First Photo With My 40D

dawssvt

I am very new to photography, so bare with me. I just got my 40D in today and I snapped a few pictures of one of my buddies. Only one turned out somewhat decent. My 430EX comes in tomorrow, so this was taken without a flash


C&C Welcome...

DonRicklin

I'm thinking the WB (White Balance) is off here. Shot in Tungsten light?

Looks like you have plenty of available light there. Just wrong WB and too frontal.
Don

dawssvt

DonRicklin wrote:

I'm thinking the WB (White Balance) is off here. Shot in Tungsten light?

Looks like you have plenty of available light there. Just wrong WB and too frontal.
Don

What is Tungsten light? The room was somewhat dark - it was shot at 640 ISO.

DonRicklin

Indoor incandescent lighting. It is yellower than natural bright daylight.

Your 40D has a WB setting. for indoors w/o flash you have three possible settings. Auto WB which ought to see that it is tungsten lighting. Tungsten (or Fluorescent). or you do a custom WB. You should read up on this in your Camera Manual. Especially how to set a Custom WB.

There is also likely a Tutorial here or a Thread in the Finishing School Forum of DGrin.

Don

Jthmeffy

40D, D40 - same thing... wait?

DonRicklin

Jthmeffy wrote:

40D, D40 - same thing... wait?

Yup, my mis-type. I shoot Pentax.:D

Don

Icebear

You'll be a lot happier once you learn how to use your flash (chuckle). Notice how your subject's eyes look kinda dead? It's because there's no "catchlight". And the white balsnce is way off, but you have a great camera, and once you learn about three semesters of stuff, you'll be rockin'. Oh, and set your focus point on the eyes.

Hang in there, and keep posting and reading DGrin, cause I've never learned more anyplace than I have here.

Swartzy

Icebear wrote:

You'll be a lot happier once you learn how to use your flash (chuckle). Notice how your subject's eyes look kinda dead? It's because there's no "catchlight". And the white balsnce is way off, but you have a great camera, and once you learn about three semesters of stuff, you'll be rockin'. Oh, and set your focus point on the eyes.

Hang in there, and keep posting and reading DGrin, cause I've never learned more anyplace than I have here.

Another suggestion (IMHO) is if you are serious about pursuing this as it sounds like you are, some structured educational courses/classes is invaluable. There are many new things to learn on forums but learning basic photograpic principles will provide you with a great foundation.

dawssvt

Swartzy wrote:

Another suggestion (IMHO) is if you are serious about pursuing this as it sounds like you are, some structured educational courses/classes is invaluable. There are many new things to learn on forums but learning basic photograpic principles will provide you with a great foundation.

Where can I take those classes?

DonRicklin

Where are you? Around here in Massachusetts many School Systems have adult evening classes which include starting photography classes. Community Colleges and Art Museums with classes may have what you want.

Or a local Photo Meet-up group or club.

Don

dawssvt

DonRicklin wrote:

Where are you? Around here in Massachusetts many School Systems have adult evening classes which include starting photography classes. Community Colleges and Art Museums with classes may have what you want.

Or a local Photo Meet-up group or club.

Don

I live in Las Cruces, NM. Do you know of any schools around here?