For one who doesn't post frequently, this is a seemingly random post, but I finally got caught up with Chickadee's blog and found that I've been missing out on her fabulous new series Using Your Camera Without Reading the Manual. Reading her tutorial about raising the ISO to avoid using a flash inspired me, so yesterday I poured over my much neglected uber-manual, Canon EOS 40D Guide to Digital Photography, and ventured away from the automatic settings to the manual ones.
This is the first picture I took, using the automatic Portrait setting (the picture of a face on the dial). The flash popped up automatically when I took the picture.
On this one, I went to one of the Manual modes and set the ISO to 400.
These are both straight out of the camera. In the first one, the flash caused her skin to look more yellow, while the second picture produced more natural skin tones. (Ironically, the ISO speed on both pictures is 400, but the flash popped up automatically on the automatic setting and didn't on the manual...puzzling.)The difficulty I had when switching to the manual settings was with FOCUS. I read in my manual, but still struggled to overcome the focus issues I was having (especially when my subject wasn't sitting perfectly still), so I'll have to keep playing, or perhaps my dear friend Chickadee can teach me about focus. ;)
And since I'm posting pictures, I must include one of the adorable fellow who insisted on moving while I was attempting to capture his picture. My sister got a Brittney Spaniel puppy for her birthday. Flash or no flash, he's the cutest thing!!!
Thanks, Chickadee for inspiring me to get out my manual and play. :) Anybody else who wants to join us can share your pictures at A Familiar Path.
Grace and Peace,
Angel
8 comments:
that dog is the cutest thing ever!
that's the whole reason you want to move from automatic. in automatic you flash will always pop up (well, maybe not outside, i can't remember). in manual you have to pop the flash up yourself if you want to use it. were you actually on m for manual?
try shooting for now in p (program mode) this sets everything except your iso and white balance. did you read the one on white balance?
it might make focusing easier.
i'm so glad you're participating!
LOVE the puppy's blue eyes!!!!
And I love the polka-dot ribbon in E's hair -- cuuuuute pics!!!
I'll have to hop on over to Chickadee's blog (cuz even if I knew where the manual was, I prolly wouldn't read it!!) -- shamefully, I have a D40 that rarely comes out of its bag! It's so heavy & cumbersome ... usually we use the Coolpix point-n-shoot.
Hey girl.
I have been trying this just the past month myself too. Seems to work so well!
I'm really enjoying your blog, and I want to thank you again for responding to my email the other day. I so appreciated it!
Blessings,
Sasha
That dog looks like a stuffed animal! My girl would go bonkers!! I'll be thinking about you this week. Hang in there. Put down the spackle...really...put it down. No spackle...no paint. :) Love you!!
Lovely pics of your daughter! And I agree. I try to avoid flash whenever possible.
That puppy is adorable!!!!
Jenny
Your puppy and little girl are very cute!
I agree- avoiding the flash can create a big difference in the quality of photos!
Good job...you really captured some very cute pictures! Have fun playing Angel!
Kimmie
mama to 7
one homemade and 6 adopted
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