Photography question

noob status alert

to start off..nikon d3100 kit lens 18-55mm 5.6

Ok well im practicing in my office with a white sheet and got my tripod. I have it on self timer because, well its the only way. But when im medium distance. My pictures are coming out kinda blurry. I have 100 iso..1/200 shutter/ 5.6 fstop.

NOWWW

when i held the camera in my right hand and just took a "TYPICAL GIRL IPHONE FISHLIPS" type picture. the !! was crystalll clear.

sooo..is this because i need a external flash..like when i get real close up my weak lil stock flash actually hits me.thus making the quality better.but when im far away my flash doesnt really reach that far or "BOUNCE"

or is it, the self timer is wack..and makes pictures look like !!..actually ill post one that came out OK on the self timer..






self timer (FAR AWAY)
[pic]

up close
[pic]

first off..theres no reason i need to see your face that close up...

secondly u answered your own question.

self timer, u cant control focus, u have to rely on the camera auto focus and the flash to subject distance is not close enough to be effective on your pop up flash.

haha i know. but it was the only way to really show what im talking about [pic]

at first i typed im not gonna post the pictures but then i said !! it!


but ok..good to know

i hung a string with a newport pack on it. right where my head would be..then focused on that..then ran into the shot...lol

You can get a 20 buck ir remote. Make sure your AF area mode is on auto area. When your infront of the camera you should be in perfect focus, as opposed to the camera focusing on the wall as you set the timer. As for the flash, take it off ttl and put it on manual and just play around. Also are ways to modify the popup flash because that shyt is just worthless unless make some sort of diffuser or you're using CLS.