Advice on half-lit subjects - DPChallenge Forums

09/08/2007 11:56:27 PM · #1

Just polling for some advice on what to do:

Situation: I'm outdoors on a sunny day. Part of the person's face is lit by the full sun, part is in shadow. I'm at an angle that puts the bright sky behind the subject.

Question #1: How would you size up this situation and what would you do to get a good photo when the subjects' lighting pans a large dynamic range (i.e. greater than 2 stops)

Question #2: Let me enhance the difficulty of the situation. The subject is moving towards me (on a merry-go-round). Now what would you do?

Thanks,
Paul

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

09/09/2007 12:00:48 AM · #2

Use a reflector.

09/09/2007 12:13:59 AM · #3

Lets assume that I can't...in the merry-go-round case.

Let me also add that I can't "set-up" the shot.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

09/09/2007 12:15:07 AM · #4

Flash then, though in the merry-go-round case the lighting is going to be changing by the fraction of a second so good luck.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

09/09/2007 12:21:30 AM · #5

A - Shoot in good light
B - Add light where it isn't optimal (flash, reflector, lower ISO, etc)
C - Remove light that isn't optimal (screen, time of day, etc.)
D - Last resort - try to balance light in post processing - Photoshop.

The easiest answer here is A - shoot in good light. Don't shoot when the light is fighting against you. If you want the shot to really work, wait until the light is in your favor, or make it your favor.

Atropos

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/09/2007 12:24:51 AM · #6

Change your position so the sun is behind you.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/09/2007 12:25:33 AM · #7

A reflector obviously isn't possible. A simple flash should do the job...

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

09/09/2007 12:48:56 AM · #8

I think the image looks great. It could certainly be knocked as not being a "perfect portrait" of the couple. But in this situation, I don't think it had to be. Here is another from the same setting:

So... go ahead and use flash if you need to. But don't worry about the reflector. And don't worry that it isn't perfect. Save that for when you have control of the situation.

----

More from yesterday's wedding (plus the bridals and engagements shot in previous weeks) can be found here.

Message edited by author 2007-09-09 00:49:58.

basssman7

Nikon D500

09/09/2007 12:52:08 AM · #9

Fill flash for sure. Set to -1 or so looks more natural, because you can tell there is a difference in lighting, but it is almost even.

09/09/2007 02:04:55 AM · #10

Thanks, this is exactly the situation I came across. I had absolutely no control of any light.

One question regarding the fill flash. If outdoors, do you recommend a diffuser?

Originally posted by dwterry:

The thought that immediately comes to my mind ... especially because of the carousel ... is that, people don't "expect" perfection out of every photograph! Sometimes you just can't control the light. Sometimes controlling the light might actually make the image look artificial!

A couple of quick examples from yesterday's wedding ... I made no attempt at perfect lighting here. It was, as you described, harsh sunlight on one part of the face and shadow on the either.

I think the image looks great. It could certainly be knocked as not being a "perfect portrait" of the couple. But in this situation, I don't think it had to be. Here is another from the same setting:

So... go ahead and use flash if you need to. But don't worry about the reflector. And don't worry that it isn't perfect. Save that for when you have control of the situation.

----

More from yesterday's wedding (plus the bridals and engagements shot in previous weeks) can be found here.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/09/2007 08:55:08 AM · #11

bumping for more advice....

Apple iPhone 5

09/09/2007 09:08:43 AM · #12

I just got back from holidays and took loads of snapshots in bright sunshine with harsh shadows. The easiest solution I found was to set the flash to between -1.0 and -2.0 and shoot as normal. The 'weak' flash was just enough to soften the shadows and light up the dark half of the face.

The only exposure adjustment I made was to the flash power, to ensure it wasn't *too* bright. i.e. I only wanted the flash to lift the shadows and not appear as an unnatural light coming from a weird direction.

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

09/09/2007 09:11:02 AM · #13

By -1 and -2 are you referring to dropping the AUTO flash setting by that number of stops? Whats the guide on your flash?

Thanks for the reply.
Paul

Originally posted by jhonan:

scwalsh

Sony DSLR-A200

09/09/2007 09:19:56 AM · #14

this is a great site for some information on how to use flash correctly
//planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

basssman7

Nikon D500

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

09/09/2007 09:20:10 AM · #15

Tell the Dim-Lits to get into better light! ;)

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/09/2007 09:27:05 AM · #16

Originally posted by PGerst:

By -1 and -2 are you referring to dropping the AUTO flash setting by that number of stops? Whats the guide on your flash?

The guide on mine is 17 m (55.7 ft).

I'm shooting mainly in P mode, and the D40 has a 'Flash Compensation' setting which goes from -3.0 to +3.0 and lets you set the output power of the on-camera flash. I found it was the laziest/easiest way to sort out shadows for snapshots. In a studio situation of course you can setup the shot, external flash, reflectors etc. But I just needed a quick and dirty solution for holiday snaps. I'm not sure if the 300D has a flash compensation setting. This site talks a bit about fooling the light meter into giving different power outputs.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

09/09/2007 10:38:11 AM · #17

Originally posted by basssman7:

Tell the Dim-Lits to get into better light! ;)

LOL!!! Love it! :-)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

09/09/2007 11:50:23 AM · #18

Obviously. But that is not always possible. The question was in regards on what to do when you can't control the light, or position of the subject.

A good photographer knows how to manage the uncontrollable...which is what I'm asking about.

Originally posted by basssman7:

Tell the Dim-Lits to get into better light! ;)

basssman7

Nikon D500

09/09/2007 11:52:15 AM · #19

Originally posted by PGerst:

Sorry, that was a joke. :)

09/09/2007 11:52:23 AM · #20

Thank you. This is perfect! I've been neglectful in taking my flash when I'm shooting outdoors...obviously a mistake. Though, I could have used the on-camera flash to help compensate....

Thanks for the link.

Originally posted by scwalsh:

this is a great site for some information on how to use flash correctly
//planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

09/09/2007 11:53:03 AM · #21

No problem...sorry if I sounded rude...just got in from mowing the lawn and not in the right mind. :)

Originally posted by basssman7:

Originally posted by PGerst:
Obviously. But that is not always possible. The question was in regards on what to do when you can't control the light, or position of the subject.

A good photographer knows how to manage the uncontrollable...which is what I'm asking about.

Originally posted by basssman7:
Tell the Dim-Lits to get into better light! ;)

Sorry, that was a joke. :)

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III