Need Help

[dan_the_man]

hey guys

Took a heap of photos last night at the races. Got a media pass so was able to get up close to the racing. Only problem is I'm not all that good with the camera settings. Basically it was early evening so it was getting dark. I had all sorts of issues with lighting. I brought my speed light but that didnt do enough so I was shooting and hoping for the best. Also had issues with the camera not focusing... or it seems like it has but when the shots come out they are out of focus. I didnt have a tripod... I do have one but didnt bring it.

Camera is Nikon D100. with tamron 28-300 lens (shitty lens i kno but it did the job when i got it)

I've listed a heap of samples of the shots. I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes bad lighting conditions... but I see so many great shots of cars racing at night with brake discs glowing... Would be awesome to learn how to take photos like that.

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/1.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/2.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/3.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/4.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/5.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/6.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/7.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/8.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/9.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/10.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/11.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/12.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/13.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/14.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/15.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/16.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/17.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/18.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/19.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/20.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/21.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/22.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/23.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/24.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/25.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/26.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/27.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/28.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/29.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/30.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/31.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/32.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/33.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/34.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/35.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/36.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/37.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/38.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/39.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/40.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/41.JPG

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/42.JPG

[Sl!m]

did you have to zoom in alot to get the pics?

bruing your tripod along could possibly solve the slightly blurry issues..

will come back and have another look when im not busy with work

[dan_the_man]

some of them were close enough not to zoom. but alot i had to zoom a bit.

[Sl!m]

a couple look a little grainy wich would indicate a ISO issue.

where they are really dark, I had the same issue a little while back..

see these pics.

http://slim.skylinesaustralia.com/wisemans..._cruise_001.jpg

http://slim.skylinesaustralia.com/wisemans..._cruise_043.jpg

there was hardly a cloud in a sky when I took those shots, but they are so dark..

I cant remember off the top of my head what setting I changed to stop that.. if some one hanst already answered it by the time I get home ill check it out there..

may have also just been the shutter speed..

there are still some pretty nice shots in there

what camera are you using again Dan?

[Sl!m]

Dark photo

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/42.JPG

this is what your camera was set at

Camera Make: NIKON CORPORATION

Camera Model: NIKON D100

Image Date: 2007:03:01 18:52:10

Flash Used: No

Focal Length: 170.0mm (35mm equivalent: 255mm)

Exposure Time: 0.020 s (1/50)

Aperture: f/6.3

Exposure Bias: 0.67

White Balance: Auto

Metering Mode: Center Weight

Exposure: Manual

Exposure Mode: Manual

lighting isnt too bad here

http://www.dantheman.com.au/Wanneroo/23.JPG

Camera Make: NIKON CORPORATION

Camera Model: NIKON D100

Image Date: 2007:03:01 18:29:28

Flash Used: No

Focal Length: 260.0mm (35mm equivalent: 390mm)

Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250)

Aperture: f/6.3

Exposure Bias: 0.67

White Balance: Manual

Metering Mode: Center Weight

Exposure: Manual

Exposure Mode: Manual

try putting your white balance back to auto as well..

do you know what ISO setting you had it on?

[dan_the_man]

i changed the iso quite a bit. trying to get something to work

[Sl!m]

Actually white balance was set to auto on the dark photo

only thing I changed was the shutter speed..

need more camera ppls..

[sl33ek]

I'm an amatuer so just a suggestion.

Boost your ISO to 400 or over, you got a good cam so it will handle it well. You'll get a bit of noise but its a good trade off.

Then put in on aperture priority mode and use a lowest aperture it can go like 2.8, this opens up the eye of your lens to its max letting more light in.

you can play with Speed priority mode too, again boost your ISO and use slower shutter speeds, letting more light in. You will more likely get blurry pics though without a tripod in this mode.

[dan_the_man]

i dont think the aperture can go that low as its lens dependant isnt it?