Outdoor photography with S3

[michelle_musser]

I have a Canon S3 IS and tried to take pictures of the kids playing in the snow on a very sunny day. What settings do I need to have my camera set on in order to actually see the kids in the pictures? The pictures are very bright and the kid's faces are washed out.

[smc1377]

Can you post an example as well as the settings that the picture was taken with (iso, aperture, shutter speed, etc)?

[Potr8]

Hi Michelle,

I have Canon S3IS also and quite new with it. Your problem is encouraged me to verify my basic knowledge in photography. To get better understanding to your problem, it is better if you post the sample photo. So we can look what setting you were using (as questioned by smc1377).

But, let me assume that we want to take a new shot. As your problem categorized as over exposed, so the solution should be lowering the exposure.

You can try the following steps:
a. Put your camera in Av mode (Aperture priority).
b. Set Av value to 8 (8 is the maximum value in Canon S3 without zoom, it allows least light to get through camera lens).
c. Aim your focus to your kid (not to the snow) and press the shutter button halfway.
d. See on your LCD, at the bottom line, it will show you the Tv (shutter speed) value.
e. If Tv value shown in white (normal exposure), means that it’s OK to shoot.
f. If Tv value shown in RED, it means that you still get over expose (or under expose). In this case you may try Manual mode. Don’t forget to note Tv value at the bottom line.

(Reference: Advance Camera User Guide page 61)

Step in Manual Mode
a. Change camera mode to M (Manual)
b. Set Av value to 8 and Tv value to smaller value than what indicate in step g (if Tv value 1/100 try to set to faster value example 1/125 or so).
c. Aim your focus to your kid (not to the snow) and press the shutter button halfway.
d. See on your LCD, at the upper left corner it will show you the exposure value.
e. If exposure value is zero (normal exposure), means that it’s OK to shoot.
g. If exposure value is positive (it’s still over expose), change Tv value with the faster value. Example if exposure value is +2/3 then try to change speed 2 step up (press right arrow two times). If current speed is 1/125, two step up you will get 1/200. Do step c again until you get exposure value=0.
f. If exposure value is negative (under expose), change Tv value with the slower value (press left arrow), and do step c again until you get exposure value=0.

Additional Note.
Sometime when shooting in shiny day, we have difficulties to see the LCD. Using histogram will help you check the exposure. To show the histogram on the LCD, pres DISP button. (see page 21 on your Advance Camera User Guide)

Hope it will help.
Have a nice try and looking forward to see your great photo.

Regards,

[michelle_musser]

Thank you for your suggestions. It sounds like it might just work. I have to wait for the snow to come back since it ALL melted this week. I will post a picture though .

[inkista]

Ummm, I think the simplest thing might just be to play with the exposure compensation setting in the menu. Snow and beach always have extra reflected light, so it's easy to overexpose. I'd try -1, and adjust from there.

[pageta]

For a snow scene, put the mode dial to SCN and then hit the right arrow until it gives you a snowman. It's one of the advanced scene modes, and I've had great luck with it. Visit my flicker account to see some shots.