tough shadows

[dishingthedivine]

I spent an hour today with my mom shooting photos under the mid-afternoon sun. The timing was intentional. I had read on a previous DPS post that if you're shooting during the non-magic-hours, you should use your flash to fill in some of the shadows.

I have a 580exii flash that I just bought and I'm trying to figure out how to really utilize it. Currently, it's still on camera.

I'm curious how to fix the exposure on this. I don't have a light meter. I was trying to avoid the classic "look into the sun" mentality that we often have on photos like this. I took about a billion of these photos at different shutter speeds and aperatures. All were taken on manual setting with my flash fired either above mom's head or to the picture's right. Pretty much all of them ended up like this.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Is this a hopeless case, or do you have some ideas for me?



Model = Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Exposure Time = 1/400"
F Number = F5.6
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Metering Mode = Partial
Flash = Flash fired, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 31mm

Thanks!

[stefantell]

Hopeless, not at all.
But I think it would be easier to fix it with a reflector (or just a white piece of cardboard) on your right side, just aim it so it reflects some fill for her shadow side.

And maybe turn down the exposure just a little bit, her right side looks a little overexposed.

[dan.will60]

Not hopeless.
Just expose for the highlights and let your flash take care of the fill.
a great website for flash photography is Neil vN – tangents check him out he is amongst the best.

[Benji]

I love suggestions like use a reflector in full sunshine to lighten up those shadows so after reading about this technique I went outside several days ago in full sunshine and asked my buddy to hold a silver reflector under his face to bounce some sunshine back into his face. See the resulting image below. As you can see this technique works wonderfully if your subject is totally blind. If he is not, he definitely will be after using this technique.

As I have said about 1000 times before, you cannot shoot in full sunshine while using the sun as your main light and get beautiful images. Yes the pros can but they have six or eight assistants helping them hold a host of light modifiers.

Benji

[dishingthedivine]

Originally Posted by Benji

I love suggestions like use a reflector in full sunshine to lighten up those shadows so after reading about this technique I went outside several days ago in full sunshine and asked my buddy to hold a silver reflector under his face to bounce some sunshine back into his face. See the resulting image below. As you can see this technique works wonderfully if your subject is totally blind. If he is not, he definitely will be after using this technique.

As I have said about 1000 times before, you cannot shoot in full sunshine while using the sun as your main light and get beautiful images. Yes the pros can but they have six or eight assistants helping them hold a host of light modifiers.

Benji

thanks, Benji... after today's photo shoot in full sun, I was beginning to wonder if this is possible. I think you're right - it's possible for the pros. For now, I'm sticking to the magic hour or shade... We'll see if I can take a decent photo our two given these slightly more favorable lighting options.

[archersdad]

Magic hour or an overcast day would really help out. Also, if you shift the camera to the right so that more of the sunflowers and less (or none) of the fence is in the frame you would have a stronger image.

[dishingthedivine]

Originally Posted by archersdad

Magic hour or an overcast day would really help out. Also, if you shift the camera to the right so that more of the sunflowers and less (or none) of the fence is in the frame you would have a stronger image.

thanks for the suggestion on composition!