Keep in mind that I'm not a pro, but I have been taking photographs since I was 6.
The problem isn't yours, it's your camera.
Most SLRs built-in light meters are balanced for daylight exposures. Thus, they try to bring everything in the meter focus to daylight levels.
You have two options:
-Buy a stand-alone light meter. You should be able to get a good one used for about $30, but YMMV.
-Or, you could experiment with stopping down your exposures from what the camera recommends. (You might have to take a meter wih the camera on Program mode then switch to Aperature Priority to set the lens. Alot of cameras these days won't let you over-ride the Program. I don't know about the Nikon D80; if you can, over-ride, all the better!) Try stopping down 1.5-2 stops, see how that turns out, and work from there. The advantages of a Digital SLR are, no film waste and instant results.
Also, you'll want a tripod! I noticed that you had some lens shake artifacts on most of those shots.
Oh, yeah. One last thing: make sure the flashlight you use to see the controls on your camera has a red lens! Other wise, you'll ruin your night vision when you use it...
Those shots show promise, I look forward to seeing how you improve with a little work and practice! :-D |
