strong light behind subject

Hi there,
I have a Canon S51S camera that I really haven't learned much about yet.
I have just been shooting in Auto mode and hoping for the best.
Couple of questions:
1. I am trying to take some pictures of a french door installation that I
just completed...No problem from the outside but from inside I just get
black frames around the outside view... Is there an adjustment that
I can make to make the doors more visible?
2. Are there any canon specific tutorials available on line or on cd...Free or
for sale...I just need to learn how to use this thing!!

I will try to post a sample of the shots I got today if I can figure out how.

Thanks for any help you can offer!
RC

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just meter inside the house and remember the settings. then just recompose shot and shoot away. the sky will be blown out (from over exposure) but the inside windows should come out fine.
the other way is bring up the inside light to match the outside light so u have to use a flash.

Try using AV mode with flash..

Hi How,
Thanks for the comment. Is metering something that I can do with the
camera or do I need a device?

RC

Hi Rooeey,
I will try that in the morning.
Thanks!
RC

Your camera has a built in meter but i am not all that up to date with your camera i am use to SLRs...

But you should have a button marked * which is your exposure lock button...
I am not sure again that compacts have this...If there is one point at something inside the room for your exposure setting then press the * button and exposure lock takes place then re compose to the doors and shoot away...

If not do you have M mode ?

Hey again Rooeey,

I don't see a star button yet....If I find something like that
can I use the P mode? The full manual mode is pretty intimidating
right now!
Thanks!
RC

Don't be afraid you have a digital camera and your taking a shot of an inanimate object..
No one has to know but you and me...
I don't know your camera sorry...
But with mine i would point it at a point that resembled the inside of the doors light minus the outside light maybe just to the side...Press the focus button half way and in M mode and you will get a reading and thats the reading you want to take the shot irelevant of what your meter then tells you you have to over ride it it wil tell you you are over exposed and shoot away ..Or just wait until its dark outside and turn the lights on inside....

Thanks again, Rooeey...I'll give it a "shot" this morning!
RC

Or shoot near sunrise/sunset when the light outside matches the light inside.

You already have a device at the end of your arm & a backup: Try manual in those tough conditions. First set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO.
Need an exposure crutch?


This shows how the subject can affect the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free:
Post #47

RC SBeach wrote in post #5927624
Thanks again, Rooeey...I'll give it a "shot" this morning!
RC

Post your results for us to see....

Hi again folks,
I experimented with your suggestions and got
some good improvements. The first one is AV mode with
flash focused towards outside. The second one is AV mode
with flash focused towards inside wall, saved and shot at doors.
The second one shows the wood closer to it's real color but
the first one is a better overall shot of the doors. I will play
with it a little in PS and see if I can liven up the wood a little.

I guess the reason that I am a little nervous about full manual
mode is that I don't know how to return camera to default
settings if I start experimenting.

Are there any online classes (ideally canon specific) that might
help me learn my way around my camera?

Thanks again for all of your input!
RC

Hi again,
I guess I did not attach images correctly.
I'll try again!

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I don't know about online classes sorry but try your manual its a great resource and the people in the forum are very help full......

I like your first shot above well done....

I don't know about online classes sorry but try your manual its a great resource and the people in the forum are very help full......

I like your first shot above well done try taking shots at that time of day with those settings at 10 minute intervals its a tough way to do it but it should get you the shot..