Lil help on improving my pictures

[Dirt_Warrior]

I have a Sony A100 with a Sigma DG 500 superflash with a Vivitar Series 1 f2.8 28-105mm lense my problem is I want the pictures to have more light. my sttings were ISO 1600 80 F10 any help would be appreciated
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...or/isom523.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...or/isom521.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...or/isom529.jpg

[Photo-John]

You might want to repost in Help Files, Photo Critique, or the Sports Photography Forum. This isn't really a digital camera problem, it's a photo exposure issue that would be exactly the same with film as a digital camera. The problem is you're relying on the flsh to light your subject and the flash just doesn't put out enough light - no flash does. What exposure mode are you using? Your aperture - f/10 - is pretty small and not letting in much light. I would shoot this in manual exposure mode, checking the camera's light meter and underexposing by about 1 to 2 stops. Then you'll need to pan with the cars. The background and lights will blur but it should open up and have some detail and the car should remain sharp as long as you pan smoothly.

If that's all way over your head, let me know. And it's ok. We all have to learn this stuff and it can be complicated. What you're trying to do is sort of sophisticated. But the bottom line is, you need to use the camera's light meter and adjust the exposure yourself so that you are exposing for the background and not just using your flash for light.

Hope that helps :-)