How do you avoid a blown-out sky?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/09/2005 11:28:49 PM · #26

Originally posted by Noggin:

nd filter - also like sunglasses?! I get it~!

There are nd filter and graduated nd filter (only half of it has the nd effect)

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

10/09/2005 11:29:43 PM · #27

Originally posted by Noggin:

...After she noticed me, I used the in-camera flash and the sky was still blown out with the camera on "fully automatic" setting which should have taken care of the white balance... i'm SO confused!

Full Auto mode will be the same as not having fill flash, the camera reads the scene as having enough light and will not fire the flash. In "P" mode you can force the flash to fire and act as fill.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/09/2005 11:29:53 PM · #28

Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by Noggin:
I'm not sure what a graduated ND filter is - and would it work with my camera?
...

You can't use Graduated ND filters with your camera. Grad ND filters are usually for DSLR's

There is a holder that I've seen that fits into the tripod screw slot that works with p/s cameras.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

10/09/2005 11:31:54 PM · #29

Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by Noggin:
I'm not sure what a graduated ND filter is - and would it work with my camera?
...

You can't use Graduated ND filters with your camera. Grad ND filters are usually for DSLR's

There is a holder that I've seen that fits into the tripod screw slot that works with p/s cameras.

Way too involved for what she wants to do...Why complicate things when simple fill flash will work?

We're not talking landscapes here, we're talking people candids...

Message edited by author 2005-10-09 23:32:38.

10/09/2005 11:34:50 PM · #30

I just noticed a lot of landscapes shots in her portfolio and thought the extra input would help :(

10/09/2005 11:38:07 PM · #31

The one where I used the flash in, I deleted (sorry). Camera was in Portait mode, I forced the flash, and the white balance/exposure, etc. was automatic. Everything was perfect, cept the sky, of course. Maybe more practice is in order for me?

crabappl3

10/09/2005 11:40:03 PM · #32

Originally posted by Noggin:

Sometimes even with the flash, you won't get the sky in range. Just try to shoot later or earlier in the day. Mid-day son is near impossible to work with.

-danny

10/09/2005 11:41:12 PM · #33

faidoi - so this filter-thing is still an option for me an' my little p/s? I do enjoy landscapes, (no wigglers to focus on!) but there's still the blow-out - beautiful blue skies are really rare in Indiana.

10/09/2005 11:42:08 PM · #34

Originally posted by Noggin:

As is San Francisco.

10/09/2005 11:45:37 PM · #35

stupid overcast - it's CRAP i tell ya!!

I spose my most basic question is - I need to know what to do to take pics of the sky AND a close subject, even though there's a sky that I can't do anything about.

10/09/2005 11:47:10 PM · #36

Cokin Digi-Holder. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage. Not sure if it's expensive or not, but it's an option for cameras without screw in filter ability.

Message edited by author 2005-10-09 23:48:41.

10/09/2005 11:50:29 PM · #37

Tha's really neato! I imagine I could find some li'l pieces of plastic-type-stuff and make my own (now that I know what the thing IS!)

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/09/2005 11:53:24 PM · #38

hmm... I'm thinking gels from a theater supply shop... whaddya think?

justin_hewlett

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

10/09/2005 11:55:07 PM · #39

Originally posted by Noggin:

You need to expose for the sky and use fill flash to light your subject. The easiest way to expose for the sky is to use spot metering. Your camera may or may not have this feature, but basically with spot metering there's a little "spot" (small square) on screen and the camera will decide the exposure based solely on that little "spot," not a comprehensive reading of the entire scene. Using spot metering, you can push the shutter down half-way with your "spot" pointed at the sky, and then while still holding the shutter down half-way, move the camera to compose your picture, and push the shutter down all the way to snap the picture.

Let me know if you need any clarification of my explanation.

10/09/2005 11:56:13 PM · #40

Justin - you smarty-party... i never thought of that!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

10/09/2005 11:57:35 PM · #41

Originally posted by Noggin:

hmm... I'm thinking gels from a theater supply shop... whaddya think?

Basically like filters you can buy for your camera. You can get super creative lighting with gels and a flash.

justin_hewlett

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

10/09/2005 11:57:38 PM · #42

Originally posted by Noggin:

Justin - you smarty-party... i never thought of that!

Does your camera have spot-metering?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/10/2005 12:03:59 AM · #43

yep - and I completely understand what you just said :)

Hopefully, I'll be able to submit something better than a four-something to the next challenge!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/10/2005 12:05:29 AM · #44

Originally posted by justin_hewlett:

You need to expose for the sky and use fill flash to light your subject. The easiest way to expose for the sky is to use spot metering ... Using spot metering, you can push the shutter down half-way with your "spot" pointed at the sky, and then while still holding the shutter down half-way, move the camera to compose your picture, and push the shutter down all the way to snap the picture.

You probably need to use manual focus with this technique, unless your subject is far enough to be in focus at the "infinity" setting.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/10/2005 12:08:34 AM · #45

manual focus... y? Spot metering like he said before wouldn't make the camera focus on the sky instead of my subject would it?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/10/2005 12:11:20 AM · #46

Originally posted by Noggin:

manual focus... y? Spot metering like he said before wouldn't make the camera focus on the sky instead of my subject would it?

If your camera is on Auto-Focus it will usually focus-lock when you depress and hold the shutter button halfway like that. I assume with a plain sky it will focus at infinity.

Maybe your camera works differently, and only locks the exposure.

Message edited by author 2005-10-10 00:12:41.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/10/2005 12:13:52 AM · #47

Now I'm thinking I need more fingers... So, focus first, then spot-meter the sky, then turn back to subject and click, right?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/10/2005 12:17:21 AM · #48

Originally posted by Noggin:

Now I'm thinking I need more fingers... So, focus first, then spot-meter the sky, then turn back to subject and click, right?

That sounds like the fastest workflow. If you're not in a hurry, you can meter the sky and see what settings it requires, then enter those values in manual mode -- then you can concentrate on framing/focusing your subject with the exposure already locked-in.