AboutDavid Barry Expertise I have a lot of experience in most traditional forms of photography, so I`m quite knowledgeable about things like camera types and formats, techniques, exposure, film types, colour, filters, lighting, standard colour and black and white developing and printing.
I do not make recommendations about brands or models, and I am not a camera technician so I may not be able to tell you what is wrong with your equipment if it`s not working .
I also know a little about digital photography and imaging with scanners and digital cameras, so ask me and I will answer if I can.
Experience Experience in the area
I have been seriously involved in photography for over 25 years, including about 4 years as a professional, as well as 2 years providing administrative service to government photographers, requiring interpreting photographers' requirements and trade technicalities for those unfamiliar with such.
I have successfully trained several beginners in photography, helping them to become competent in basic techniques.
Organizations belong to:
None at present, but have been in about 4 camera clubs, having won or had placings in 2 club competitions.
Publications:
A lot of my photos have been in educational / training manuals, books and some photography magazines, as well as 2-3 dozen images been on the Web so far.
Education/Credentials:
Completed 4-year diploma in professional photography technique at Sydney's Technical College
Awards and Honors:
3 placings and / or merits in camera club competitions.
Expert: David Barry Date: 11/28/2005 Subject: DARK PICTURES
Question I AM TAKING PICTURES INSIDE GYM OF BASKETBALL GAMES SO FAR ALL OF MY PICTURES HAVE TURNED OUT DARK. I HAVE AN OLYMPUS SUPERZOOM 800. WHAT CAN I DO?
Answer I can only offer some guesses, since I don't know much about Olympus Superzoom and its capability. I believe it is a camera which uses film - is that right ?
Are the pictures only slightly dark, or very, extremely dark ?
Possibly there is something very bright in the gym (maybe the players' uniforms, or some bright lighting) which is 'fooling' the built-in automatic light meter (if the Olympus has one) into underexposing the film, producing dark pictures.
And I don't know how big the gym is, or how far away you are from the players. All of these factors could be affecting the results
Does the camera have the ability to use and set different film ISO/ASA speeds ? If so perhaps you need to use a film of a higher ISO/ASA.
Also, does the camera have a built-in / pop-up flash. Perhaps the flash may not be quite powerful enough to cover the distance from where you are shooting to where the basketballers are playing, and you either need to get
closer to the action, or find a more powerful flash.
Does the flash have the ability to be set on 'M' or 'Manual' so you can override the automatic function. By doing this you may be able to force the flash into putting out more light, and (maybe) make the shots a bit lighter.
Alternatively, with the flash on 'A' or 'Auto' you may be able to 'trick' the flash into providing more light than it thinks is required, by setting a LOWER (yes LOWER) film speed, and/or a SMALLER lens f/stop settng (yes SMALLER) on the flash dial than what you are really using - if the camera / flash allows that to be done.
For example (if the flash and camera allow):
You might actually be using 400 ASA/ISO film in the camera, but set ASA/ISO dial on the flash/camera to 200 or maybe even try 100 - depending on how dark your pictures are;
If your flash has M(anual) setting, and you can change f/stops on the camera lens, and flash tells you to use f/8 (for example) then you should really use f/5.6 or maybe even f/4 - again depending on how dark your pictures are
Hope all that is more clear than mud, but as I said above, I can only guess at some solutions.
