Help!!! Shadows!!!!

[kntrygurl]

i took my lights out again and played around with them. i'm not liking the results i got.
I am still real new to all this and am only doin this as a hobby but i would love to know how to get those great lookin photographs without havin to buy them.

here are three of the pics that i took. i do not like the flash shadow. when i took the flash off they came out very blurry. can you tell me what settings i need to be using while taking indoor portraits.

i know i need to iron the backdrop and i will when i get the hang of the settings. right now i do not like them enuff to hang on the wall.


Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2009:02:17 16:35:23
Resolution: 683 x 1024
Flash Used: Yes (manual, red eye reduction...
Focal Length: 42.0mm (35mm equivalent: 68mm...
CCD Width: 22.28mm
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO Equiv.: 400
Whitebalance: Auto
Exposure: program (auto)




Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2009:02:17 16:29:31
Resolution: 683 x 1024
Flash Used: Yes (manual, red eye reduction...
Focal Length: 46.0mm (35mm equivalent: 74mm...
CCD Width: 22.28mm
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO Equiv.: 400
Whitebalance: Auto
Exposure: program (auto)



Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2009:02:17 16:12:48
Resolution: 683 x 1024
Flash Used: Yes (auto, red eye reduction m...
Focal Length: 30.0mm (35mm equivalent: 48mm...
CCD Width: 22.28mm
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
Aperture: f/4.0
ISO Equiv.: 400
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: Portrait Mode

[Nicole]

I just moved your thread over to the photographing people section so that you can keep all 3 pictures up and hopefully get some help on your settings. All the rules for the critique sections are here.

Could you maybe give us an idea of what settings you were using? That way we can help determine if your photos are blurring because of the shutter speed, aperture, or focus. Thanks!

[lputman]

Hi kntrygurl. I am going to assume that you used auto-focus and let the camera do everything. Manually set your focus point, instead of letting the camera choose it, and get focus on an eye or right in between both eyes.

ETA: Using the ZoomBrowser software, you can actually see where the focus points used.

[kntrygurl]

Originally Posted by lputman

Hi kntrygurl. I am going to assume that you used auto-focus and let the camera do everything. Manually set your focus point, instead of letting the camera choose it, and get focus on an eye or right in between both eyes.

ETA: Using the ZoomBrowser software, you can actually see where the focus points used.

i set the focus point on his face. most of the time right between the eyes.

[Jim Bryant]

Are you using studio strobes, or flash on camera? Looks like direct flash on camera. Maybe move the kid away a bit more from the background.

[kntrygurl]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Are you using studio strobes, or flash on camera? Looks like direct flash on camera. Maybe move the kid away a bit more from the background.

i have two continuous lights set up with white umbrellas on them. plus i have the 430EX on the camera.

[lputman]

Well, you really didn't choose the focus point. When your camera is set in a fully automatic mode, as in portrait, the camera chooses everything. On the last one, see where the camera focused:
Untitled-1.jpg

[Jim Bryant]

are you talking about flood lights, with the light being bounced from the umbrellas? You're direct flash on the camera is causing the shadows.

Originally Posted by kntrygurl

i have two continuous lights set up with white umbrellas on them. plus i have the 430EX on the camera.

[kntrygurl]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

are you talking about flood lights, with the light being bounced from the umbrellas? You're direct flash on the camera is causing the shadows.

i have (2) 6800 watt daylight bulbs that go into light stands with a white umbrellas that came with the light set i use as a diffuser. i know that the flash was what was providing the shadow and when i took it off the pic would be blurry or dark. if i bounce it off the ceiling or the wall its to white. if i turn the power down then it turns orange. what am i doin wrong? are the lights not bright enuff?

[Jim Bryant]

You have two 6800 lights is that a typo? Do you ahve something on the order of this? http://www.eoslightingllc.com/photog...FRk_awodnTiUdQ

Originally Posted by kntrygurl

i have (2) 6800 watt daylight bulbs that go into light stands with a white umbrellas that came with the light set i use as a diffuser. i know that the flash was what was providing the shadow and when i took it off the pic would be blurry or dark. if i bounce it off the ceiling or the wall its to white. if i turn the power down then it turns orange. what am i doin wrong? are the lights not bright enuff?