Light !! (or lack of it )

Hi all,
As a newbie and trying to take photos with a real camera (350D) without it being in full auto of motorcycles racing and (very) slowly improving, my latest problem is light (or the lack of it)
I was out at a race track this weekend, temp in the 30c's and lots of sun,
but my photo's look dark, and looking at other photo's on this site I have got something very wrong, please help
Ned
see below.

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Your issue is metering, I think. That bike is quite reflective, and looks close to white. With light colored objects you need to increase your exposure compensation to anywhere between 1 and 2, for dark objects you decrease it by a similar amount. One good solution is to take some test shots, work out what shutter speed, ISO, and aperture work, dialing it in as manual, and sticking with that. Just watch the histogram to make sure the light hasn't changed too much, just tweak the exposure a bit if you need to.

That shot is ISO 200, if you need more shutter speed don't forget you can go up to ISO 1600. Even ISO 1600 shots look great printed at 6x4 or even larger, it's only when you pixel peep that it's an issue. I've had ISO 1600 shots printed 20 inches accross and they look fine.

Thanks for that,
But why is the one below dark, it seems I have a basic setting way off
What would be a good place to start with the settings ?
I had it on aperture priority with it as low as possible (f4.5) and let the speed
take care of itself.
As I am new to this, I need basic help with the settings with a starting point and go from there

Ned

www.hrdcomet.net

:o and this is the photo

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It's obvious that you need to gain control of the metering in the camera. Using the automated "pattern" mode will work at times, but apparently not here.

I suspect the problem with the second shot is the reflection of the sun off the windshield (sorry - windscreen ). That is an extremely bright part of the subject and probably make the camera reduce the exposure setting accordingly. The result, of course, is that you lose shadow detail and the overall photo is a little underexposed.

I prefer to shoot in M mode most of the time. This allows me to carefully meter for the available light and then the camera will ignore the variables such as cars coming past with different brightness paint jobs, etc.

Hiya

What metering mode and camera mode were you using?

Also for motorsports getting the highest possible shutter speed is not paramount, in fact the lower speeds (around 1/320th) are better as they convey a sense of motion.

When I shoot trackside I find myself dropping into M mode because the exposure varies so much from car to car. So I meter off the grass or a neutral grey part of the track and set the exposure from there - or if I remembered it I use a lightmeter

The road is quite light colored, plus like skip said the reflection is probably a factor too. Play with your exposure compensation and shoot different colored things, watch your histogram, that's the best way to learn

hi, This is great, all you trying to help (a lost cause)
Because the sun was strong and the fact that the photos seem to be better
later in the day, could it have been where the sun was and the fact that I have no hood on my lens !!.
this photo was taken at the same time as the top photo as the bike rounded the corner (sun would have been at a different angel)

Thanks again
Ned
ps how do I meter off a neutral grey part and lock it in to use on the 350d:o

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That's reason why I always shoot sport on manual. It's too difficult to make every possible compensation on the fly when automatics decide to go its way. This what is happening to you is pretty much normal thing. You have huge space around biker or car, which is much brighter then drivers face is. Automatics measure exposure so that most of photo is lit right. Of course most of photo is not interesting for you, since you didn't take photo to look how nice grass there is, but to have nice photo of racing car or bike. Only real solution for this is, to set exposure, lock it with manual settings and forget about too light background. As I wrote... driver is important thing not grass or road in background.

KennyG - Best use of location and AF points for motorsport
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=135409
Kenny on shutter speed:
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?p=1497313
Why do you guys use manual? AV makes more sense.
http://www.photography​-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=130176
Sports Shooting Tutorials and Advice
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=135417

Thanks to everyone how has tried to help,
I now have a idea of what I need to do to try and improve my # of keeps,
Yes I do take some good (I think) photos but the moment it seems to be luck more than anything else,
If anyone has any information that may help I would be grateful.

Thanks
Ned

Hiya Ned. You might want to invest in a book to get your exposure metering and subsequent adjustments spot on. I used Bahman Farzad's: The Confused Photographer's Guide to Exposure and the Zone System. I learn visually and this book has had heaps of illustrations to explain certain concepts. It is quite easy to understand. I got mine through Amazon.

Hi all,
I have ordered two books on Exposure and also looking on this web site for
information on anything to help me understand how to get the best out of my 350D mainly with motorsport.
once again thanks to all
Ned
www.hrdcomet.net