Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

carrbowl · 09:53 AM

I am having issues......with getting my lighting consistent in the shade. It seems it's either too bright or too dark. Do you have certain tips you use or do you have certain settings you start with. I've finally gotten bold and won't shoot in the middle of the day...I'm thinking more of the 9-10 in the morning or 4:30 on in the evening...

EDIT....I know someone has some tips....I have seen so many photos lately where people have issues (and I'm included) with getting the lighting right in the shade....surely someone can offer some suggestions....surely not everyone has a studio to shoot in.......please???

Gateruner · 05-08-2008, 11:05 AM

There are no magic settings here and a bunch of varied combinations depending on how much shade you are in, how much light you actually have on your subject etc. The big issue is what look are you striving for. Are you wanting the nice bokeh with a wide open lens or something else? Meter your subject in the shade and you will typically blow out the back drop or it will become very dark depending on the backdrop/time of day and what you have your aperture set at etc. Or you can meter the back drop and use fill flash to illuminate your subject. That is my preference and it brings up alot of other questions about the fill light. Do you use on camera or preferably off camera flash? Multiple lights for your backdrop and your subject or only one? There is a good book called Understanding Exposure out that is pretty good about explaining these situations. It has been around awhile but still very relevant to getting the idea of what to do under various situations.

toverman · 05-08-2008, 11:56 AM

1. I like to use a neutral reflector so that the light in the shade still looks natural.

2. With fill flash, even dialed down, I usually use a diffuser to soften the effect (Fong Lightsphere II). The problem I often have is that if I am shooting wide open to blur the background, my shutter speed is too high to sync with my flashes. I'm sure at some point I'll invest in some portable lighting, but my journalism background has made me love mobility and spontaneous shooting and not being tied to a certain location.

3. There are times of day when there will be better available light, when the sun is lower in the sky either in the morning, late afternoon or evening. But good photos can be taken any time of day when the light can be manipulated (blocked, reflected, compensated for).

DeannaD · 05-08-2008, 11:59 AM

In Strobist's April archives there's a good article. My co-worker is a huge strobist fan and he showed it to me a while back. Try this link:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/04...ight-pt-1.html

carrbowl · 05-08-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gateruner

There are no magic settings here and a bunch of varied combinations depending on how much shade you are in, how much light you actually have on your subject etc. The big issue is what look are you striving for. Are you wanting the nice bokeh with a wide open lens or something else? Meter your subject in the shade and you will typically blow out the back drop or it will become very dark depending on the backdrop/time of day and what you have your aperture set at etc. Or you can meter the back drop and use fill flash to illuminate your subject. That is my preference and it brings up alot of other questions about the fill light. Do you use on camera or preferably off camera flash? Multiple lights for your backdrop and your subject or only one? There is a good book called Understanding Exposure out that is pretty good about explaining these situations. It has been around awhile but still very relevant to getting the idea of what to do under various situations.

I was afraid it was too varied to narrow down, but it seems to be a big issue on the forum these days..

venchka · 05-08-2008, 04:59 PM

If you have a polarizer, use it as a neutral density filter and maybe you can get your shutter speed under control.

Bracket. Bracket. Bracket. And then bracket.

Set exposure compensation to +1 or +2, whatever it takes.

Bracket.

I also use a diffuser 100% of the time. I have two: A straight through Stoffen and an Omni-Bounce. I switch depending on my mood, the phase of the moon, if Jupiter is aligned with Mars and the one I happen to have with me.

riteflyt · 05-08-2008, 05:32 PM

ZONE system, learn it, live it, love it!!!!!

TxManx · 05-08-2008, 06:54 PM

Like Venchka said, use a polarizer to stop it down a bit, or buy an ND (neutral density filter)...

Also - meter off the background...that's your ambient light you're wanting to capture. Your subject will be dark, of course...which is where the flash will come in...

Set your flash on manual - set it to the same exposure the camera is set to, but then drop it a stop. Fire a test shot (we're using digital, right? if not...unsure how to proceed)

Move the flash exposure up or down to achieve the desired effect.

Diffused flash is much better for this type of thing...but direct flash can be used if you don't have another option...