help me please?

[chiahead]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/chiahead/0cf0a5ae.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/chiahead/DSC_1449a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/chiahead/DSC_1459a.jpg

I need some help getting these pictures done right.

I was testing out the new Nikon Macro 105mm VR lens. I obviously do not have the camera setup correctly. Please help me???

[paradise]

Well, please give us your setup, your settings, and how you take the photo. The more info the better.

[chiahead]

Well, my camera is a Nikon D70s, I was just testing out my new macro-the 105mm vr. The shots were taken on a tripod. I have a sb-800 flash which I had on the camera. I tried some different camera settings but each setting didnt seem to make any difference so I think these were just set to the auto setting. My biggest issue and what I do not understand is how to change the depth of field, apeture, shutter speeds, etc. I feel I might need to take a photography class as there is much to learn. I have read about it multiple times but everytime I try to set my camera up to change these items, the pictures are always black and dark. Also, I dont know how to set the flash up remotely and if that would even help. Sorry for being a newbie at all of this. Any help would be awesome.

[phishphorphun]

Just to help you get started.

Take the SB800 off the camera and place it on top of the tank pointing down. Use the slide out diffuser. You will have to setup the SB800 in "Remote". The settings and instructions are on a thread in the "Hardware, Nikon Only" forum page here. In the menu on the D70, select "Commander Mode" and "TTL" for the flash setup (information is in the same thread mentioned above).

Put your camera in "M" mode. ISO at 200. White Balance at "auto". Exposure Compensation at +/- .00 to start with. Set your shutter speed at 1/200 and your aperture between f/16 to f/22.

Don't fool with the tripod. Hand held is best for aquarium fish shots. Find an area in the tank you expect your subject to swim into and concentrate on the composition there. Make sure the SB800 is directly over the area you are shooting. Frame your fish in the viewfinder so it has more room in front of it than in the back. Focus on the eye. Always focus on the eye.

Also. It is always best to shoot your fish in a clean tank. Glass should be spotless and a water change the day before provide more colorful fish and sharper images. Turn off any bubble makers when you are shooting. Have enough light over the tank to auto focus, but turn the other lights out in the room.

There are numerous threads and articles on this site. You shouldn't have to take a class outside of here. Get familiar with your camera and read the manual from front to back...several times.

Practice a lot.

[chubasco]

Bobby, that's some "good gouge" as we say in the navy. When you and others do these cookbook directions, they ought to go in a special section for easy access;) Maybe I should try printing out some of
this....

[paradise]

Bill, most of this stuff is in the articles section, more to come...

[chubasco]

Bill, most of this stuff is in the articles section, more to come...

Guess it's about time I check out them there articles...thanks!:redface:

[chiahead]

WOW thanks for the nice suggestions. I will try them out and see what happens.

[chiahead]

ok new problem-I cant seem to change my shutter speed to anything faster than 1/60 All the others are slower. I think I need to reread the manual again. Plus I dont know how/where to change the apeture either

[paradise]

Yes, I suggest you read the whole manual with the camera in your hand, going through the motions, several times. When you read info on here, you need to be able to know how to follow instructions.

[Ibn]

Shove the left wheel to the manual mode and you'll have full controls over the camera. The fact that you can't change anything is due to the camera being in auto mode. You can use shutter, manual, or aperture (what I'm at around 75% of the time; other 25% is in manual) priorities instead. When you're in aperture or manual mode, you can change the aperture by using the wheel in front of the camera on the right hand side. When in shutter priority, the aperture is set depending on the shutter speed that you set and that's also done using the same wheel in the front right hand side.

Try Bobby's suggestion above. When the flash is onboard or on the hotshoe, to get it above 1/60 shutter speed, use the camera to change it to anything above 1/60 and the flash will fire accordingly.