Kit lens grain?

[DGK*CRONE]

Critique/advice? Color or black and white? first time converting color to b&w.

I took the picture with only the available light indoor. Is the reason it looks grainy because it was taken at a high ISO with a kit lens or is that something I could have avoided without more light?

[Frog]

On this one, I prefer the color version.

Yes, I do believe the grain/noise is from the high iso. Doubt it has anything to do with the lens unless there is something I don't know. I suppose a faster lens would have allowed for a lower iso but don't know how low the iso could have gone with say an f/1.8 and keep the shutter speed fast enough to avoid motion blur, Nobody can stand perfectly still,

The image is so interesting that the noise doesn't bother me and it may actually contribute to the feel.
Something particular you're trying to portray?

[jetrim]

I don't think noise is your primary culprit, looks more like camera shake. For the B&W to be effective, you need to reposition the light for better contrast. (hard light from the side)

[DGK*CRONE]

Frog- I don’ really know the message I am trying to convey. I went to his art show and asked if I could take pictures of his art. He agreed and we began to talk. I asked to take pictures of him and at the time, this just worked. It was just a spur the moment thing that is why it was so hard to get the right light. It was the last day of his gallery and I was one of the last in there. Wish I could have more prep. I think the pictures have a lot of potential.

I don’t normally convert to b&w because if I do I just use black and white film but this was taken with a digital camera.

Sorry, I don’t know how to phrase that question about the lens. That is what I mean about the faster lens. Is the kit lens limiting my ability to stay in the lower ISO or is there something I could do in a situation like this? I realize that if I don’t have a tripod I pretty much need a faster lens.

I am going to try to experiment in editing these a bit more.

[RayVilla]

I like the black and white better. Doesn't look like it's messed up looks more like it was supposed to be like that. Is that scarification on his chest?

[clayhaus]

Generally, a faster lens will allow you to hand-hold in lower light at a lower iso than with a "kit lens." I think that is what you were asking, yes?

[Anbesol]

Yes, a faster lens lets more light in, allows for faster shutter speed. f/3.5 1/6th iso 1250 could have been f/1.8 iso 640 1/12th. 1/12th is just about the border line for what will work with VR (slightly more or less, depending on your personal stability). Or, it could have been 1/25th at the same ISO, a shutter speed that is usually easily hand held at that focal range.

[Photo-John]

Why wouldn't you want more light? You can make the light look however you want - that's a matter of controlling your exposure. If you want it to look dark then you just make a darker exposure. But you can do that with more light. And that way you can elimiminate the motion blur and the noise.

[DGK*CRONE]

Generally, a faster lens will allow you to hand-hold in lower light at a lower iso than with a "kit lens." I think that is what you were asking, yes?

ha. I am so confusing. That is the answer that I picked up on as being the best answer for the questions I TRIED to ask.

I was basically asking... Is there anything I can do when working with Low Light situations aside from adding more light with a Kit lens in a high ISO? A friend of mine recommended using mirrors to reflect light (since this was so spurt the moment and that is one thing that I had at my disposal) I just wanted to know if there was any tips on shooting with a kit lens in a low light situation. I just found that the high ISO on my camera wasn't doing so well (D70) along with the lens. first thought was the lens quality wasn't helping either and thought it was more that...

I should of thought of what I was trying to ask before I asked. lol.

thanks for the help and advice everyone!

I am going to try to re-shot this picture. I have his contact information and I am sure he won't mind since he really liked the idea.

[DGK*CRONE]

Why wouldn't you want more light? You can make the light look however you want - that's a matter of controlling your exposure. If you want it to look dark then you just make a darker exposure. But you can do that with more light. And that way you can elimiminate the motion blur and the noise.

I didn't think of that. if I shot it a little darker I could eliminate the motion blur! gah! I was so hung up on shooting it with lots of light to get more details on the branding he has on his chest but if i would have shot it dark i could have just tried to lighten it up a bit when editing. good thing to keep in mind. I should have gone a bit darken rather than lighter to eliminate the motion blur and just cleaned it up a bit. I was aiming to shot it a bit darker anyway.