Beginning again

[ElleOwl]

I got my Nikon D60 a week ago or so and have been attempting to relearn everything about an SLR due to not using one in 5+ years so Im hoping everyone here could be of help

I think it may be a little over exposed? The colors look washed out... (hat, water) Id like to be able to have full manual control over my pictures so advice in that area would be helpful. Thanks!





Camera: Nikon D60
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/5.3
Focal Length: 44 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[sybren]

Yep, it indeed looks a little over exposed.

If you want to have manual control, just switch it to manual mode

[ElleOwl]

Thanks I guess I was wondering what would be a better manual setting to correct the over exposure in this picture...

[simona.boglea]

I think you can start by reducing your ISO speed, you don't need 200 on a sunny day. She is lovely though I really like the expression on her face.

[ttosifa]

I'm going for a tad underexposed, or possibly just right. Remember, you should be exposing for the part of the picture that you want the true tonality. In this case, I am guessing it is her face. Yes, the light on her shoulders and nose is very bright, but that's because the lighting is terrible. It is a lighting issue, not an exposure issue. I'd say the auto mode in your camera did a credible job.

For many Nikons, ISO 200 is native mode - you get your best colors and dynamic range at that ISO setting.

[ElleOwl]

Thanks for the advice.. Do you know why 200 ISO is native for most Nikon's?? Does it have to do with the lens? I'm trying to stuff my little brain full of as much knowledge as possible So that means most of the time I use any non-manual settings its probably going to go for 200 ISO instead of 100?

[ttosifa]

Originally Posted by ElleOwl

Thanks for the advice.. Do you know why 200 ISO is native for most Nikon's?? Does it have to do with the lens? I'm trying to stuff my little brain full of as much knowledge as possible So that means most of the time I use any non-manual settings its probably going to go for 200 ISO instead of 100?

I don't know if it's true for most Nikons -- I'll choose many instead. It is true for my D700, but I don't know about others. And I don't know the technical reasons why Nikon engineers decided on ISO 200 as the native mode. It probably doesn't have anything to do with particular lens, but the lenses might be generally designed with that in mind. I dunno.

If you are interested in lighting control, check out The Best of Dean Collins on Lighting at:

http://www.software-cinema.com/train...ns-on-lighting

It took me a while to figure out how to understand and apply his principles. Once I did, my photography improved many-fold. The proper exposure captures the true tonality of the subject, which in your photo I would argue is her face. Shadows and highlights are not *generally* controlled by exposure -- they are controlled by modifying the lighting and keeping a proper exposure of the subject. I previously described the lighting here as terrible, but I retract that. It's just that spot of light that hits her nose that is a bit unwelcome. But, hey, it's a candid shot and sometimes you just gotta take the picture!

[ElleOwl]

@ ttosifa:

Thank you so much for all your help, It really is appreciated! Its nice to have a place to come for help on my photography since its something I love and look forward to improving.