Nikon SLR Cameras

How to take a picture of myself with this lighting? (picture included)?

Michelle
Michelle

How to take a picture of myself with this lighting picture included

(Please highlight entire link)

I would really like to take a picture of myself like in this picture but mine are always so dark! I have a Nikon D3100

fhotoace
fhotoace

Your D3100 is fully capable of taking such photos.

You have to learn how to use the cameras light meter. The fact that your images are dark, shows that you are under exposing the images.

Spend some time on this site and learn how to correctly expose your images

http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/

http://camerasim.com/slr-camera-explained/

aLee
aLee

Judging by the very white, blown out light in the bottom right of that photo, I'd say she was most likely standing in front of a window, during high noon time.

You have a great camera, you just need to get antiquated with it. You need to learn how to read the camera's light meter. It will tell you if you photo will be under exposed or over exposed on the current settings you are using. The meter usually looks like -2 ' ' ' -1 ' ' ' 0 ' ' ' +1 ' ' ' +2. You want the meter to be on "0" that means its going to be correctly exposed. You should do this in manual mode. Using auto mode will not give you any artistic freedom.

Also, you want to meter for the correct area, in your case, the face. The face is what needs to be properly exposed. In that case, the background will likely be darker, and any excess light will be brighter.

It's all about the light. Try looking up some tutorials on youtube to get some advice about lighting.

spazoid1965
spazoid1965

The best way to tell what light they used is to look at any shadows, and look at the reflections in the eyes. In her eyes I see the photographer standing in front of her. I also see the road grass bushes and a mostly sunny daytime sky. I do not see any signs of a reflector of additional lighting. I do see something framig the light on one side and of top of the eye reflection. That could be a window or the side of a house and an overhanging porch or carport. The area behind the girl is dark. That would suggest that she is standing at a doorway or window (as Alee suggested). There's little or no lighting in the room. The soft unshadowed light will tell you that the lighting is well difused. I would guess that the door or window is facing north is the photo was taken in the northern hemispere. Or a south facing window if taken below the equator. That would place the sun above and slightly behind the behind the house completely out of the photo. And would aloow only naturally reflected light to reach the model.

But all that is useless if the exposure isn'e correct. If you are having problems exposing properly, try bracketing your shots. Take a photo at the settings you camera suggests. Then Take a photos Slightly over/and under that which you camera suggests. Have fun taking pictures. You will learn as you go. Read as much info as you can aventually you will see improvement.