Lighthouse

[dgrierms]

Hello, folks. Here is an image I took around the 4th of July



ESO T3i
ISO 100
85mm
f/2.2
1/400 sec
No flash

I would appreciate critique of exposure. Notice the sky was blown out. I would like to know how this image could have been exposed to enhance/add more detail to the sky without under exposing the lighthouse.

Thanks in advance.

[Doug Sundseth]

I don't think you need to worry much about underexposing the lighthouse. It's a white, sunlit subject. The forest is a different issue: you probably can't hold detail in both the sky and the shadowed forest edge at the same time in most lighting conditions.

I'd recommend shooting in morning or evening (depending on the direction of the shot), when the sun is directly hitting the forest edge and the lighthouse at the same time, and ideally when you're shooting away from the sun.

Failing that, you're probably looking at HDR/tonemapping to hold color and detail in both sky and shadow.

[PrNate]

I take a lot of shots of lighthouses, and many of mine are like this -- the result looks a little static and dull -- so I'm interested in fellow photographers' critique for my own improvement. I like Doug's suggestion of sunlight from a different direction, but a person doesn't always have that option, given time constraints (and family/travel constraints).

What else could be done from behind the camera?

[flytyer57]

I think a half grad ND filter is what you would need. Turn the dark part of the filter to the brightest part of the frame an then adjust the exposure accordingly.

Using Photoshop' Magic Wand Tool, you could pick out the sky in the pic and darken it or give it some color. Some say that's cheating, but if you get the effect you want in the picture, remember you are the artist and it's your choice to do so.

I kinda wish there were lighthouses close to me here in Arkansas. The last lighthouse I photographed was at the harbor in Milwaukee, WI when I use to live there.

[navcom]

I wish there was an easy fix but there really isn't in this situation. There are a couple things going on that are affecting the image. First, the dynamic range is high and the camera cannot record it. As Doug says, an ND grad or HDR technique is required. In this situation, it would be best to bracket and use HDR.

Second, there is also a quality of light issue. Light in the middle of the day is harsher relative to "golden hour" light...that is, light near sunrise and sunset. It's also flatter in the middle of the day making exposure and contrast difficult and leaving the image looking dull and boring.

While PrNate is right...sometimes you don't have a choice as to time-of-day, at the same time you can't get blood from a turnip. Photography is all about light. And just the mere presence of light isn't enough. The quality of the light is a big factor. And if the light is harsh and flat, the image will be harsh and flat. There isn't a lot we can do about it. Even with HDR or a filter, it won't fix the light quality problem.

Hope that helps!

[EOBeav]

Originally Posted by flytyer57

I think a half grad ND filter is what you would need.

Gotta respectfully disagree. A GND filter will unnecessarily darken the tops of the trees in the foreground. Such a filter has it's place occasionally, but not here.

As to fixing your problem, the best bet is to take this at a better time of the day. Sunset would be good, in order to get optimal quality and direction of your main light.

Also, you can fix your background without necessarily resorting to HDR. Take a couple of different exposures, then add in the better background in Photoshop or GIMP. There are several tutorials out there that teach how to do just that.

Thanks for posting, and keep shooting! I look forward to seeing more of your work.