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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Sunlight and shadows

garycox
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Jul 14, 2008, 2:17 PM

Post #1 of 8 (1391 views)
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Sunlight and shadows	Can't Post

I've been trying to work out a particular issue I've been having. I haven't quite found the right combination that I like yet and was wondering what others were doing.

When taking photo's outdoors in bright sunlight (while early morning and late evening are usually best sometimes you do not have that choice) I have issues with people wearing white (like a white wedding dress) blowing out the picture. Using a fast shutter speed and/or ND filter helps. However, you often have shadows, very bright areas and then areas of a few shadows with or without the filter.

I can use a flash to fill in the shadows but often still have differences with sunlight and flash filled shadows. Sometimes a reflector helps. However, if your stuck in the middle of the day with bright light and bright clothing and the sun at enough angle to cast a shadow on the face or even sunlight through a tree causing bright and shadow areas it's hard to get it evened out.

I'm just wondering what others are doing?

Thanks... Gary

sal
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Jul 16, 2008, 12:08 AM

Post #2 of 8 (1339 views)
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Re: [garycox] Sunlight and shadows [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is why people always advise others NOT to shoot under the bright sun. but sometimes you don't have a choice(ie outdoor wedding that takes place at noon)

other than a reflector or using the flash for fill as you pointed out, the only thing else I could think of is setting up a net like they do for movies, to soften the harsh sunlight on the subjects and surroundings. Not exactly a good solution for event photography. But this is how the studios handle the situation.

For medium/closeups you can use a translucent diffuser. Rather than bouncing light to the subject with a reflector, you hang the diffuser over the subject. This will soften the harshness of the sunlight. Same concept as the net but easier to set up. The problem is you are not covering a large area. The background might still be blown out or hidden in shadows. Your subject will look great though.

be curious to read what others have to say about this.

(This post was edited by sal on Jul 16, 2008, 12:09 AM)

mazzystar
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Jul 16, 2008, 10:42 AM

Post #3 of 8 (1319 views)
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Re: [garycox] Sunlight and shadows [In reply to]	Can't Post

Gary, I'm not a professional photographer but working with them week in and week out gives me a bit of insight of what they do.

One of my fave photographers actually use this harshness of light and shadow to create interesting effects.

http://www.mangored.com/blog/?m=200712

____
blog

garycox
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Jul 16, 2008, 12:12 PM

Post #4 of 8 (1313 views)
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Re: [mazzystar] Sunlight and shadows [In reply to]	Can't Post

I looked at http://www.mangored.com/blog/?m=200712 and the pictures are impressive. It looks like some interesting effects besides lights and shadows. Many of the photo's had the sun diagnal to the photographers left so bright light wasn't in their eyes but didn't cause undesired shadows on the face. Looks like many were not in the middle of the day!

I think the key is early in the day or late in the day. Getting the correct angle in prospective to the sun. Having a good location to shoot from to begin with and perhaps using flash to fill.

The one in the parking lot with the lights shining toward me I would have used a flash to light the subjects while keeping the effect of the lights facing me otherwise the camera would have tried to cut down light coming in because of the lights facing the camera in automatic and in manual could have overexposed the lights. I've used a flash to brighten the subject in front of a window while still maintaining the ability to see outside where it's bright to begin with.

The idea of a defuser is good for maybe closeups but hard to be practical in a event shooting. With tree's and sunlight coming through it I think is best to just avoid unless I can block the light and then use a flash on the subject to brighten it as bright as the background.

Bright mid day sunlight just isn't a friend to the camera. Overcast days seem to be good but you have to avoid a gloomy look whereas sunny days with blue sky are great for a sky background but can be difficult due to the bright light.

... Gary

Shadow
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Aug 4, 2008, 7:41 PM

Post #5 of 8 (1003 views)
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Re: [garycox] Sunlight and shadows [In reply to]	Can't Post

You can pray for overcast. But if that doesn't work...

Can you move the bride and groom into open shade and shoot without flash? This is the way I prefer to shoot, with natural light. But there's not always a lot of good shade for group photos.

If I can't find open shade, I will put the sun behind them - but watch for glare in your lens, you need to be careful of this. Other than that put them facing the sun and throw on your flash to fill in some shadows. People will be squinting and it will look terrible, really, it's my last choice.
I've been under trees with bad shadows and had to pump up the flash so that it becomes basically stronger than sunlight to even out the lighting on their face, people tend to look very pasty.

My general rule is to never shoot in mixed lighting. If they ask for it I will say that I'd prefer to shoot elsewhere but it is ultimately their choice. I've even showed them the shadows on someone's face - yes, perhaps there is a lovely flower bed in the shaded spot but everyone will be splotchy because they are standing under the trees that let in light.

Postal Boy
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Aug 11, 2008, 5:13 PM

Post #6 of 8 (944 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Sunlight and shadows [In reply to]	Can't Post

also beware when you move to shade, because if there is bright light BEHIND the shade, you get an awful bright background that can mess up your camera settings, and be a distraction in the final photo. I always try to get shade with a darker, or shaded background as well.

Shadow
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Aug 14, 2008, 3:00 PM

Post #7 of 8 (914 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Sunlight and shadows [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yep, been there, done that. :)

Need to meter for the background then use the flash at that point, but I'd still rather have even light on their face and use flash to balance the background then have ugly shadows on their faces.

Brian Coe
User

Nov 21, 2008, 2:47 PM

Post #8 of 8 (126 views)
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Re: [garycox] Sunlight and shadows [In reply to]	Can't Post

When all else fails and you have to shoot like that, shoot in raw and then use something like Lightroon to tone done the white highlights and bring up the shadows.

It works to some extent but you can't make miracles otherwise the images loose their "film" look and begin to look like washed out digital images.

Brian
Elite Video Mariage
Paris France
http://www.elitevideomariage.com