Troubleshooting

Problem: People have white faces when I use flash. Solutions: Use the scenery mode on point and shoot cameras. Use matrix-metering or face-recognition. Use Forced Exposure Compensation (FEC) on SLRs. Add more ambient light: open windows, doors, switch on all lights.

Problem: People have red eyes Solutions: Don’t use flash Use off camera flash instead Red-eye reduction pre-flash Pre-flash sends out a burst of flashes before the picture is taken, which causes pupils to constrict and therefore reduces red-eye. Let subject look at bright light source first. Make subject look at camera, but not at lens. Retouching.

Problem: The flash causes reflections Solutions: Take the photo at an oblique angle to the reflecting surface Don’t use flash Get close to the glass Get the light source out of family of angles i.e. Outside of diagram’s shaded area Reflective Surface Camera

Problem: Other reflections cause trouble Solutions: Put the lens against the glass Move around to move reflective elements Wear dark colours Dim the lights on your side of the glass

Problem: The light is too harsh outdoors Solutions: Shoot in the morning or late afternoon Shoot in the shadow Use a diffuser Use a reflector

Problem: Sunny pictures are too bright or dark Solutions: Point and Shoot: switch to beach or snow modes. SLR or bridge: use exposure compensation Use matrix metering.

The photographs are blurry There are two different types of blur: Motion blur Focus blur

Problem: Motion blur Solutions: Steady the camera (tripod, wall posture) Use larger aperture for shorter exposure i.e. f/2.8 instead of f/5.6 gives you three additional stops—1/400 instead of 1/50 Shutter speed shorter than 1/focal length If you’re using 100mm as your focal length, your shutter speed should be shorter than 1/100 Use flash, increase ISO Use image stabilization Panning Switch to Sports mode

Problem: Focus blur Solutions: Manual focus Smaller aperture for more DOF f/2.8 is very shallow; f/32 focused on more. SLRs need contrast to focus P&S confused by backlighting, smoke, snow, reflections Don’t move after focus is locked DO move with MF when shooting macro Respect minimal focal distance

Problem: Buildings look like they are falling over Solutions: Get higher (stand on a ladder, or another rooftop if it’s a really high building) Get further away from your subject to reduce distance distortion

Problem: My composition looks boring Solution: Get an unusual point of view Use the rule of thirds Use the ‘Golden Ratio’ (also known as Phi)—see diagram

Problem: My composition looks boring (continued) Solutions: Try portrait instead of landscape Use natural framing Include lead-in lines Tilt your camera Move around your subject until you find a better angle

Problem: The photo has too much noise Solutions: Reduce ISO Activate noise reduction in camera Use noise reduction software Use exposure stacking Use a camera with a bigger sensor (full frame 30-35x bigger than cameraphone)

Problem: I can’t zoom in enough Solution: Get a tele lens Zoom with your feet, i.e. Walk; get closer to your subject Crop your picture (on the computer) DON’T use digital zoom. EVER. Basically, it’s just cropping within the camera, and reducing quality more than cropping with a computer.

Problem: Not everyone fits into the photo Solutions: Rearrange people into rows Have the rows at different heights (stairs, chairs, kneeling) Move to a higher point of view.

Problem: My portraits look distorted Solutions: Avoid wide angle for portraits (unless for special effect) Anything above 50mm is ideal Make the subject turn their head slightly sideways Watch out for people that stand close to the edge in wide-angle groupshots

Problem: My camera is slooooow Solutions: Most cameras have a ‘shutter lag’, or delay between when the shutter button is pushed and when the photo actually takes Use pre-focusing and pre-metering by half-pressing the shutter button Use an SLR where possible—the shutter lag is negligible.

Problem: My batteries die too soon Solutions: Protect them from the cold Reduce screen brightness Black out the display or use the viewfinder Reduce review time.