Nikon D7000 need help

[Lori Hill]

Recently just purchased my first DSLR the Nikon D7000 with the kit lense 18-105mm. My photography lessons don't start until April. I attend dances once a month put on by a friend and am she has me doing photos for her to allow me to learn. No extra lighting equipment is brought in as it would ruin the atmosphere. I have played with my settings from reading tutorials and such and am having major problems. One minute I can get a nice clear pic the next a total blur. She owns a Nikon D50 with kit lense 18-55mm and can just snap pics using the factory settings and has no issues.
Any help would be appreciated.

I have blackened out peoples faces in the photos for privacy reasons, but it doesn't hamper the quality of what I am looking for help on.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

flash distance matters too, not just flash power.

[Lori Hill]

I was standing in almost the exact spot for both pics as well as many others. Sometimes the camera was able to focus and sometimes not.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

it's difficult for a camera to find something to focus on in the dark. try going manual.

[ptremb3043]

If you look at the lower photo the camera focused on the cabinet to the lower left where the most contrast was. You may want to change to a single point focus to prevent random grabbing of your focus position, you will also need more light than what you have in that picture as it looks almost cave dark. Think of it this way if you have a hard time seeing what you want to photograph than the camera won't be able to see it at all as the eye can adjust much better to the dark. What program do you use to view your photos. If you use any of the nikon programs there is a button to press that shows where your "focus point " was selected.

[autofocus]

A few questions and a few comments:
Are these shot with the built in flash, or a shoe mounted speedlight? If a speedlight, any diffuser or bounce being used?

What was the time span between shots?...sometime you will need 3-5 seconds for the flash to fully charge between shots often causing a dark second shot if fired to quickly in succession.

I noticed you shot these in shutter priority at 1/20..this may give you some blurring at that slow speed. Also, in aperture priority, and in this mode, the camera will assume you are using your flash for fill purposes. You may be better off just shooting in auto of P mode for these situations until you get more training...you just may see better results. Also, shooting in manual mode with a speedlight (if you have one) will yield some better results for you once you understand how to use it.

[sk66]

Focus mode and metering mode are not the same.

Try different metering patterns. Usually spot/center works best for these situations.

[Lori Hill]

thank you all so much for your help
I didn't even notice the focus grabbed the cabinet in the bottom picture......wow
I'll try out all your suggestions.
I also found out last night while playing with it in my pitch black room that if I turn off the live view screen and use the eyepiece viewfinder the assist illuminator turns on and lights the way ........OMG if I could only memorize this mega manual I would have known that when I needed it.
again thank you for your help it is much appreciated

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by autofocus

In aperture priority, and in [shutter priority] mode, the camera will assume you are using your flash for fill purposes.

Really?! Why isn't this better known?!

[KenRC51]

Try turning the focusing light, it will help the camera focus before it takes a shot.