Lighting tips pls? When (and when not) to adjust certain manual settings?

[quiapz]

Hi guys, I'm a beginner photographer and I wanted some help with regards to lighting... Right now, it is the trickiest aspect of taking pictures for me.

I'm using a Canon Powershot A85.

Right now, some important controls that I know can contribute to the brightness/lighting/whiteness of a picture are: shutter speed, aperture & ISO level.

I just don't know exactly how to tweak each setting to get the best performance out of my cam. Any tips? Coz I rarely shoot a "just right" photo.. its always too dark, or too bright...

[etaf]

the combination of
ISO, Shutter and Aperture should allow the correct light to expose the film/sensor assuming average conditions - however, if photography snow then a different story.
On DSLR the whiteness may be due to the whitebalance
can you post some examples of what you have.

some free online courses listed here

http://www.dpforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1543
http://www.dpforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1533

[blue_max]

ISO - adjust as a last resort if you still can't use the settings you want. Keep as low as possible.

Aperture - wider (lower number) lets more light in and reduces the depth of field (less of the image is in focus). That can create a dreamy blurred background with the subject in sharp focus or everything in focus if you 'stop down' or use a higher number.

Speed - faster will help stop camera shake and freeze movement. Slower may blur the movement of water and look interesting.

So, choose the aperture you want for effect. Shoose the speed to suit or adjust for effect and if you can't get the settings you need, adjust the ISO.

Finally, the camera wants to average all the scene to give an average exposure. If the scene is very light, it will underexpose and if it's very dark... overexpose. That might not be what you want and you may have to intervene.

Does that all make sense?

Graham

[PhotosGuy]

Virtual Camera (http://www.camerasinteractive.com/index.php#)
Cameras Interactive aims to help novice photographers grasp the main concepts of SLR photography.

[aam1234]

Or try this site, (http://www.shortcourses.com/) it's very useful.

[DwightMcCann]

I urge you to get and use a tripod. Nothing helped my images so much as my learning how much better available light is than flash and how much better a sharp, crisp image is than one that is slightly blurry. I still like my tripod images best! I learned this about six years ago using a digital point and shoot, CoolPix 950. I know it's a big pain, and not cool, and unwieldy and makes it hard to get where you want and carry it in your pocket and ... well, anyway, put someone you love near a well lighted window with a dark/bland background and put your camera on a tripod and take some AMAZING portraits! Particularly good if your camera has a "Portrait" mode. One good, well used tripod equals two L IS lenses! :-)

[etaf]

DwightMcCann - if on a budget of say £50 ~ $100 how would you select a tripod from the many available

[DwightMcCann]

etaf, I am currently very seriously considering a $1800 USD tripod setup (you know, one of those huge Gitzo numbers made of graphite fiber with a Wimberly head) so I'm probably not a good one to ask, but I strongly urge you to pursue this question over in http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=34 which is where I asked about tripods when I started my quest for my current requirements.

[etaf]

thanks

[quiapz]

wow i forgot about this thread :p sorry guys.

i just read all your replies and thanks a lot for the info!