Nice shot but the bay disappeared!

[sheila3]

Hi everyone! So I took this shot of my daughter on some old tree roots in front of bay. It was about 9 maybe 10 a.m. I shot in raw. I had to darken exposure quite a bit in PP to bring out the little bit you can see of land behind bay and than I brightened to lighten her back up. Anyways obviously I could have used better settings. Any advice as to where I went wrong. I am slowly but surely getting the hang of manual settings. But I live near alot of water and cant seem to capture it well. Also I am always looking to better my photography so let it rip with the critique. Thanx!




Canon Rebel Xs (nifty fifty lens)
1/250
f/4.5
50mm
100 iso
no flash

[dalmorloson]

Its just way overexposed. If you want to see the backround in focus just use a different f/stop. Try an 8 or even smaller (bigger #). This will keep backround objects in focus and let in less light. Try different combinations ie faster shutter lower iso etc

[IABoomer]

If you want both things clear, you'll have to expose for the brighter background, then using reflectors or artificial lights, fill in enough light in the foreground for your subject. This is similar to problems people have with skies blowing out, so searching for "blown background" or "blown sky" will probably find other threads that explain this balancing act.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

If you want both things clear, you'll have to expose for the brighter background, then using reflectors or artificial lights, fill in enough light in the foreground for your subject. This is similar to problems people have with skies blowing out, so searching for "blown background" or "blown sky" will probably find other threads that explain this balancing act.

This.
It looks like you were shooting with the sun behind your subject. There is just way too much contrast in the scene to have both the background and your subject to both be exposed correctly without adding flash or a reflector.

[kristenh]

sheila, i really like the composition and the look on your daughter's face in the second shot. as i looked at the photos, i did think that if you took out any of the dark hints that there is a background, it would look not unlike a white studio backdrop. imo that would be cool, too. only you and she would know that you were at the bay...

[sheila3]

Originally Posted by dalmorloson

Its just way overexposed. If you want to see the backround in focus just use a different f/stop. Try an 8 or even smaller (bigger #). This will keep backround objects in focus and let in less light. Try different combinations ie faster shutter lower iso etc

Thanx for feedback. Yes i told the girls we would be going back to do it again. and again. and again.. They love mommy and her camera

[sheila3]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

If you want both things clear, you'll have to expose for the brighter background, then using reflectors or artificial lights, fill in enough light in the foreground for your subject. This is similar to problems people have with skies blowing out, so searching for "blown background" or "blown sky" will probably find other threads that explain this balancing act.

Thanx for info. I have some white foamboards and have been wanting to try and learn about reflecting. I will have to give it a try.

[sheila3]

Originally Posted by RLucas

This.
It looks like you were shooting with the sun behind your subject. There is just way too much contrast in the scene to have both the background and your subject to both be exposed correctly without adding flash or a reflector.

Thanx Luke. Yes the sun was behind them and sun was bright on the water. I will be going back to try again.

[sheila3]

Originally Posted by kristenh

sheila, i really like the composition and the look on your daughter's face in the second shot. as i looked at the photos, i did think that if you took out any of the dark hints that there is a background, it would look not unlike a white studio backdrop. imo that would be cool, too. only you and she would know that you were at the bay...

Thanx kristen. That's a good idea. Plus if I didn't mess with the background the exposure on girls and roots would be much better. I will have to go back and mess around PP.

[cherrygirl]

Agreed about the over exposure.....

But for what you are trying to capture, I think the 50 mm is the wrong lens. The 50 mm is great for portraits where you want the person in crisp focus and the background blurred. I think you should switch to your prime lens.