probl;ems with contrast in sunny conditions :(

[ditch_azeroth]

several options really: slower shutter speed helps, use a different metering method (if you have spot in your camera, great... but the xti doesn't), reflectors are great specifically for showing detail in shadowed areas in your shots, off-camera flash, faster aperture... it's a game of mix and match. you'll find out which suits you best sooner or later.

[Elmo]

For this case pop up the flash set flash fot -2/3 stop (if possible) and throw a hankie across flash for softness.

[neilwood]

With using the flash for that shot, let the camera meter the scene as normal, note the settings and then pop the flash and shoot with those settings.

That way the background will be correctly exposed and your subject will get "filled". If the flash is too strong, use FEC (read the manual if you dont know about it) and reduce the strength til you get correctly exposed.

With practise it does become easier and you will prob not need the test shots.

[Aperture Nine]

Originally Posted by akshay.narayan

Hello friends,

I have a EOS400d (XTi) and am still using the kit lens (18-55mm II).
I thought let me get my basics right before i upgrade the lens

Now coming to my problem....

When i take pictures of people (Not exactly portraits) in open space(quote fields)-sunny conditions-against light, i have the contrast settings skewed.
[I tried the programmed AE mode ("P") and Tv and Av modes.]

The people in the photo appear tooo dark
How do i get my composition right?

My expectations :
Get the background and the people in the foreground with nice contrast, and colors as natural as possible.

any specific settings to follow?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Regards,
Akshay

Try shooting in RAW and JPG and compare the two. Is the RAW as it should be (a little flat looking perhaps, all RAWs are)? Then the cameras JPG conversion is to blame.

I have had tons of problems with the rather basic constrast curves applied by the camera to the JPGs. That is one reason why I shoot in RAW, always.

[mountaintreker]

You can meter of of her face and blow out the boat. You can use flash, you can use a reflector. you can have her move into some light. The options are yours to chose. In this case the camera exposed for the majority of the scene and made her underexposed. The camera metered the overall tone of the scene which was a light tone and correctly exposed for the majority of the scene and underexposed her in the process. If you spot meter on her face it will properly set the exposure for her face and blow out the background area of the boat. Spot meter on her face in manual mode and then you can move the wheel or dial so that shutter speed changes and brings your indicator in your view finder to the center position showing proper exposure. You can also use Aperture mode and use the exposure compensation feature. In that mode, you can add more exposure to her and achieve the same affect and bring her in to proper exposure. It will again blow out the background but it should properly expose her. I would recommend buying and reading the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.
Mountaintreker

[akshay.narayan]

Mountaintreker,
thanks for the pointer. will do that!
BTW, that was a shot i took in the 1st week of buying the camera. so reflector systems are a long way to go
Definitely i could have had her move into some light, well, i wasn't too sure if i would get the background properly (as we were also on a moving boat!) I might have lost the back ground if i was trying to get the position right!
so it was considerably hurried shot!!
nevertheless, i will take care of many of the things quoted, during my next outing! thank you all for the suggestions

[PhotoNewt]

Originally Posted by akshay.narayan

Mountaintreker,
thanks for the pointer. will do that!
BTW, that was a shot i took in the 1st week of buying the camera. so reflector systems are a long way to go
Definitely i could have had her move into some light, well, i wasn't too sure if i would get the background properly (as we were also on a moving boat!) I might have lost the back ground if i was trying to get the position right!
so it was considerably hurried shot!!
nevertheless, i will take care of many of the things quoted, during my next outing! thank you all for the suggestions

Your original question is how to render the subject and the background correctly exposed on an outdoor situation.

Your best option for a "snapshot" is to maintain the suggested exposure - I would even decrease the exposure by 1 stop to better expose for the sky and bright background - use the built-in flash to provide additional light for the people in the foreground. Reducing the flash power a little (1/3-2/3 stops) may produce better skin tones especially if the subjects are fair skinned. Using a hanky over the flash as suggested will diffuse the light nicely (with this technique do not decrease the flash output).

If you have time and the equipment at hand, using a reflector to lighten the shadows works great. In this case I would maintain the suggested exposure rather than underexpose as the reflector will not lit the main subject as much as a flash. Using this method, the skin colors will be more realistic.