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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
blown out whites

garycox
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Oct 27, 2005, 10:06 AM

Post #1 of 5 (849 views)
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blown out whites	Can't Post

I'm using a Canon 20d. I had an issue where taking pictures of a white wedding dress outdoors in the shade I lost some of the detail in the wedding dress because it was so white and it looks like it nearly overexposed yet the subjects face was exposed correctly. How can I best deal with this situation when taking pictures in the future?

... Gary

Storm Crow
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Oct 27, 2005, 12:20 PM

Post #2 of 5 (841 views)
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Re: [garycox] blown out whites [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm not really the one to ask on this but if you were shooting in manual mode I would say you need to close down your aperture but don't ask me how to do this as I'm new to the photography side of this business. If you were shooting in auto mode it should have taken care of that for you.
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Beverly
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Oct 27, 2005, 12:22 PM

Post #3 of 5 (841 views)
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Re: [garycox] blown out whites [In reply to]	Can't Post

this is where you need to use reflectors. You need to expose the dress correctly and use reflectors to cast more light on the brides face. Then everything should be evened out.
Or expose the dress correctly and then try to adjust her face to match in photoshop later. Don't really recommend this but it is better than nothing. Of course this is only to be used if her face is only slightly underexposed.

Jeko
Enthusiast

Oct 27, 2005, 2:42 PM

Post #4 of 5 (836 views)
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Re: [garycox] blown out whites [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hit her face with some fill-flash....

Jeko

Sony VX2100's, iRivers, M-audio 24/96, Canon 5Ds/20Ds (and too much glass), Vegas6, PhotoShop CS3, Lightroom, etc.

WLR
User

Oct 27, 2005, 9:35 PM

Post #5 of 5 (821 views)
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Re: [garycox] blown out whites [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here's a couple things for you to try.
Read and understand the histogram.
Check out pg 58 of the manual on adjusting contrast.
If you are using the 580ex flash, experiment between +1/3 for say a group of 4 or 5 to +2/3 for larger groups to compensate for facial shadows in bright sunlight.
Ah, also, set the auto exposure for a -1/3 stop.
Gotta treat this thing like your shooting slides.
You can go a bit under, but if you go a bit over you're toast.

Friends don't let friends shoot jpeg.

(This post was edited by WLR on Oct 27, 2005, 9:45 PM)