Could not figure out how to get this shot

I tried a bunch of different things last night (Rebel XT standard lens) to take a picture of my daughter in the dark, with just a 22" computer flat screen illuminating her. Since it was a "pretty" white desktop there was plenty of light but... no luck... always too little or too much light.

What camera settings would you have started with?

DebianDog,

welcome to the forum!

You might post one of your results with EXIF information.
It's a bit hard to tell with the information you have given us.
I assume that metering would have been a bit tricky - definitely not a 'green box' situation.

Best regards,
Andy

Thanks and will do. Umm guess I have more reading to do. Green box?

Edit: OH the green box (snapshot mode) got it!

My approach would be to use the camera metering (e.g. in A or P mode) as starting point, and experiment with over- or underexposing.

Also, maybe putting the camera on a tripod might be a good idea.

Finally, the 75$ 50/1.8 lens will be a great help in getting this kind of shots.

Best regards,
Andy

how about raising the iso to 800? or a slowwww shutter speed?
-zacker-

I tried a very slow shutter speed but without a tripod you can guess the outcome I may play with the bulb mode just for fun. The cost of film is right! :P

I think your on to something with a Ap mode and higher ISO.

I second what Andy has said, and a tripod is a must with low light/slow shutter speeds. Don't shy away from bumping the ISO as high as needed either. If the light is too low and you can't get good focus, flick it to manual. As you said, the cost of the film in a DSLR is right lol. So don't be afraid to play with things and try different settings.

Debian Dog
A easy way is obviously to bracket your exposures by taking several test shots.

the other more positive route to take is to meter the amount of light falling on your subject rather than reflected off the subject.
obviously this requires a hand held exposure meter with invacone in place.

I use a Sony Trinitron... just checked this with a Gossen meter, set at 800 ISO it gave me 1/15 at F1.8 ( or 1/8th at f 2.8....or 1/4 at f4 ) I transfered the setting to my 1D Mk2 and was pleased with the result .
Most important here is my reading taken at 12" from the monitor, now move away to 30" and the fall off in light intensity is considerable.
Andy is spot on, the best lens would be 50mm f1.8 or f1.4.
I'm assuming the actual monitor screen is not in shot.
if you wanted the screen with detail .
you would probably need a shutter speed of 1/80 th to 1/100 th sec because of the scanning effect on monitors & TV's. this is not an exact science, more often trial and error, but at least digital helps .

Best of luck
Martin (Huckaback Photo)

PS. a reflector just out of shot would help put a bit of detail in the shaddow side of the face.