jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

I think I found the limits of my current equipment.
We had our daughter's graduation yesterday and I really wanted to get some nice shots.
I' was limited to low light and distance, as I couldn't get very close.
This is one taken about halfway across the arena...about 40 yards, I'd guess.
Had to crank the ISO to 3200
6 5.6
160 sec
Zoomed all the way at 300 mm.
At 300 and hand held, I was having a hard time.
Nothing else came out too great...but, they'll provide some memories.
I have to say...I was astounded at all the equipment all the other people had! There were ALOT of nice cameras with LONG lenses. I'm like...."where do all these people get all this money??"

Anyway, as I mentioned before, my son in law got our daughter a "replacement" D3100 for her graduation.
When we got back to the house for the BBQ, I was shooting a bunch of pics to capture the day....people, food, decorations(unbeknownst to her, with HER camera)...then, we asked her to take a picture of US.
After she did....son in law says "you like that camera?" "You better....it's your NEW one"
She was so caught up in the day that she didn't realize she wasn't using my camera and was using her new one.
Nice surprise for her.
I just want to say thank you for all of you that congratulated her for her accomplishment.
This is truly a forum with alot of great people.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

Thanks for sharing the story. Heartwarming. Also I like the shot you posted. It sure captures the moment! Congrats on both accounts!!

aram535

This isn't a "body" short coming, it's a lens issue, or rather maximum aperture issue. The lens is simply not fast enough for the amount of light that was available in the area.

I would suggest getting a 70-200 f/2.8 ( I believe Nikon does make one) which would allow you 2 more stops of light. Otherwise the choices are getting 50mm f1/.8 but then you're loosing the focal length -- walk up if you can. Or you have to use "Flash".

If you change bodies just to get more ISO space that works, but that's usually not going to solve the issue, just hide it with more noise.

jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Thanks, Festina.
The quality's not great, but I believe it captured he emotion.
She worked hard! Full time job, internship and school ....all at the same time.

jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

I hear ya, Aram.
I'd LOVE to get a faster lens or decent flash....but that's not in the cards right now.
I guess I was just expecting a little more out of the new lens.....and not expecting the lighting to be so low.
All in all, I was happy with the noise level at 3200 ISO. I expected more....as you can see, there was some, though.
Down the road, I'll get better glass and flash and then I'll be READY when she gets her PHD.

:D

aram535

A nice flash might the cheaper alternative then.

RaydancePhoto

I think the image is fine. Ya, the light was not good, but sometimes you just gotta go with what you got. At ISO 3200, I would say it's very good, especially at 40 yards.

With 2.8 lens it could have been better, but would it be $2000.00 better?

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

I have about three important moments every year where I need a better lens for indoor or evening light. I rent a 70-200 f/2.8 Much easier on the budget and I feel that I have done my best to capture the moment. Non IS rental for 4 days $ 42.00 + $ 30.00 round trip shipping, with IS same 4 days $ 71.00 + $ 29.00 shipping.

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

If you shot RAW, you should try boosting the exposure. You might be pleasantly surprised with the result. I took a bunch of photos the other night at a choral concert, and took a bunch of shots, knowing that I would be tossing quite a few of them. I didn't get anything outstanding (by the way, yours caught the moment beautifully), but I was able to improve them quite a bit.

jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

That's a great suggestion, Soccershooter.
We have Sahara Camera, here, which is a pick up location for rentals.
Next occasion, I'll try to remember that! This time, we had waaay too much going on...trying to plan and cook for the surprise BBQ and taking care of the out of towners.
I checked out the rental prices and they seem to be pretty reasonable, all things considered.

jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Thanks, RMM.
I did shoot in raw. I have PSP3. Still trying to learn it, though.
I increased the brightness and that helped a little.

Soccershooter Loc: Indiana

My daughter has her last dance production on June 22 so I put my order in today. I use LensRentals.com They are great to work with. Note: If you are using a tripod you do not need to spend the extra $ on an IS version of the lens. I shoot outdoors sports and my daughter's dances. Use tripod always because I can at these events. We don't have rentals in the town that I live in so the $ 30.00 round trip shipping is necessary for me.

jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Tried my hand at some PP.
BE HONEST...let me know what you think and how I might have improved this.
With the cropping, I noticed that the focus was a little soft. Tried the "sharpening" tool, but it didn't help much.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

That's a great shot because of the moment...sure it could be technically better but that's not what struck me first...it's the great moment you captured.

jpy56 Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Thank you, rpavich. I think this goes back to an older post here "Can you still enjoy a photograph?"
My wife and daughter love the shot because of what it captured. I keep trying to improve it in PP. LOL! Only so much I can do!
But, the good thing is that this has FORCED me to try some PP. Like everything...practice, practice, practice.....oh...and patience!