Shots facing the sun?

[anastasia]

Nikon D60
f/13
1/640 sec.
ISO 100
26mm
No flash

I just started really getting into photography, and would like some opinions on this shot.

Also, what are some techniques that can be used when shooting facing the sun, for landscapes and portraits alike?
I had quite a few shots where the subject was too dark to really be seen.
Any tips for future references are greatly appreciated.

[rocker409]

Nice shot, I like how the sun rays look and that the back ground is blurred then the subject. Probley if you want a close up subject like that to be brighter when facing the sun, you want one of those things that are usely silver and black that reflects light on to the subject; like what you see some photographers have when you get your picture taken (don't know what they are called though?).

Also you might want to mess with the EV amount as well, some times if it is to high or to bright out side it can make it look dark when it's not. Other wise, good composition.

[Swanner Photography]

Originally Posted by rocker409

, you want one of those things that are usely silver and black that reflects light on to the subject; like what you see some photographers have when you get your picture taken (don't know what they are called though?).

.

Its called a reflector. you can pick one up cheap on eaby.


This is a nice shot.

[TW0R]

A UV filter would also be a good idea if you do not have one already. I like this shot. Its interesting.

[barabe]

If you ae this close to the subject, use a reflector or use a fill flash to light up the shot. If you are very far, there is not much you can do to light it up.
Nice shot you did.

[RexK_Cozumel]

get down lower so that the subject is silouhetted against the sky. It will stand out more. As already stated you can use a fill flash or reflector to bring out more shadow detail in the subject.

And for future reference shooting like this is called Contre Jour. It is some french photographic term means against the light. Or something like that...

[wal]

i believe the silver sunscreen(normally put in the car at dashboard when we park our car under the sun) can also be used ..

[Dirt_Bike_Ryda]

any thing of any colour other then black can be used for a reflector.

most people use white, siliver or gold because they can be easily compensated for with respect to white balance.

Some science behind what is happening. firstly we need to take a look at lightrays. when we see something all we are seeing is the light rays that have bounced off that object and into our eyes, it is a hard concept to get your head around, especialy when i throw in the fact that black things have actually ABSORBED all (or almost all of) these light rays. to see something what happens is this. the light that is bouncing around everywhere at 299,792,458 m/s strikes an object and then it bounces directly into our eyes, but only some of the light rays that first hit the object make it into our eyes. some of the light rays are absorbed. in the case of something black, none of (or very little of) these are reflected.

therefore, if you use something that is white as a reflector amost all the lightrays will be reflected onto your subject, this will be the brightest reflector you can get. these can be made from anything, i hear alot of people use white packing foam. if you were to get a reflector that was silver, only silver lightrays will be reflected onto your subject, giving it more of a cooler appearance in the photo. if you were to use a reflector that was gold, it would reflect gold light rays, hence warming the photo. if you used another random colored reflector you will get a photo with a colour cast similar to the reflectors colour. this can be bad, or it can be good, depanding on what you are doing..

my .02

EDIT: black things are good for absorbing light (for preventing lens flare and alike)

[Daoust]

When I take shots like this, I always get sunspots. I never paid attention to whether or not I had my UV filter on at the time. Now I'll be more careful to pay attention to that detail. Nice shot.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by Dirt_Bike_Ryda

. if you were to get a reflector that was silver, only silver lightrays will be reflected onto your subject,

Good explanation but with a minor flaw here. Silver or white rays are actually when all colours are reflected back in equal ammounts. White is all light black is none, all the colours of the rainbow are combinations of coloured light somewhere between all or none.

The difference between silver or white is not the colour but the way the light is reflected. White things reflect all light but jumble it up, silver things reflect all light but don't jumble it up as much, hence being able to see a reflection in a mirror. How does this affect reflectors for photography? I'm not really sure but I suspect a white reflector will create a more difuse light than a mirror (or silver reflector), softening shadows. I suspect silver reflectors are actually grey reflectors, still reflecting all colours but absorbing some so the light isn't as bright.

As for the photo I'm not sure it really needs a reflector, there is detail in the shadows and that all you are really looking for. Too bright and it will look unnatural. However it could be cropped to remove most of the foreground grass, it doesn't really add anything to the picture IMO.