I need help.... I bought a Interfit STR112 Silver/White 12" On-Camera Reflector and tried it on this photo. It is soooo grainy and I am really disappointed. Is it because the auto focus beam is hidden behind the camera? I had the ISO set at 100 and I thought there was enough light bouncing off the reflector.:(
Well you can see the reflection of the reflector in her eyes, so it's doing its job as far as reflecting some light back onto her.
But the image is underexposed. This is I think because of the backlighting. It's so bright behind her that the camera underexposed (assuming you were in an Auto mode).
The noise/grain is due to the underexposure. So instead of 1/60 at f/5.6, maybe 1/60 at f/4 if available, or else up the ISO to 200 or so.
Auto-focus beam doesn't have anything to do with it - that would make it a bit blurry if you weren't focused correctly, but wouldn't make the image dark or grainy.
The image is underexposed but while there is a small amount of noise in the image I don't see it as anything to be worried about. If anything it looks out of focus. To me the focus point is on the chest/neck not the eyes.
I would bump up the ISO 1 or maybe 1.5 stops.
I also think 1/60 is not quick enough to capture this type of subject. Good for people looking at you but a child moving..... Not so much. Just note if you speed up the shutter then you have increase the ISO to cater for that.
You got the right sunlight, I love the focus of the halo of crazy hair and her expression is adorable. :) I do agree, the focal point is not on her eyes, which is where it should be. Did you use a tripod or do handheld? If your lens doesn't open up more than f/5, I would bump the ISO up to even 300-320 or so. The background might be blown out a bit, but if you're trying backlit portraits, it usually is. Just set your aperture at the lowest number it will go with your focal length, set your ISO around 300, and experiment with shutter speeds. You might be able to get up to 200 or faster eliminating the need for a tripod. I generally despise using a tripod, but especially so when trying to shoot little wiggle worms. :)
@mikew@agima@sdpace Thanks for your help. I was in manual, but just trying to keep up with her means I don't really think the settings through. I need to learn to slow down and work the settings out before hand. You're right @sdpace a tripod is very hard with wriggly kids. And this one is the wriggliest! I will try again this evening. I just love backlit photos and really want to get it right :) Thanks again.
Just to clarify. The tripod will not help you if the subject is moving, it only helps if the camera need to be still.
Does that make sense?
Hand holding under 1/60 is ok if you have time. When I am out photographing horse events I am at around 1/200 and while this doesn't freeze the movement of a running horse it will if they are walking. Oh I also don't want to freeze a running horse as I still want movement in the legs.
If you have a back lit subject you will get blow out if you do not fill with flash
So I had another go. The kids weren't home, so my dog is today's model. Not as grainy. I used my prime lens and cranked down the aperture. Better? Besides the excessive editing.....
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But the image is underexposed. This is I think because of the backlighting. It's so bright behind her that the camera underexposed (assuming you were in an Auto mode).
The noise/grain is due to the underexposure. So instead of 1/60 at f/5.6, maybe 1/60 at f/4 if available, or else up the ISO to 200 or so.
Auto-focus beam doesn't have anything to do with it - that would make it a bit blurry if you weren't focused correctly, but wouldn't make the image dark or grainy.
The image is underexposed but while there is a small amount of noise in the image I don't see it as anything to be worried about. If anything it looks out of focus. To me the focus point is on the chest/neck not the eyes.
I would bump up the ISO 1 or maybe 1.5 stops.
I also think 1/60 is not quick enough to capture this type of subject. Good for people looking at you but a child moving..... Not so much. Just note if you speed up the shutter then you have increase the ISO to cater for that.
Does that make sense?
Hand holding under 1/60 is ok if you have time. When I am out photographing horse events I am at around 1/200 and while this doesn't freeze the movement of a running horse it will if they are walking. Oh I also don't want to freeze a running horse as I still want movement in the legs.
If you have a back lit subject you will get blow out if you do not fill with flash