Help setting up a shot

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ElCapone

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Elliott
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Hi all, recently became the owner of a 60D. I am wanting to do a shot but I am struggling with it. I want to take a shot of my son in bed reading a story lit by his night light. I have tried but my efforts are coming out blurred. Im guessing this is because of longer shutter speeds without a tripod?

Any help/advice would be appreciated, it is a shot I want to nail. I should say I have the nifty 50 1.8 and the kits lens.

Thanks :)
 
If you don't have a tripod you could try putting the camera on a chest of drawers or side table, pointed at him, set a 2 second delay so you don't get camera shake and try that way?

Edit: If you're going to do that, you'll need to make sure to turn off image stabilisation on the lens.
 
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Or up the ISO a bit I understand that the 60D can handle it's ISO quite well :thumbs: personally I'd avoid a longer exposure because your more likely to get motion in the subject then :( If and it's a big if you can frame up the shot you want with the 50mm then go with that and shoot with a large aperture e.g. f/1.8-2.8 and then set the ISO to a reasonable figure say 800 and see where you get :thumbs:
 
Assuming your after a black/dark surround with only a small section lit, and even that part will be under exposed to the cameras metering system.

I'm guessing you maybe have matrix metering set then the camera will always choose a longer shutter in auto or aperture mode than you require.

Putting the camera in manual and tinkering until you get what you want would be my advice. Put the camera on at least the shutter speed to match the focal length (I.e 1/50 for 50mm) or even better use a tripod to allow you to go slower and then adjust aperture and ISO to suit.
 
Sort of like this?


Candle light by AR-Graphics, on Flickr

Shot quite some time ago on 6x6 film. The only light is from the candle. Sorry cant remember exact settings but ISO was certainly no more than 500, aperture wide open prob f4, and speed prob about a second.

You'll certainly need a tripod or some support. If you've no tripod try putting camera on something like a bean bag (so you can adjust it somewhat) on a chair or table. Try not to use too long an exposure as you'll get movement from the subject (keeping my kids still for even a second is an undertaking!). It should be easier now as you can have instant feedback to see the results. Just keep adjusting till you start getting what you want. Oh and as advised, use camera in manual.

Good luck.:thumbs:
 
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As said manual mode with centre weighted metering or AV and use the * button to take a meter reading on the light on the subject... Depending on your level of shakiness you might need to up the ISO to counter.
 
If you don't have a tripod try making a simple bean bag - some rice in a sock will do the job of holding a camera still on top of the chest of drawers or whatever..
 
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