Shooting in direct sunlight

[BigFuzzy]

First off, thanks for posting Scott, some people really need to see this.

Originally Posted by berardi

Here is a direct sunlight on a beach, no bounce from anything other than the sand and some from my bald head. ;D
http://joshuaberardi.com/share/IMG_0...b%20%28Copy%29

Sand bounce again.
http://joshuaberardi.com/share/IMG_5...%28Copy%29.jpg

Joshua, Your helpful post raises a good issue that maybe Scott should have been more clear on. I think Scott wanted to say "direct mid-day sunlight" instead of simple "direct sunlight" because your first two image (the links) I can tell (by looking at the shadows) were shot at a very favorable time of the day (ie early/late) where the sun is actually quite nice. Had you shot those images in mid-day high in the sky sun, they'd not be this nice simply due to the quality of the light.

I think Scott was trying to show how difficult it is to do with mid-day/high in the sky sun, not these favorable sunset/rise conditions.

Your third example is a great example of your point however and the bad lighting conditions were handled very well there. But as you said, you took out the sky which another of the key elements Scott was trying to help people deal with.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

I think Scott was trying to show how difficult it is to do with mid-day/high in the sky sun, not these favorable sunset/rise conditions.

ummm, yeah.... Thanks BF. I should have been more clear.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

Bottom line is there is really no good way to shoot outdoor portraits at mid day in direct sunlight, but some of these examples will make the best out of a bad situation.

Wait a sec..... I did, I did.....

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

Wait a sec..... I did, I did.....

Pfft, you expect me to read ALL of your post!??

I guess, I got stuck with what I read first and not what you wrote at the end. But yeah, you did say it, my bad!

[wulf]

A couple of quick thoughts on further ways to deal with midday sun (sorry - not illustrated):

1. Try to arrange the subject so the light falls on them well and so that you don't include the sky in the background. Imagine the background from Scott's first image combined with the rear-subject sun of the second and you will see some possibilities.

2. If a certain amount of post processing manipulation is feasible, try taking one or more shots exposed for the background as well as shots exposed for the subjects (think HDR). This would be easiest if you are shooting from a tripod so the images marry up well - you could even take your background shot before or after the people shots.

Wulf

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Pfft, you expect me to read ALL of your post!??

What?? When did we get married?