Hello, folks...looking for some ideas here. Yesterday I took a picture of my daughter (age 7 1/2 months) during her nap. (It's my picture for today...I couldn't figure out how to attach it to this post). She was near a window (about 5 feet away), but it was late afternoon and her room is on the east side of the house, so the light was both diffuse and weak. However, I wasn't about to light up the room and wake the baby using the flash, so the result was this very dark shot. I liked the composition and the atmosphere, but it came out darker than I would have liked. I dislike using the flash as a rule, except when I must, but I run into this problem frequently. I am mainly talking about indoor shots here. The natural light coming into my house is so-so except in a couple of places; when the kids are in those places, we have no problems. How do I compensate for the dimness elsewhere? I had the ISO up as high as it would go, but my technical knowledge sort of peters out after that. Anybody have pointers you'd be willing to share?
Hi looks like you have checked most obvious things. As you say you need some more light to get into the camera. If you can change the lens a 50mm f1.8 might help. Maybe get a small tripod or gorilla pod and use S shutter priority for a longer exposure. Or could you sneak a table lamp in with a low watt bulb just to top the light up?
A longer exposure is a great idea. I too take a fair amount of photos indoors of my 8 1/2 month old. I took a reading lamp in his room and point it upwards to light up the room a fair amount but not as bright as the ceiling light. I also bounce my on camera flash off the ceiling...I was so nervous about trying to use it but was amazed that he didn't even stir...you might try it towards the end of a nap and see how she responds. And I use my 50mm f/1.8 lens like @godders mentioned. Good luck!
You also shot it at 1/125th of second, you could've shot it lower. 1/60th of a second is ok hand held, but you can go lower if you and your subject are still, or as Paul said, use a tripod.
I do not know your camera, but does it have a spot meter? A lot of people use matrix, but this has its limits in low-light situations, esp when the light is patchy like your photo. Matrix metering system looks at where you focused within the frame and marks it more important than all other zones in the frame, and takes them into account. If you shoot on spot metering, and focus on the light spot, the camera will expose that part correctly, and disregard the rest.
All this is fine, but its good to remember that a camera may never do what you want, simply because there is not enough light. Bringing in another light source, even, as Paul said again, a bedside lamp on your child. Need to make sure you change your light settings tho, unless you like the orange colour that tungsten light brings.
Great suggestions...thanks for your help! I just got a tripod for Christmas, so that's a good thought. @FunnyFace: I do have a metering system (although I'm still learning how to use it...this would probably be a good "practice" situation). I'll do some experimenting (happily, naptime happens on a daily basis). :) Thanks!
Others have covered it I think. My initial thoughts would be get a lens on with as low f stop as you can. 50mm f1.8 or f1.4 would get you there. Also a long exposure would also work. 10 seconds or so. Also if you are running handheld raise your iso as much as you need.
Also consider increasing ISO speed. You will want to see how fast you can set it before the graininess gets to be unacceptable. I suspect that spot metering would be best; recognize that your background will be blown out (overexposed) but the subject will be lit correctly.
Looking at. Your image it is way too dark so to summarize what others have said.
Shutter speed. Hand hold down to 1/50
ISO this will Depend on your camera but I would suggest your camer should only go to 800 before you get too much noise
F stop. Get your lens going as fast as it can by having your f stop at the lowest number
Flash. Have a look at my profile. You will see a couple of links in there with tips on flash.
Good luck and drop my name in the comments of your pictures if you want me to swing past and offer advice.
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I do not know your camera, but does it have a spot meter? A lot of people use matrix, but this has its limits in low-light situations, esp when the light is patchy like your photo. Matrix metering system looks at where you focused within the frame and marks it more important than all other zones in the frame, and takes them into account. If you shoot on spot metering, and focus on the light spot, the camera will expose that part correctly, and disregard the rest.
All this is fine, but its good to remember that a camera may never do what you want, simply because there is not enough light. Bringing in another light source, even, as Paul said again, a bedside lamp on your child. Need to make sure you change your light settings tho, unless you like the orange colour that tungsten light brings.
My friend Carrie made it into click mag on how to shoot in low light.
Take a look at her work. She is amazing!!!
Shutter speed. Hand hold down to 1/50
ISO this will Depend on your camera but I would suggest your camer should only go to 800 before you get too much noise
F stop. Get your lens going as fast as it can by having your f stop at the lowest number
Flash. Have a look at my profile. You will see a couple of links in there with tips on flash.
Good luck and drop my name in the comments of your pictures if you want me to swing past and offer advice.