Focus

Hey ladies! I recently got a Nikon D3100 and still learning all about it. It's been brought to my attention my focus is off like in this:
On forehead instead of eye lashes



So I've been trying to work on that. Anyone have a minute to give some CC? Thanks so much!
















Oh and yes, the tub pictures have BAD noise. I realized that after. Lighting suuucks in my bathroom haha. How's the focus on it though? And holy moly I love lightroom. It was so orange in there!

haha you're speaking a foreign language!! I'm terrible at photography. I adore your photos though  

Quoting queso +2curdles(24):" haha you're speaking a foreign language!! I'm terrible at photography. I adore your photos though  "

Aw thanks  

See how the pic of Tayton's eye lashes, the lashes are kinda blurry but not his forehead? That's cuz the focus was off.
Then the bathtub pics, they're kind of grainy if you notice. That's what's the "noise"  

Quoting ~Manda Panda +3 ~:" Aw thanks   See how the pic of Tayton's eye lashes, the lashes are kinda blurry but not his forehead? ... [snip!] ... That's cuz the focus was off. Then the bathtub pics, they're kind of grainy if you notice. That's what's the "noise"  "

ok fair enough lol

Are you on MF or AF? Lighting is a large part of focusing, I believe. If the ISO and f-stops are not properly configured, it can certainly throw an entire focus, color quality, etc. off. Also, another large factor is ensuring the items are lined up properly in your view finder. Are you "connecting the dots" so to speak with your subject? Nikons come with amazing manuals and while they can be daunting, they are great to go through to help with settings, etc. I also find myself using internet resources to read what others have used for settings to capture their photos and messing with those settings to create my own. I include key words like "best settings for indoor portraits using Nikon (insert number here)" or "best ISO settings for outdoor photo shoots". Things like that. And most of all, practice, practice, practice. Get to know the camera. Change settings and mess around with anything you can from stationary objects to using a "walk around" lens. You'll always learn more and more and soon learn what settings you prefer, etc.  

Quoting I♥AnnaBanana:" Are you on MF or AF? Lighting is a large part of focusing, I believe. If the ISO and f-stops are not ... [snip!] ... objects to using a "walk around" lens. You'll always learn more and more and soon learn what settings you prefer, etc.  "

Manual focus. And ya I started looking into the ISO. If I'm shooting RAW then I can fix the pic if it's too dark/light anyways right? I do need to look at the manual. But I'm so hands on I get all cross eyed, so youtube stuff is so much easier on me LOL. I only have the kit lens, but I want to learn that before getting another if that makes sense? haha. Thanks dear!

Quoting queso +2curdles(24):" ok fair enough lol "

Hope it didn't sound mean. Just was sharing what I see  

Quoting ~Manda Panda +3 ~:" Manual focus. And ya I started looking into the ISO. If I'm shooting RAW then I can fix the pic if it's ... [snip!] ... on me LOL. I only have the kit lens, but I want to learn that before getting another if that makes sense? haha. Thanks dear!"

The kit lens really isn't going to perform very well in low light actually.
You're better off getting a prime lens like the 50mm 1.8 or the 35mm 1.8( I'm selling my 35 *wink wink* LOL)

I wouldn't even bother with manual focus. Turn the switch back to AF, and go into your settings, change your focus mode to "AF-S". Then, you will be able to select a focus point(with the direction pad on the back of your camera). That will tell your camera WHERE to focus, and when you press half way down on your shutter, it will focus for you.

 
The higher the ISO, the grainier the picture. If you end up getting a prime lens, it is able to shoot at a lower "f stop", letting in more light, so you won't have to bump up your ISO very much.

Hope this helps a little  

Quoting l☮j:" The kit lens really isn't going to perform very well in low light actually. You're better off getting ... [snip!] ... shoot at a lower "f stop", letting in more light, so you won't have to bump up your ISO very much. Hope this helps a little  "

I know I saw you were selling yours!! lol I need to go book a good MK party and make some monies LOL
Thanks for that! I thought MF was better? No? Or is it just because I'm a control freak? lol
It does help thank you  

Quoting ~Manda Panda +3 ~:" I know I saw you were selling yours!! lol I need to go book a good MK party and make some monies LOL ... [snip!] ... LOL Thanks for that! I thought MF was better? No? Or is it just because I'm a control freak? lol It does help thank you  "

MF isn't really the "best" for portraits of the kids. Most people use MF if they're taking pictures of like....still things like flowers or bugs or statues, something that they need to get absolutely precise focus on.

There's nothing wrong with AF, but it's absolutely way beter if you select your own focus points instead of letting the camera select them.

Now, shooting in manual MODE is something that you'll want to learn how to do. That is, selecting the ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc, yourself. It's good to know how each of these settings effects how a photo will turn out.
This is a nifty little tool I always show new DSLR users. It lets you "simulate" a DSLR, letting you enter in those factors, to see how the photo could come out:
http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/

Full manual mode can be a little intimidating at first. I actually started off shooting in "A", aperture priority. That is where you select the aperture(f stop, how much LIGHT then lens lets in. The lower the number, the more light is let in), and the camera sets the shutter speed. But now I shoot in full manual. My camera never leaves manual unless someone else is using it  

Quoting l☮j:" MF isn't really the "best" for portraits of the kids. Most people use MF if they're taking pictures of ... [snip!] ... camera sets the shutter speed. But now I shoot in full manual. My camera never leaves manual unless someone else is using it  "

Awesome. Good tips on the focus.
I actually decided to put my new camera on M and leave it there. I don't wanna take the "easy" way out lol. It only is on auto for DH. lol
That is a neat tool!!!



So other than the grain, are these pictures looking....ok? At least? lol What do ya think?

Quoting ~Manda Panda +3 ~:" Awesome. Good tips on the focus. I actually decided to put my new camera on M and leave it there. I ... [snip!] ... DH. lol That is a neat tool!!! So other than the grain, are these pictures looking....ok? At least? lol What do ya think?"

Good for you for starting off in manual   I was too chicken haha. I took baby steps but now I wouldn't look back  
The only thing I notice is in the bath pictures the white balance is off. And I understand because bathrooms often have some of the worst lighting in the house.
Are you shooting in RAW or jpeg? If you shoot in RAW, you can actually open them in photoshop and adjust the WB before you save it as a jpeg. I normally shoot on Auto WB and in the rare time my camera doesn't get it right, I can just adjust it when I upload to the computer.

Quoting l☮j:" Good for you for starting off in manual   I was too chicken haha. I took baby steps but now I wouldn't ... [snip!] ... shoot on Auto WB and in the rare time my camera doesn't get it right, I can just adjust it when I upload to the computer."

Yes! Shooting in RAW. She also had some spaghetti sauce on her face lol here's a before picture of the soapy hair pic. (the color since I deleted original). So I may not have taken it as far as needed? But still playing on that   Thanks for all the help!

Quoting ~Manda Panda +3 ~:" Yes! Shooting in RAW. She also had some spaghetti sauce on her face lol here's a before picture of ... [snip!] ... since I deleted original). So I may not have taken it as far as needed? But still playing on that   Thanks for all the help! "

One thing you can do when adjusting the WB is to adjust the "tint" accordingly. I think if you had put the slider more toward the magenta side, it would've evened it out a bit  

And no problem! You can always comment/pm me if you wanted any help  

Quoting l☮j:" One thing you can do when adjusting the WB is to adjust the "tint" accordingly. I think if you had put ... [snip!] ... the magenta side, it would've evened it out a bit   And no problem! You can always comment/pm me if you wanted any help  "

Ok awesome. One of them ended up too purple. But I'm still practicing. I've only had the camera for like a week lol