Sunset Silouhette

[wattashot]

I was trying to get my gf's silouhette against the setting sun, I think it might have turned out too dark though. Thought Id put this out there for critique.. It kind of has the effect I was going for but just not totally sure about it.

Nikon D5000
VR 55-200 mm
set at 55 mm
ISO 640
1/2500
f/14

[zona5101]

it is so dark you can't make out her outline...kinda like a black cat in a coal mine... Even the sunset itself is a bit dark. SO you need to give it a bit more exposure. So you can use the data from this shot as your starting point then slow your shutter down a stop and take a picture...another stop then a pic...etc for 3 or 4 shorts and see if you don't get a nice silloutte in there. so if you leave your aperture at f14; your shutter progression will look something like 1/2500; 1/1250; 1/625; 1/300; 1/150
[those are odd shutter speeds so if you can't set them exactly, you would choose the next closest setting.]

[wattashot]

If I understand correctly your saying using a longer shutter speed would bring more light to the photo?

[Rehesan]

Originally Posted by wattashot

If I understand correctly your saying using a longer shutter speed would bring more light to the photo?

Absolutely right!, that is one of the basics in photography: the longer the shutter speed is, the more light is coming to the sensor/film.

Making a downs to the stops on the shutter speed, will bring more light to the photo, but since your aperture (f/14) is a close one (the lens diafragm is not letting pass to much light) your photo will not be overexposed letting more light to come into the sensor by slowing the shutter speed.

[wattashot]

Learning has occurred, Somehow I shouldve known this but I dont know how I missed it.... Im def a newbie though. Thank you both.