how I hate overcast days!

[MrJones]

god how I hate those days.. scheduled a photo shoot just to wake up in the morning and find out the whole sky is covered with clouds.
I need the sun, I need direction in my lightning! just not gray yucky sky!
not only that - the client bagged me to make the session around noon instead on the golden hours..
anyway, overcast + noon = yuckiness!
thank god I've managed to get some good photos after all!

end of rant

[autofocus]

Unless you can find open shade somewhere, most would consider that giant softbox in the sky the gift of the Gods...especially for harsh, unflattering midday light

Originally Posted by autofocus

Unless you can find open shade somewhere, most would consider that giant softbox in the sky the luck of the Gods...especially for harsh, unflattering midday light

Exactly.

Cloudy days are the best.

If you need direct sunlight... you're doing it wrong.

[Jim Bryant]

Or, you could use speedlites with CTO warming filters. No sun = no harsh shadows. Who''s the boss of the photo shoot? It's up to you to gently tell your client that noon lighting will give them unflattering racoon eye shadows.

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Unless you can find open shade somewhere, most would consider that giant softbox in the sky the gift of the Gods...especially for harsh, unflattering midday light

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Exactly.

Cloudy days are the best.

If you need direct sunlight... you're doing it wrong.

not doing it wrong, just looking to make it more interesting!

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Or, you could use speedlites with CTO warming filters. No sun = no harsh shadows. Who''s the boss of the photo shoot? It's up to you to gently tell your client that noon lighting will give them unflattering racoon eye shadows.

I agree that in mid day it might help but I'll always prefer directional light like just after sunrise or before the sunset, this way you can actually play with the sun instead of having a huge dull lightning. you can get it to backlit your subject for instance and if you still want that softbox lightning - just put your subject in the shade or create a shade for that matter.

I tried using my EX580 to play with the lightning a bit but it's nothing compared to the sun in mid day.

and Jim, I've learned my lesson.. no doubt about it but it was the ONLY time they could come and do the photo shoot and it was suppose to start raining later.

I'm not saying I didn't get good photos, don't get me wrong... just a bit dull for my taste but I'm sure the client will love them

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by MrJones

not doing it wrong, just looking to make it more interesting!



I agree that in mid day it might help but I'll always prefer directional light like just after sunrise or before the sunset, this way you can actually play with the sun instead of having a huge dull lightning. you can get it to backlit your subject for instance and if you still want that softbox lightning - just put your subject in the shade or create a shade for that matter.

I tried using my EX580 to play with the lightning a bit but it's nothing compared to the sun in mid day.

and Jim, I've learned my lesson.. no doubt about it but it was the ONLY time they could come and do the photo shoot and it was suppose to start raining later.

I'm not saying I didn't get good photos, don't get me wrong... just a bit dull for my taste but I'm sure the client will love them

You know, under those challenging shooting conditions, if explained to the client, I bet they were happy with what you captured.

[Jim Bryant]

I just realized the location of the world you are in. I spent time in the Arabian Gulf and Middle East, anything except the warm evening light to shoot in would other side be a killer. When I was there, the only time I wanted to shoot was sun rise to about 10:00 am and then again from 5:30 onward. Those are the times to capture the most beautiful light I've ever shot in. "Magic Light".

[faeriegodess612]

I can kinda understand where your coming from. Cloudy days kinda give you that washed out look to the photos. You have to add the warmth and color back into them in post. Which if your like me,... you like to do as little as possible in post. You can't get that golden light on cloudy days. There's ways to make it work though.

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

I just realized the location of the world you are in. I spent time in the Arabian Gulf and Middle East, anything except the warm evening light to shoot in would other side be a killer. When I was there, the only time I wanted to shoot was sun rise to about 10:00 am and then again from 5:30 onward. At times the most beautiful light I've ever shot in.

yeap... so now you know what I mean
here, overcast is half clouds half sand.. not the greatest lightning..