Macro Shots Too Dark Even with Lightbox?

[StudioEleven11]

Hi all. I need your take on a few of my images. I've created a lightbox to help with lighting but the shots still look dark to me. I'm using auto white balance with no flash and Macro turned on. My camera is a digital Nikon Coolpix S203. The light is a 100W equivalent compact fluorescent daylight bulb.

What seems to happen is that everything looks fine in the LCD but when I depress the button to focus, the shot gets darker and then captures that darkness.

I'm new to photography and want to get a SLR but my point and shoot is the best I have right now. Any recommendations?



Here's more images:
April Broken Plate Chipped China Necklace by StudioEleven11
Nautical Tangerine Feather Necklace by StudioEleven11 on Etsy

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by StudioEleven11

Hi all. I need your take on a few of my images. I've created a lightbox to help with lighting but the shots still look dark to me. I'm using auto white balance with no flash and Macro turned on. My camera is a digital Nikon Coolpix S203. The light is a 100W equivalent compact fluorescent daylight bulb.

What seems to happen is that everything looks fine in the LCD but when I depress the button to focus, the shot gets darker and then captures that darkness.

I'm new to photography and want to get a SLR but my point and shoot is the best I have right now. Any recommendations?

Hi StudioEleven11, and welcome to DPS,

I like your image of the broken pottery. The one of the feather has the feather a bit dark. Maybe your exposure is being dominated by bright areas.

You could consider trying Exposure Compensation, avaiilable on your camera with the +/- button. In cases where the image comes out darker in subject areas than what you might like, try increasing Exposure compensation by +1 or +2, or the reverse to reduce blown out areas of important.'

Check your manual on page 32 to see how this works.

[StudioEleven11]

AH! I didn't even think of that. I'll try that. Thanks so much!

[kingpatzer]

Always remember that your camera's meter is trying to evaluate an image as if it were neutral grey. If you are shooting something that is lighter than neutral grey you will need to increase exposure if you want it to appear as it does to your eye, or if you even might want it lighter than that. Likewise if you are shooting something that is darker than neutral grey you might have to lower the exposure from what the camera recommends.