JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I will probably upset someone with a one word reply

FLASH

sawdust3 Loc: Moline, Il 61265

They are all saying to lower the iso and you say go farther yet. How do I do that?

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

With the rebel xs you really can't go above an iso of 400 without introducing unwanted noise to the image, with the iso of 1600 with this body I am amazed you got the image you posted.

I'm sorry the only correct advice is you will need to LOWER your iso to somewhere around 200, up your shutter speed to 1/150 or higher to freeze movement, which leaves only one option you need to introduce a secondary light source. Either your pop up flash (yuck) or better yet a speed light, even better have the flash off camera.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Please use "quote reply", so we know who "you" is in your reply.

sawdust3 Loc: Moline, Il 61265

Thank you

sawdust3 Loc: Moline, Il 61265

Who knows about the canon t4? Is it better for what I'm doing? Have some new lenses for canon and don't want to change

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Why not purchase a speed light and learn how that will improve your photography? Honestly I don't know if you understand why your not happy with the results you are currently getting with your equipment or what you need to do to improve them. A newer camera isn't going to help with bad interior lighting, knowing how to work with it and correct it with any camera body is the answer.

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

A little education goes a long way, take a class. I know there is lots of free information on the Internet, but when you put down some cash for a class you are invested in learning. Look at some sites like BetterPhoto.com or ppsop.com. Pick a beginners course on exposure and really push yourself every week to make good shots. You will be happy you spent the money.

redpepper Loc: Central NY

Hi Sawdust and welcome! I'm not a wedding Photog, but I take lots of images of family at gatherings. I used to have a Rebel.XTi and that camera doesn't give good images at high ISO. For indoors, I usually use my on camera speedlight, adjust the f/stop for group/vs couple shot. I never go below 1/100 for shutter. My flash is set to ettl. My ISO is set to 400. I shoot in manual and typically have to fiddle with flash bounced though. Keep practicing, and you'll begin to know what your settings should be for certain situations.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

You were right to try a high ISO and a slow shutter speed, but as has been said already, you ran into the limitations of the camera/lens combination. If you're going to be doing more social candid stuff, you might want to think about buying a "brighter" lens.

You might also want to think about using a monopod. If you did, you'd find that you can use a slower shutter speed without camera shake becoming a problem (although subject movement could still cause problems). A monopod would be in keeping with your desire to keep a low profile (which would not be the case with a tripod).

With your present equipment (and without a monopod), the values suggested by Lonerangefinder are a minimum requirement, and if you can't achieve them without flash, then flash will be the only way to go.

I won't accuse anyone of being insensitive, but I think a more sympathetic approach for beginners would be more appropriate.

Hope this helps.

katbandit Loc: new york city

even though i have been told that my camera has a high quality at high ISOs i try not to shoot anything over ISO400..if you are taking a very isolated posed shot and can hand hold that camera( a lens which by the way i have also and use constantly) at 1/25th of a second then you can get a decent shot..but ...if you are walking around taking photos in a room with poor light to start and people are moving the photos will be grainy and blurry..
if you have your off camera flash set where it is bouncing off the ceiling you can then control your speed on the camera ..and the aperture with a low enough ISO..diffusers are a big help also..how often have you gone to a wedding and see the photographer snapping away..it is better to have a split second of a flash than not have any photos..
and don't be afraid to ask for any help on this forum..most of us are still learning too..no matter how good we are we can all get better ..keep practicing..you'll get better every time you snap away..

PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach

This is what was once called "candid photography." The trick is to learn to still the camera. This applies to all handheld photography. I was shooting the sunrise today, and saw a man doing the same with a dilettante tripod. There is little doubt my handheld equaled the tripod, and the fast variation of multiple angles (I was shooting stock) just was not tripod territory.

At any shutter speed above 1/30, you should be able to be tack sharp indoors, basically all the time. At 1/125, you could probably be dancing the jitterbug and get things sharp at the same time. It's when you are hand holding at 1/8th second or longer, then we begin to separate photographers from snapshooters.

Successful candid photography, which also applies to theatrical photography, is a matter of isolating yourself from the emotion of any scene, be aware of, and cancel all movement in the camera while maintaining composition, and squeezing, not punching, the shutter. On top of this, you must also be a student of human beings and their movements. At what point will they be still? Predict it. Even active people have frozen movement, all the time. Look for it, and use it. The key is to match and blend their stillness, your stillness, your composition and camera technique, and the story being unfolded.

jcox Loc: Northern Missouri

I imagine that is why he asked the question to learn.

dparker708

That makes two of us who are too sensitive! Best way to learn is to be positive with comments.

NOTLguy Loc: Niagara on the Lake, Ontario

Hi Sawdust3: I know it's a bit late, but "Happy New Year".

I guess there is no quick and simple answer to this question. People have suggested using a flash and increasing your shutter speed to reduce the blur, both of which are sound advice.

I would recommend that you spend some time experimenting at home, using your in teh manual mode, and learn about the relationship between shutter speed and aperture (f stop). You will find that using a larger aperture (smaller aperture number) you will get better results in low light conditions.

The next thing you will need to learn is the relationship between aperture and depth of field (which areas in your shot are in focus, and how much of the shot is blurred)

It's all lots of fun, and taking the time to learn these basic relationships will put you in good standing for the future.

Have fun and send us some more examples, once you have mastered these fundamentals.

Cheers

John