DSLR Picture taking question

I know I'm seeing Summer this weekend for the photography class but I thought I'd ask here first.

I have a Nikon D40 and I want to take a picture of the kids in front of the tree with the christmas lights on...nothing else...no flash. Everytime I take a pic (and of course the kids are MOVING ) it's blurry. I just want the glow of the tree but the sharpness of the pic when I have the flash on.

Is this too much to ask? I knew I should have read the manual.

Re: DSLR Picture taking question

hey girl!

well, throw the camera in manual, and tweek some settings....

you are going to want a pretty high ISO, with a D40, i am not sure how high it is going to go or be able to go without grain/noise, but boost it....

you are going to want a LOW f-stop, you want to be really wide open as to let as much light in as possible (dont know what lens you have, but i am guessing you might be able to get a 4-5.6 or something?)

and you want a low shutter speed, maybe 1/10 or something to allow for those light to glow.....

a tripod- or set the camera on a table, or else if will ALWAYS be super blurry bc of natural camera shake....

cant wait to see what you come up with!

Re: DSLR Picture taking question

I have no idea Stef but I'm bookmarking this post

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Posted by DRMom

I have no idea Stef but I'm bookmarking this post

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I have the D60 and always wonder the same thing...I therefore always just use Auto...but sometimes it doesnt come out right...

Is there a class (pref. cheap) that you can take with these cameras??

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You definitely want a tripod or steady table for this shot. Use your timer or a remote if you have one to avoid camera shake when pressing the shutter.

Opening up really wide is going to get you the most light for a better exposure but it won't get you that really cool twinkling look. For that you want to close down as much as you can (higher f number) while still getting a good exposure.

I did this shot last year with Jake and I plan on doing it again this year with both the boys this weekend so I'll be happy post a tutorial and share some tips and sample pics of the two ways to do it.

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But don't the kids have to be "not moving" also. Otherwise, I think they will come blurry. Won't they?

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Posted by chelle

Posted by DRMom

I have no idea Stef but I'm bookmarking this post

Me too! I was just asking this same question!!

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Re: DSLR Picture taking question

Posted by BabyAvocado

Posted by Stefanie

I have two lenses...the 55-200 and the 18-55.

Because those are variable aperture lenses you'll get the widest aperture out of your 18-55 (F/3.5) but you'll have to zoom all the way out to 18mm. That's the lens that's going to collect the most light for you. You can zoom out and then move in closer (at the expense of a bit of lens distortion that could actually have a cool effect).

With the 55-200, you'll get f/4 (so a little bit less light) when you zoom all the way out. Depending on how much room you have to back up where you'll be taking the picture is going to have a little bit to do with which lens you use.

I would take a test shot during the day with the 18 @ 3.5 and see how much distortion you get. If it looks good, go with the 18-55mm. HTH

Re: DSLR Picture taking question

So I tested it out today with the kids sitting in front of a lite decoration and it worked.
I put the camera on a bench and you saw the glow of the lights in the background. But, like Sandra mentioned you don't get that closeup look and that's what I like too.

If you look through your view finder on the bottom you will see numbers. When you zoom out with the 18-55 you will see 3.5 and as you zoom in those numbers increase.

I also tried doing it on manual but my pictures weren't clear so I did it on auto with the flash off. I am not sure if it was correct but I still got that effect.

Re: DSLR Picture taking question

Posted by Stefanie

Posted by BabyAvocado

Posted by Stefanie

I have two lenses...the 55-200 and the 18-55.

Because those are variable aperture lenses you'll get the widest aperture out of your 18-55 (F/3.5) but you'll have to zoom all the way out to 18mm. That's the lens that's going to collect the most light for you. You can zoom out and then move in closer (at the expense of a bit of lens distortion that could actually have a cool effect).

With the 55-200, you'll get f/4 (so a little bit less light) when you zoom all the way out. Depending on how much room you have to back up where you'll be taking the picture is going to have a little bit to do with which lens you use.

I would take a test shot during the day with the 18 @ 3.5 and see how much distortion you get. If it looks good, go with the 18-55mm. HTH

Wow, Sandra...I really need to read the manual. I have no idea where the f stop stuff is on my camera...

Re: DSLR Picture taking question

Okay, I found this link on my old desktop that I used to use last year!!

This is all the info that I needed last year when I went to take a pic of my tree.....

you will need to take TWO photos, but this is the look that most people go for!

All you need to know!

Message edited 11/30/2009 5:43:49 PM.

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Thank you so much!! I'm going to charge up the camera and see what I can come up with.

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Great Info! I so want to take a class!!!

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Ah found it! Thanks! I'm going to try the instructions on the link that Summer posted when we put up our tree

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Sigh...if only Stef was back...

Message edited 12/14/2010 4:01:27 PM.

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Posted by Marcie

Posted by nrthshgrl

Sigh...if only Stef was back...

I just got all excited thinking she was back