Candle glare?

[cvicisso]

Took my D70 and 50/1.8 to a birthday celebration earlier this month. Despite the horrible lighting situation, the combo worked out pretty great. Would have loved to have more usable ISO, a zoom range (50mm on DX is really pushing it indoors!), and maybe some stabilization, but I digress...

Here's one of the photos of the birthday 'boy' (they needed two cakes to fit all the candles!:D) getting ready to make a wish. At this point, it's pretty much only candle light lighting the scene. I cranked the aperture wide open (didn't want the typical FLASH+harsh shadow image) and even dared to bump the ISO up to 1100 on the D70. I was able to get a 1/80 shutter speed with that setup, and I'm happy with the result. I can live with the blown out candles (pardon the pun) because I think it actually adds to the image, but I wasn't expecting the green ghost candles hovering over the cake!

I usually don't (never) use a hood indoors - should I have? What else could I have done differently? Thanks in advance.

[Visual Reality]

The hood does not block glare if the source is in your picture. It blocks glare from outside the frame, so in this case it would have done nothing.

I always use my hoods no matter what, everywhere. Reason being, protection.

[cvicisso]

Thanks VR. Yeah - I don't use my hoods indoors because when I do use my pop-up flash, they cast a wicked shadow at wide-angle distances. I do use them outdoors.

I've got filters on all my lenses for protection.

Thanks though!

So, any suggestions for future shots like this besides PP?

[Visual Reality]

Sounds like someone could use a Nikon Speedlight and some bounce flash ;)

You mention you have filters - that could possibly be the problem. Try shooting without - filters can actually cause glare.

[britkev]

Odds on this is the filter...

The light from the candles reflects off the sensor when the shutter is open. That reflection is, in turn, reflected off of the inner surface of the filter back on to the sensor.

You're lucky here - those are real easy to clone out without affecting the subject. When taking pictures of bright lights, remove your filter.

[cvicisso]

Awesome advice, guys - thanks!!

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I'd have tried some fill flash or put the camera into M and set the exposure to avoid blowing the candles with the flash just adding enough to lighten the people.