First SLR Camera, looking for feed back.

[nicko97]

This is my first post so I hope its correct. I just bought my first SLR camera a couple of weeks ago and I'm trying to learn how to use Aperture Priority. I will mostly be using the camera to take pictures of my kids.

Nikon D5000
Shutter 1/60
Aperture F5.6
Focal length 55 mm
Exposure Bias 0.00
ISO 400
Flash on
Editing just cropped the picture a little bit.

One thing I noticed was if I used Portrait mode it would select similar setting with ISO 800. Switching to Aperture priority would often result in a very high ISO 2000 to 3200 and the pictures would look grainy so I decided to set ISO to 400, no real reason for 400 just thought I would give it a try.

I'm also using the kit lens that came with the camera, any advice on a good lens for taking pictures of kids. Most of the pictures I've been taking are in the house with lights on.

I thinks its very hard to take pictures of kids, because they don't like to sit still. I tried shutter priority but that hasn't worked out to well in the house. I was trying to prevent blurring when they move.

Thanks,

Mark

[sdstone00]

Mark - Check out this for some tips on using your new camera Ken Rockwell Guide

For the image, be sure to use the Rule-of-Thirds when you're not filling the frame with your subject. Try cropping the image in vertical filling the frame to see what I'm referring to. Another suggestion for less abrasive flash photography. Use some sort of diffuser between the pop up flash and the subject. When I first started, I taped a small piece of toilet paper to the pop up flash to make the light softer. The camera will adjust accordingly for the exposure, but your images will greatly improve just with that little adjustment.

[nicko97]

Thanks for the feed back Steve, I'll check out the web site and try the toilet paper trick on the flash.

Mark

[nicko97]

Hi Steve, I re-cropped the photo, does this look any better?

Thank,
Mark

[sdstone00]

Mark - One of the main reasons for cropping in, it helps eliminate any potential distracting backgrounds. In this case the Thomas the Engine toy has a bright blue color on it. A person's eye will naturally gravitate towards brighter areas of a photo. The crop does help as the toy takes up less of the frame. Generally, background should add to "What the picture is about?" vs competing with the subject. It will help tell the story of what you are trying to convey in your picture. Another method to accomplish similar things is to try shooting with a shallower depth of field (smaller number f-stop) This will help to blur the background. The higher you go with a zoom lens, the more blur you can get from the same f-stop. This is due to image compression. Sorry if this is getting to technical. Take a look at the attachment of your original image. All that was done was a little blur (simulates shallower depth of field) and darkened the background. This makes your daughter the brightest portion of the image with no competing bright spots.

[nicko97]

Hi Steve,

After taking another look at the photo I did notice that the train is a distraction. I didn't know that the eye is always drawn to brighter colors.

I've been trying to get the blurred background effect and I had the f-stop at the smallest number available. The lens can do f 3.5 at 18 mm and 5.6 at 55 mm. I've been looking at pictures online and I've noticed the ones with a real blurry background always have a lower f stop value. So I was wondering if you had a recommendation for a good lens where I can get lower f stop values. I also have a telephoto lens which I think might be 55 -200 mm but I haven't really used just yet. I was thinking this would be more of an outdoors lens.

Your edit came out great, it really drives home the point you are trying to make. What software program did you use? I've been thinking about trying Aperture because it integrates in with iPhoto an iLife. I know there are a lot of people out there using Lightroom but so far it seems like personal preference on which one is better.

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my post.

Mark

[sdstone00]

I use 2 different software's with various plug-ins added into them. I bring everything into Lightroom first for both the library function and the overall versatility of the software. If Lightroom can't quite get to what I want I take it into Photoshop.

Lens recommendation is tricky because of the D5000 camera body that you own. There are a lot of lenses that aren't fully compatible with your camera. Here's a link to a list of lenses that are all fully compatible. Probably one of the most inexpensive lenses that you can buy that will give you the lower f-stop value is the new Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens. This lens is fully compatible with your camera. Another suggestion is to join the D5000 flickr group. Many of the groups have active forums and suggestions that will help you with lens suggestions. If you would like, you can add me as a contact on your flickr account as well. I am more than willing to help teach about different things.

The 55-200 lens is a great lens. I have this lens and use it as my all around lens most of the time.

The image you shot was using your 18-55 with f/5.6 shot at 55mm. If you had used your 55-200 set to 55mm your f-stop would have been f/4. This would have blurred the background just a little bit more. With zoom lenses the more zoom you apply the greater the effect of the f-stop blurring effect. This is due to how the lens compresses the various items in the image onto the digital sensor. In other words, if you had taken the shot with the larger lens still at f/5.6 more of the background would have naturally blurred a little more.

[daddyoproductions]

Hiya, the prime lenses are fast, so can shoot with less light. We have the nifty fifty and it is amazing over the kit lens for low light, though adjusting to framing with it was hard for me because of the foot zoom. I like it for closeups of those beautiful kid faces. With kids, you need lots of light. If you can get them to sit still a bit, you can shoot in aperture priority, but put it on continuous shooting so you get a clear shot. (Usually let the cam choose the ISO...it's smarter than me most of the time!) If they are running around you have to use shutter priority for freezing the frame without blur. That's just how it is with kids. I haven't had much success with using flash (diffused with tp or no) cause all I have is the pop up so far. I stick to natural light...and lots and lots of bribery. Helps to sneak up on them too, when they don't know you're watching them. Keep on shooting!
~C

[sdstone00]

Originally Posted by daddyoproductions

Hiya, the prime lenses are fast, so can shoot with less light. We have the nifty fifty and it is amazing over the kit lens for low light, though adjusting to framing with it was hard for me because of the foot zoom. I like it for closeups of those beautiful kid faces. With kids, you need lots of light. If you can get them to sit still a bit, you can shoot in aperture priority, but put it on continuous shooting so you get a clear shot. (Usually let the cam choose the ISO...it's smarter than me most of the time!) If they are running around you have to use shutter priority for freezing the frame without blur. That's just how it is with kids. I haven't had much success with using flash (diffused with tp or no) cause all I have is the pop up so far. I stick to natural light...and lots and lots of bribery. Helps to sneak up on them too, when they don't know you're watching them. Keep on shooting!
~C

I too have the 50mm and love to use it with the kids and the fast action. Unfortunately, it is not compatible (it won't auto-focus) on the D5000.

[nicko97]

Originally Posted by sdstone00

I use 2 different software's with various plug-ins added into them. I bring everything into Lightroom first for both the library function and the overall versatility of the software. If Lightroom can't quite get to what I want I take it into Photoshop.

Lens recommendation is tricky because of the D5000 camera body that you own. There are a lot of lenses that aren't fully compatible with your camera. Here's a link to a list of lenses that are all fully compatible. Probably one of the most inexpensive lenses that you can buy that will give you the lower f-stop value is the new Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens. This lens is fully compatible with your camera. Another suggestion is to join the D5000 flickr group. Many of the groups have active forums and suggestions that will help you with lens suggestions. If you would like, you can add me as a contact on your flickr account as well. I am more than willing to help teach about different things.

The 55-200 lens is a great lens. I have this lens and use it as my all around lens most of the time.

The image you shot was using your 18-55 with f/5.6 shot at 55mm. If you had used your 55-200 set to 55mm your f-stop would have been f/4. This would have blurred the background just a little bit more. With zoom lenses the more zoom you apply the greater the effect of the f-stop blurring effect. This is due to how the lens compresses the various items in the image onto the digital sensor. In other words, if you had taken the shot with the larger lens still at f/5.6 more of the background would have naturally blurred a little more.

Hi Steve,

I read some reviews on the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens and so far they're all great. I did check out the 50 mm 1.8 the other day and didn't like that fact you had to manually focus, I didn't think it would be good for photographing kids. I'm having a birthday party for my two kids the end of the month, my daughter just turned 3 and my son just turned 1 so I want to try and get some great shots.

Thanks again for the advice.

Mark