Digital photograpers - an odd thing is happening

[scottlr]

The last 2 days, my FIL asked me to take a bunch of pictures of friends and family that attended dinners and a memorial service for the MIL. Normally, I don't use the AUTO function, but a tripod was not practical and many times timing was hard to try to get everyone he wanted me to shoot. So, I just opted for the AUTO setting and the flash inside, to make sure I got clear focused pics, and I'll fix anything in post later.

At the Friday night dinner, I noticed a shadow in the bottom left corner of a couple of pics as I took them, and when I looked at the scene live in the room, there wasn't any shadow at all. I thought it was odd, but it wasn't in ever shot. Last night, and the second dinner, I was noticing the exact same shadow. On a couple, I was standing in about the same place as the night before, but some I wasn't. So I look at my UV filer to see if it has smudges or something. It wasn't as clean as I would have liked it to be, but there was nothing that would have cause such a dark shadow. And no, I did not have my hand or fingers anywhere to make the shadow. When I get the pics on the computer, I can probably lessen it with the dodge tool, but I wonder what is causing it. I did take a few shots without the flash when I thought I might get away with it without a tripod, and no shadows on those. Maybe I should have just brought the tripod, and set up somewhere, and had the FIL file everyone in for a picture LOL But I think he wanted to have shots of everyone conversing and remembering his wife.

I have never opened and cleaned the sensor at all, so although dust might be possible, certainly no smears.smudges that might cause this, and if so, it would be on every single picture, not just some. All of the shadows were across someone's back or mid section, never on the face. I have used this camera for well over a year and never has this happened.

Any ideas?

[Bones]

are you leaving the lens hood on with the flash? it will do funky things if you are especially the "flower petal" ones

[scottlr]

The lens hood was on, but in the backwards storage mode, not out front over the lens opening.

[Bones]

The lens hood was on, but in the backwards storage mode, not out front.

evem that way if you are using the pop-up flash iy can cause problems. Post one of the pics.

[scottlr]

I can't right this minute. I left the camera at the inlaw's house, and my wife picked it up, but hasn't returned with it. I'll do so asap this afternoon, though. I think the key will be to post 2 so you can see it's the same shadow. I have always store the hood on the lens like that, and this is the first time I have ever seen this. And I have shot some other family functions using the AUTO and flash to make sure I just get clean focused shots on the fly.

You know, I was zooming in and out, so my left hand would have been on the barrel, perhaps getting between the flash and the subject! I have one of those pinkies that likes to stick up LOL And the shadow in an angled shadow that would be the same angle as my pinkie would be if I was doing that.

[GAD]

What lens?

GAD

[scottlr]

OH, I don't know my lenses well. I have a wide angle and a zoom. This was the wide angle. They both came with the camera Olympus E-500.

I am fairly sure it was my stupid pinky finger. When I was a kid, I learned to drink from a glass like that watching the 3 stooges, and I have done it for 40 plus years now. I am guessing that I had zoomed out to get a group, them zoomed back in to get 1-2 people, so my hand was still on the barrel. And since I rarely use the flash, it makes perfect sense why I haven't seen it until now.

[Texas_Blues]

Ghosts?

[stevieboy]

Do you see the shadow in the viewfinder before you took the picture, or just in the pictures?

If you could see the shadow in the viewfinder, you can eliminate the flash as the cause, because you don't see the light from the flash before or after you take the picture. Also, you can eliminate the exposure setting, ie Auto, as it would not affect what you see in the viewfinder.

If you see the shadow in the viewfinder, then something was likely blocking the lens, as you suggest possibly your finger.

If you only see it in the pictures, then there are other possibilities, and something blocking the flash is certainly possible. Also, with wide angle lenses, most flashes won't "cover" the whole picture at the wider settings (though many flashes have built in methods for taking care of the problem, you have to be aware and physical make an adjustment.) But most commonly you would see even shadows in each corner of the picture.

[SGNick]

Ghosts?

Logical

[FlyingDutchman]

Logical

Thats what I was thinking as well....Ghosts.

[Kingbeegtrs]

antighost software?
http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/antighost.html

[scottlr]

Ghosts?

No, not ghosts, assuming you mean photographical artifacts. If you mean actual ghosts, probably not anyway. The MIL was very camera shy, and she'd have been the only ghost hanging out there those nights. :D

Do you see the shadow in the viewfinder before you took the picture, or just in the pictures?

If you could see the shadow in the viewfinder, you can eliminate the flash as the cause, because you don't see the light from the flash before or after you take the picture. Also, you can eliminate the exposure setting, ie Auto, as it would not affect what you see in the viewfinder.

If you see the shadow in the viewfinder, then something was likely blocking the lens, as you suggest possibly your finger.

If you only see it in the pictures, then there are other possibilities, and something blocking the flash is certainly possible. Also, with wide angle lenses, most flashes won't "cover" the whole picture at the wider settings (though many flashes have built in methods for taking care of the problem, you have to be aware and physical make an adjustment.) But most commonly you would see even shadows in each corner of the picture.

I can't see it in the view finder. But I can't see that well in the viewfinder anyway. LOL I have to trust the green dot that claims it is in focus :)

I am about 80%-90% sure it is my fingers blacking the flash. That's the only logical explanation, really. I just got the camera back home, and when I put my hand on the barrel like if I was zooming in and out, it is my ring finger, rather than my pinky (because of space restrictions) that is indeed sticking up in front of the flash. At least none I saw were across a face. As soon as I get the chance, I'll post a couple so y'all can see it.

[Droptop]

Without seeing the images. Are you getting a spotlight flash effect (ie flash substantially overpowered the natural light)? This makes everything outside of the flash radius go dark. This may be obvious, but if your camera can go manual, set your ISO higher (ie 400-800) and lower your speed to 1/25-1/30th of a second. The more natural light the better. Also, bounce your flash off the ceiling or at an angle so as to not get the spotlight effect. That or take your finger off the flash : )

[scottlr]

No, it is a very obvious something blocking the light. I am quite sure now it is just my fingers. The shadow is fairly well defined, and concentrated in the exact same are of ever photo it appears on. After getting the camera in my hands and putting my fingers where they'd have been if I had been zooming in and out, it is my ring finger, not my pinkie, the was sticking up right in the path of the flash. I may not get the time to dig through the 90 photos until tomorrow morning, but you'll see what I mean. With the naked eye, right after the first shot I noticed it on, there wasn't even a suggestion of a shadow. After seeing where my finger had to have been, it MUST be my finger causing it.

[rattles]

Ghosts?


I'm thinking it's the MIL! Seriously!

[TimmyP]

I am fairly sure it was my stupid pinky finger. When I was a kid, I learned to drink from a glass like that watching the 3 stooges, and I have done it for 40 plus years now.

Your pinky goes under the glass, so you don't have to grip the glass so tightly.