would be more than greatly appreciated!

-joshua

[OsmosisStudios]

Notice where the sun hits the floor in your second image, all you get is white? Your dSLR must be set to Spot metering, which means it's exposing for that spot. Because it's SO much brighter than the rest of the scene, you're only getting that bright spot properly exposed: the rest is dark.

Try changing the metering mode to Matrix, and see what happens.

[i speak in math]

Agreed, it all depends on how and where you are metering.

You might get more help in an alternate sub-forum; this one is about lighting, not exposure.