aperture priority and shutter speed

[Roxyj]

Canon 350d
iso 800
75mm
f/4.0
1/20
No flash

Hi Im having real trouble getting my photos in focus. The room the above picture was taken in was well lit by a large window. I am asuming that the picrure is not in focus because the shutter speed is too low and is causing motion blur. I am using aperature priority mode (I have read this is a good setting for portraits) so the camera picks the shutter speed I have bumped the iso right up but it doesnt seem to make a difference. Its sooo frustraiting Where am I going wrong?? any advice will be apriciated

[qoedjo]

looking at your settings, they're not saying that the room is well lit like u said it was.
when you bump the iso that high and the shutter speed still that low, that says the room is quite dark.
whenever im in this situation and i want to freeze the object, im forced to use the flash lite.

[Roxyj]

Im still learning and am finding light quite confusing. I wanted to avoid using the fash if possible. any advice on light? also should I think about using full manual mode to gain more control?

[BigFuzzy]

Yeah, agree that the settings imply it's not as bright as you think. It's definitely an issue of too-slow shutter speed. You should try to get at least 1/60th when handholding.

Can you get the subject closer to the window next time?

In the end there's not much we can suggest other than bumping the ISO even higher or a wider aperture (which I don't think is possible, right?). You simply need more light to allow you a faster shutter speed. You do that either by finding better natural light or using a flash. Don't be afraid of flash.. used properly (ie bounced or off camera and not shot directly at subject) you wouldn't be able to tell flash was used. If you only have a pop-up, consider searching online for pop-up flash diffusers or bouncers.

Sadly you simply need more light.. how you get it in the image is up to the conditions or the kit you have.

[OsmosisStudios]

Change your metering more to a centre-weighted and try it again.

You've got motion blur from a 1/20s shutter speed, but youve also missed focus: it's on the elbow, not the eyes.

[JFSanders]

Exposure is a balance between three elements. Shutter speed, aperture, ISO.

Go here: Exposure explained with a camera simulator to try it out on.

If you are not using a tripod or some other means to hold the camera in position other than your hands then the rule of thumb is shutter speed should be the reciprocal of focal length. So if your composition is using 75mm then you should have at a minimum 1/80 shutter speed. If the available light at 1/80 makes the triangle call for a wider aperture than you can set, then raise the ISO until you get an aperture that you can set. If that doesn't work then you have to either use a tripod or add light. If the ISO is so high that you get noise and you have to lower the ISO then your triangle will be affected by that and you will either have to go with a tripod or add light.

There is no other way around it.

Focus as was said by OS, should always be on the eyes of a live subject. Either move the subject around so the light falls in a pleasing manner or add a fill light. If you are in a room that has bright walls and a white or pleasing off white color then bounce your flash with a bounce card. Can be home made with a 5x7 card held under the pop up flash so that the light is bounced up at a 45 degree angle to the ceiling. Spot meter the face and spot focus the eyes. At f/4 and 75mm your Depth of Field is less than 1/2 inch. So focus is going to be really difficult and very important.

If you get the impression that I am suggesting that you get a tripod, you would be correct. Or you can get flash guns and go off camera or use a diffuser such as Lumiquest or Fong.

Jim

[Roxyj]

hi thanks for all the great advice.

have went back to basics and re- read my cameras manual and changed some of the AF and metering settings fingers crossed this should help with focusing on the eyes. ive dusted off my tri pod too. so I will go off and practice practice practice and hopeful come back with betters shots.