Troubleshooting

1
Troubleshooting
2
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.

3
Problem People have red eyes

• Solutions
• Dont 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.

4
Problem The flash causes reflections

• Solutions
• Take the photo at an oblique angle to the
  reflecting surface
• Dont use flash
• Get close to the glass
• Get the light source out of family of angles
• i.e. Outside of diagrams shaded area

5
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

6
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

7
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.

8
The photographs are blurry

• There are two different types of blur
• Motion blur
• Focus blur

9
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 stops1/400 instead of 1/50
• Shutter speed shorter than 1/focal length
• If youre 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

10
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
• PS confused by backlighting, smoke, snow,
  reflections
• Dont move after focus is locked
• DO move with MF when shooting macro
• Respect minimal focal distance

11
Problem Buildings look like they are falling over

• Solutions
• Get higher (stand on a ladder, or another rooftop
  if its a really high building)
• Get further away from your subject to reduce
  distance distortion

12
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

13
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

14
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)

15
Problem I cant 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)
• DONT use digital zoom. EVER.
• Basically, its just cropping within the camera,
  and reducing quality more than cropping with a
  computer.

16
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.

17
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

18
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 possiblethe shutter lag is
  negligible.

19
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.