Capturing Shadows?

[raysnkaysmom]

I've never visited this board before because although I love photography, I'm not lucky enough to have a fancy camera. I just got a digital Nikon Coolpix 8.0 that I'm happy with tho!!
But, heres my question. My DS18mo just discovered his shadow... it's sooo cute. I tried snapping a picture... is it possible to capture a shadow on film?

If so, any tricks?

 

[GrillMouster]

Welcome to the photography board.
Something you'll hear repeated here a lot is that the most important factor of good photography isn't the camera, but, rather, the person using the camera. The majority of the fantastic images you see on this board could have been taken with a point-and-shoot camera just like the one you have. You don't need a DSLR, or "fancy camera" as you called it, to take great images. Keep visiting this board, share you images, ask questions, and you'll learn how to use your camera more effectively.

As for your question, could you elaborate a little more? I'm not sure what you mean when you ask whether it's possible to capture a shadow on film. My initial response is "of course". If you're unsatisfied with a shadow picture you took, please post it along with a description of why you don't like it, so we can help.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Welcome to the photography board.
Something you'll hear repeated here a lot is that the most important factor of good photography isn't the camera, but, rather, the person using the camera. The majority of the fantastic images you see on this board could have been taken with a point-and-shoot camera just like the one you have. You don't need a DSLR, or "fancy camera" as you called it, to take great images. Keep visiting this board, share you images, ask questions, and you'll learn how to use your camera more effectively.

As for your question, could you elaborate a little more? I'm not sure what you mean when you ask whether it's possible to capture a shadow on film. My initial response is "of course". If you're unsatisfied with a shadow picture you took, please post it along with a description of why you don't like it, so we can help.

Thanks!
As far as the shadow, I was just referring to my sons shadow on the wall. He saw his shadow on our living room wall and was trying to touch it. I took a picture, but only him staring at a blank wall showed up...lol. I was just wondering what angle is best for getting his shadow to show up in the picture as well....

And..I LOVE taking pictures...so maybe I'll start putting some up

Thanks!

 

[GrillMouster]

Based on your description, I'd assume that the problem was that your camera's flash activated, thereby eliminating your son's shadow on the wall. What you have here is a case of light vs light. You have the indoor lighting (lamps) that created the shadow on the wall. You also have the much brighter light that is created by your camera's flash. The brighter light wins and creates the dominant shadow.

You could try turning down the flash, turning it off completely, stepping further back so your flash has less effect, or going outside where the light from the sun is so strong that your flash cannot completely obliterate the shadow created by the sun.

If possible can you post the image, so we can see what angle you were shooting from? Any angle in which there is line-of-sight between the flash and shadow will result in the shadow being decreased (lightened).

 

[raysnkaysmom]

ok...I uploaded it. It just looks like a silly pic of my kid staring at the wall. LOL. But, it would have been cool if I had known the flash trick and actually captured the shadow as well

Mind you, all I have is a Nikon Coolpix18 digital camera

 

[crazydadguy]

If you are trying to capture his shadow, first step would be to turn off the flash. Not sure how on your camera, but its probably buried somewhere in the manual.

 

[GrillMouster]

Mind you, all I have is a Nikon Coolpix18 digital camera

Again, it doesn't matter what camera you have; the laws of physics don't change based on your camera model. The same thing would have happened if you used flash on a fancy, expensive DSLR camera. The Nikon Coolpix L18 is a great point-and-shoot camera. The problem is your technique, not the camera.

Turn off the flash or just go outside where the light will be nice and bright, so you don't have to worry about your flash killing the shadows.

Keep practicing.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Again, it doesn't matter what camera you have; the laws of physics don't change based on your camera model. The same thing would have happened if you used flash on a fancy, expensive DSLR camera. The Nikon Coolpix L18 is a great point-and-shoot camera. The problem is your technique, not the camera.

Turn off the flash or just go outside where the light will be nice and bright, so you don't have to worry about your flash killing the shadows.

Keep practicing.

I just took another, without flash, and captured it today

Of course, with a toddler, you gotta be quick!! LOL


Thanks!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

OK, here's my $.02

Besides turning off the flash, hold your camera vertically and try filling the frame more. Put your son off to the left and capture the shadow on the right. Try not to amputate his feet or his left arm. Even better, move to a section of the wall that doesn't have a plug. See how that looks. (These are the little things that help make great pictures.)

 

[raysnkaysmom]

OK, here's my $.02

Besides turning off the flash, hold your camera vertically and try filling the frame more. Put your son off to the left and capture the shadow on the right. Try not to amputate his feet or his left arm. Even better, move to a section of the wall that doesn't have a plug. See how that looks. (These are the little things that help make great pictures.)

well...shadows are over for today...but that seems to be the only wall that the natural sunlight hits..and theres a plug... lol

Anyways...just to show I did capture the shadow, but the pic was so blurry because I was in such a hurry to capture it...lol

One of these days, the perfect opportunity will present itself and I will try again

Thanks!!!

 

[Suburbanmom]

Look at the menu in your camera and see if you can change the ISO (the equivalent of film speed). Pick the largest number and that will help eliminate the blurriness by allowing the camera to take the picture faster. It might be grainy, but that's better than blur.

 

[GrillMouster]

...and hold that sucker steady!