Curse You, Negative 5!

[shp]

From "subject" point of view

From "photographer" point of view

Here's the issue;

The camera cannot "auto-focus" on the background, and that dreaded (-5.0) keeps showing. When I press the shutter all the way down, the Super Control Panel says in the exposure compensation metering that it's underexposed.

I think I may know what's causing the problem;

1 - The sheet is black and so the camera would register it too dark and thus, the underexposed warning.
2 - It's taken at night, so there isn't enough light to go around.

I've seen photographs where the backgrounds are black, though, with people in them. So that made me think of a third cause - there isn't anything for the camera to focus on or to base the exposure on. I was going for a dark self-portrait, even dressed up in all black. I would've used the self-timer, but it refuses to start.

Should I put in more lights, or just take it at daytime with these two lights available? The window blinds do serve as a diffuser for the light, so I probably wouldn't need so many lamps during the day, and then the camera can "see" the background. Should I have someone be in the picture for the camera to auto-focus on? Maybe yes, but then it would give me issues with the self-timer after.

But am I wrong? Please let me know.

I know that I seem to be rushing into things, but really, I'm not. I do have patience, and I do practice taking shots whenever I have the opportunity to do so. I wouldn't be asking about this, though, if I understood what I am doing wrong. I'm practicing as much as I can so that I could be a freelance photographer. I have found tutorials by "Bing", and they've been helping me to better understand what aperture and shutter speed does.

[MarianMurdoch]

Start with manual settings. Put a balloon where you would sit and focus on that. Manual, manual, manual for extreme issues like this.

[shp]

Hmm, I was using manual, but didn't think of using something like a balloon, =). Thanks, Marian, I shall try that soon.

[Saknika]

-5 means underexposed. The way most backgrounds go black in a portrait, is because the light is not touching the background, only the subject. The subject is about 6ft from the background in your ideal setting. I've done it with the subject 2ft from the background and some extreme feathering though. But basically what that -5 is telling you, is that you don't have enough light for the settings chosen. There isn't enough hitting the sensor.

[shp]

Mhm, I had read through the manual again, and then I remembered something about the subject needing to be a few feet away from the background, at least 10ft. I had placed the saucer chair only a foot, or probably half a foot, away from the "background". I will try again in the daylight, =). I just got my fauxhawk thing back and I wanted to show it off, lol. I'll let you guys know what happens next when I try again. It's late now, so I'm off to bed! =)