Creative photography

[gail]

I was wondering if you might be able to help me or direct me to the right location as to get help.  I have recently purchased a Nikon D70 SLR camera with a 70mm-300mm Telephoto lense and a 18mm-70mm Nikkor lense.  The camera seems to take great pictures, but I have had trouble taking pictures indoors in an auditorium type setting, like school plays and graduations.  I was wondering if you might know of what settings I should use with the camera, as far as White Balance, shutter speed, appreture and such.

^{Note: this inquiry was emailed to Digicamhelp from the Q&A Board email system, so we are posting it on behalf of the sender}

[ShutterbugGail]

We have information which you will find addresses many of your questions:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/learn/camera-questions-and-answers/photographing-concerts.htm

There are many variables when taking shoots inside, so you should always take plenty of test photos. Even if you're permitted to use the in-camera flash, it may be ineffective due to the short range.

The white balance setting really depends on the lighting in the auditorium. You may wish to call ahead to find out what type of lighting is used. Automatic white balance is usually pretty effective, but it's best to take a few test shots until you get satisfactory results. Incandescent (standard light bulb) or florescent lights, or a combination, are usually used indoor. You should also try the cameras manual white balance setting for the best results.

You should use the smallest aperture possible, since it will give you the greatest depth of field. However this is not always possible if the room is dim.

If lighting is low, you should use a tripod, monopod or other camera support. If not possible, steady the camera the best you can and raise the ISO setting. Increased ISO may cause noise in an image but it can be effectively removed with noise removal software.

When shooting inside, often use spot metering, if the surrounding area of a subject is dark. It may be difficult to use automatic focusing in certain conditions, so use manual focus or use the infinity setting.

Related reading:

White balance:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/white-balance/index.htm

Aperture:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/advanced-digital-camera-settings/aperture.htm

Digital image noise:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-is-noise-reduction/