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10/16/2010 04:17:07 PM · #1 |
One of the frequent critiques challenge entries receive is being shot in the harsh and unflattering midday sun. Sometimes we don't have a choice about when we can shoot a certain scene. We can, however, learn to use that midday light to advantage through creative composition and post processing choices. Enter a photo taken in the normally lousy midday sun that overcomes the usual limitations of that time of day. Advanced editing.
(OK, I like aircraft and cars...)
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10/16/2010 05:03:22 PM · #2 |
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10/16/2010 05:12:01 PM · #3 |
Critique:
A good challenge idea, but would benefit from being reshot during the golden hour.
(runs for shelter, giggling...)
R. |
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10/16/2010 05:34:32 PM · #4 |
Why is it bad to shoot in the midday sun? |
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10/16/2010 05:39:38 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by adamelliott111: Why is it bad to shoot in the midday sun? |
Usually harsh shadows, and flat, hard lighting. :D
Message edited by author 2010-10-16 17:40:07. |
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10/16/2010 05:40:24 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by adamelliott111: Why is it bad to shoot in the midday sun? |
Harsh shadows and lighting.
-- Another rule here should be no HDR, as that can fix all of the issues with midday sun pretty fast.-- |
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10/16/2010 05:41:27 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by adamelliott111: Why is it bad to shoot in the midday sun? |
Harsh overhead light doesn't model anything for you (except vertical surfaces it happens to be raking along). That's basically it; it's just harsh, unflattering light. I mostly don't bother shooting, ever, between 10 AM and 2 PM... At least in the summer. This far north, in winter, the light's low all day long.
R. |
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10/16/2010 05:42:29 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by coryboehne: Another rule here should be no HDR, as that can fix all of the issues with midday sun pretty fast.-- |
I disagree with that; I'd think the goal was to make the best of a bad situation, and to my mind that includes all manner of harsh, aggressive post-processing...
R. |
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10/16/2010 06:31:38 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music: Originally posted by coryboehne: Another rule here should be no HDR, as that can fix all of the issues with midday sun pretty fast.-- |
I disagree with that; I'd think the goal was to make the best of a bad situation, and to my mind that includes all manner of harsh, aggressive post-processing...
R. |
I know you do love the HDR technique, but in this case, the lack of such abilities would ensure that people have to actively attempt to really make use of the situation, rather than trying to overcome it. |
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10/16/2010 06:53:51 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by coryboehne: I know you do love the HDR technique, but in this case, the lack of such abilities would ensure that people have to actively attempt to really make use of the situation, rather than trying to overcome it. |
I actually don't know what you're talking about, Cory. For one thing, I can't remember when's the last time I actually used true HDR, been quite a while; I'm hardly ever merging multiple originals anymore. What I *am* doing is tone mapping, topaz-type stuff, but that isn't "HDR".
So what are you saying? That in this challenge, no HDR, no Topaz, presumably no Shadow/Highlight in photoshop, extend that and say presumably no use of fill light and highlight correction in RAW processing? In other words, let's take a really difficult situation, assign it to people, and then just for the hell of it let's take away all the tools that are tailor made to deal with the situation? That's what it sounds like to me, and I'll admit there's a certain bleak attraction in the prospect, but may I humbly suggest, in that case, that you make it a minimal editing challenge, and there won't be any issue at all?
R. |
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10/16/2010 07:03:15 PM · #11 |
I'm for including any advanced legal techniques that help. For me the point is to show that you can work within or around the limitations of lousy light.
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10/16/2010 07:10:02 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music: Originally posted by coryboehne: Another rule here should be no HDR, as that can fix all of the issues with midday sun pretty fast.-- |
I disagree with that; I'd think the goal was to make the best of a bad situation, and to my mind that includes all manner of harsh, aggressive post-processing...
R. |
Yeah, would be like saying no use of refelctors or flash. I'm often forced to shoot in less than optimum conditions. It's using the tools at your disposal that make the difference.
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10/16/2010 07:52:43 PM · #13 |
i'd say the challenge description would have to specify using "direct" midday sunlight if that's what you're after because you can take a shot during the midday using diffusers and shaded areas with reflectors and such so that the midday sun becomes softer and really not that bad at all. |
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10/16/2010 07:57:11 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by briantammy: i'd say the challenge description would have to specify using "direct" midday sunlight if that's what you're after because you can take a shot during the midday using diffusers and shaded areas with reflectors and such so that the midday sun becomes softer and really not that bad at all. |
Isn't that part of the goal?
Problem: You have to shoot at high noon, in harsh light.
Solution: Use whatever techniques you have at your disposal to make lemonade :-)
R. |
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10/16/2010 07:58:58 PM · #15 |
Life throws you lemons, find someone who's life has thrown them vodka and have a party.
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10/16/2010 08:07:09 PM · #16 |
I would like to have the challenge include all tools, processing, etc. While I understand folks wanting to deal with the harshness and make something interesting with it, I also would like to see what people do to deal with it and work around it. I find myself not taking pictures during the day because the lighting stinks. I'd love to see the challenge run the whole gambit of possibilities, because I'd like to know what I can and can't do with stupid lighting. :)
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10/16/2010 08:07:16 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music: Originally posted by briantammy: i'd say the challenge description would have to specify using "direct" midday sunlight if that's what you're after because you can take a shot during the midday using diffusers and shaded areas with reflectors and such so that the midday sun becomes softer and really not that bad at all. |
Isn't that part of the goal?
Problem: You have to shoot at high noon, in harsh light.
Solution: Use whatever techniques you have at your disposal to make lemonade :-)
R. |
i agree with you Robert in this. I think this is the challenge of photographers all the time, trying to make the best of whatever situation you have. It's just that Steve displays some pics in his original post that were taken in direct sunlight so i figured that's what he was after and that the challenge is to make the directly lit subject "work" somehow, I suppose by choosing a subject that works in direct light or perhaps in post by fixing problem areas. |
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10/16/2010 08:13:32 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by briantammy: It's just that Steve displays some pics in his original post that were taken in direct sunlight so i figured that's what he was after and that the challenge is to make the directly lit subject "work" somehow, I suppose by choosing a subject that works in direct light or perhaps in post by fixing problem areas. |
Like this one, which has been tonemapped to kingdom come?
Or this one, which looks like it's been hammered with on-camera flash, though I'm not sure about that...
So yeah, Grog'll use whatever he can lay his hairy mitts on :-)
R.
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10/16/2010 08:19:07 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music: Like this one, which has been tonemapped to kingdom come?
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Yes, on the tonemapping. My special seasoning blend of Topaz Adjust and PaintShop Pro's clarify.
Originally posted by Bear_Music: Or this one, which looks like it's been hammered with on-camera flash, though I'm not sure about that...
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No usage of flash on that one. Natural light only and the wide end of my 10-24. The shape and colors of the car worked well with the light is all. However, it's interesting you should suggest that, because of the current fill flash challenge. It's not always possible to tell if it was used.
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10/20/2010 12:04:13 AM · #20 |
I didn't expect my suggestion to be used so soon! Well, it's my idea, I'll need to have something for it!
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10/20/2010 12:21:48 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff: I didn't expect my suggestion to be used so soon! Well, it's my idea, I'll need to have something for it! |
Awesome. This is right up my alley! I hope...
R. |
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10/20/2010 01:49:56 AM · #22 |
Congrats Spiffy. Sweet idea. |
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10/20/2010 02:06:44 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by coryboehne: Congrats Spiffy. Sweet idea. |
Yes Steve, great idea. Now, lets see, I work during the week so that leaves the weekend. Quick check of the forcast for Sydney on those two days:
Forecast for Saturday
Cloud increasing. Isolated showers developing during the morning, increasing to areas of rain around midday. The chance of thunderstorms from midday. Winds northwesterly and light tending southwesterly up to 35 km/h by early evening.
Forecast for Sunday
Cloudy. Areas of rain, easing to isolated showers during the morning, clearing later in the evening. Winds southerly averaging up to 35 km/h tending south to southeasterly up to 20 km/h by early evening.
Mmmmm - now I need to think of how I can shoehorn this...
Message edited by author 2010-10-20 02:07:07.
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10/20/2010 02:13:01 AM · #24 |
"We can, however, learn to use that midday light to advantage through creative composition and post processing choices."
Bummer about the basic editing then. |
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10/20/2010 03:45:00 AM · #25 |
This should be fun...in britain ¬_¬
haha, we only get like one day of nice sun a month now. |
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