Can anyone give me some advice?

RoxiesEcho · #1 12-03-2008, 07:13 PM

I need to take this years Christmas card picture and had this idea to use a red table cloth as a back drop. I also don't want to use the flash on my camera because the dogs always have those devil eyes and I can't always re-touch them so they look life like. I have a Fuji Finepix E510 camera that has a lot of features I don't really understand. Reading the manual just confuses me even more - do I adjust the white balance, the aperture, the????? I would love for someone to take a look at this picture and give me some suggestions. I had lots of lights turned on but Bella looks too dark and the red background is way too bright!

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...3PHOTO0004.jpg

boxmom · #2 12-03-2008, 07:48 PM

That's a pretty cute picture. I would definately start with changing the white balance. I am assuming the collar is actually white, not yellow. Not sure what your light source is, but change the white balance setting to what it is, probably tungsten or flouresant? Since you seem to have a lot of light, you might still try using the flash (if you do, change the WB back), maybe set it on fill flash. With all the light Bella's pupils will be small and may not reflect the flash (devil eyes) so much. Or you could also try using a piece of white poster board to redirect some light onto Bella. You are getting a bit of red color cast onto Bella from the tablecloth which might be more noticable when you fix the lighting. Hope this might be helpful. Good luck, can't wait to see Christmas Bella, take two.

**Boxerworld** · #3 12-04-2008, 12:28 PM

Exactly what boxmom wrote

I see your camera has no custom white balance so the best is to have more light with something like http://www.adorama.com/SVQ60SGL.html
You can also modify the white balance on computer. I did an attempt you can see at http://www.boxerworld.com/roxiesecho.jpg but it is not easy since I do not know the real colour of the background. At least the dog is less red

Caney Creek · #4 12-04-2008, 12:57 PM

You've gotten some good advice

Definitely change the white balance, probably to Incandescent Light or Tungsten. You might still however get some reddish tones reflecting on her from the backdrop, but it should be a little better. If can do a custom WB on your camera, that would be an even better option.

To allow more light in you can increase the aperture (smaller values are actually bigger as far as aperture goes -- f/2.9 is larger than f/8). Wider apertures (smaller values) make for shallower depths of field, meaning that your focal point will be sharp but with more noticeable blur around the main focus. So if you do this, just make sure you're focusing in on her face, and not her entire body, since it's most important to keep the eyes in sharp focus.

If all else fails, I'm sure there are plenty of photoshoppers on this board (me included

) who would love to play around with a few images and see what we can come up with!

RoxiesEcho · #5 12-04-2008, 01:27 PM

You all are awesome! According to the owners manual my camera does have minimal white balance adjustments for flourescent and incandescent lighting. I can't wait to get home and try out everyone's recommendations. Maybe I also need to re-think the red tablecloth. It is pretty vibrant although no where close to how bright it looks on here! I might try something a little more neutral. Hopefully I will be able to show you the fruits of your knowledge later tonight!

RoxiesEcho · #6 12-04-2008, 08:45 PM

You are all wonderful! I played with the white balance and the aperture and it was the aperture that hit the spot. Your advice saved me from pulling out my hair and my stressing over the "why didn't I start this process sooner" madness. I posted my favorites up in the "show off" forum so if you look at them, let me know what you think.

Thanks a bunch!