Midday Photography Tips...Harsh Light... Photo Examples Please

captures.in.time

captures.in.time

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Hi all

Next summer I'm off on my honeymoon... We are off on a 14 day med cruise calling in on Barcelona, Nice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Santorini, Athens. Dubrovnick and Venice.

All fab places for photography... and my fiancee/ wife to be is a bit of a tog herself... not really into it... but she has a 450d and is creative enough... so we both will be using our time to see the places and try and capture a bit of the atmosphere and feel of the place.

The problem is going to be the lighting... by the time we get off the ship each day the med sun will be up... we need to be back at the ship most days before 7 hence missing the golden hours...

So my question is what are peoples top tips for shooting in very harsh light conditions??? Can you post examples of photos you consider as harsh mid day light examples that you are happy with!!!

Thanks again

M
 
Polariser would definately be on my list, cuts out the glare and reduces the light getting to you sensor. Other than that i's just a metter of being creative and looking for images that work and have nice contrast etc. White buildings in the mid day sun might not work well but a lovely cafe scene with people shading from the sun in a town square will look even better than it would in the golden hours.

Don't get too hung up on the golden hours, there are amazing photos to be had anytime of the day and night!
 
You wouldn't if you knew how much its costing... but I guess you only do it once in your life...

You could buy 6 EOS5d bodies with the money if you felt the need!!!

But hoping to get good shots... and enjoy my evenings abord ship!

Any examples people think they have taken which illustrate really good daytime shots would be appreciated as I always feel the best way to get insperation is through looking at other photos... not copying them... but looking for the thought process behind them!

M
 
I would split your photography into 2 camps. The first is the holiday/ honeymoon. take "snaps" and don't worry to much about it being artistically good. You're recording fun memories so keep it light.

Second, if you get the inclination to be artistic, then start looking at the light and shape. You can't do much about the position of the sun , but sometimes you can use that to your advantage. Look at the way light interacts with the subject. Maybe closeups are better. Maybe look for wide open spaces where the effect of a top light is not so important.

Most of all enjoy. It is after all your honeymoon not a photographic trip. ( Well that's what I guess you told the prospective Mrs. ;))
 
markelliot said:
...by the time we get off the ship each day the med sun will be up... we need to be back at the ship most days before 7 hence missing the golden hours...
Click to expand...

Yuo won't, I sincerely hope, be missing the golden hours, just utilising them differently. It's your honeymoon!
 
as Ive seen mentioned before on TP, try looking for shots that dont include any sky at all. Ive been rethinking my composure's like this and have found it working for me frequently as the range of brightness your sensor has to deal with is far less when there is no bright sky.
That, and I recently invested in a polariser which is great.
 
purpleclouds said:
:lol:
Click to expand...

That goes without saying chaps... I just hope im not too tired to get up the next day... and put a bit of thought into my pics!

He He... Yes don't get me wrong... I know it's my honeymoon and that comes first... but its actually a situation I find myself in alot... having a spare moment to do some photography but it always tends to be in the afternoons when the light is harsh... so yeh still after any tips...

I like the no sky one... that has potential!

M
 
me and the wife did a cycling honeymoon in Provence, the bright, hot, sun light made for good pictures of flowers, gave me lots of shadows to pose her around and a hellish climb of Mt Ventoux
 
Rip her dress up and make a diffusion panel.
 
I would not want to shoot people during harsh lighting conditions without using a flash unit for fill lighting.

The built-in flash is not capable enough. Get an accessory flash such as the 580EX, 550EX, 430EX or 420EX. The 550EX and 420EX would be on the used market and should be relatively reasonable in price.

I agree with using a CPL for most outdoor shots.
 
Don't be intimidated by the harsh summer conditions of the mediterranean. Your problem wont be the harsh light, as this is easily fixed with the correct exposure, use of filters and mainly by shooting RAW to try and get back some of the lost highlight detail. What you will find most irritating is the lack of interest on the sky on clear days. Just blue and nothing else.
Coming from Cyprus, I find myself shooting only wildlife or urban shots during my summer vacations there, and leaving landscapes for when I visit during the winter. You could use long telephotos to isolate distant shots, but I love using my 10-20 for landscape, and having an empty sky filling half of your shot is just ugly.

These are a few examples of the worst case senario, from the summer meet with Robin from TP in Cyprus.
2850852233_3dff8943eb_o.jpg


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As you can see, the light was harsh, the sky was clear, it was just bad.

Sunlight is great for these though!
2890470553_5e01c7278f_o.jpg

Fast shutter speeds mean smaller apertures=greater quality and handholdability.


But if you get lucky and have an interesting sky, then the sun is your friend.
2332753247_c117a74d7d_o.jpg

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Monemvasia, Greece
 
I can vouch for the harsh conditions:thumbs:
Was a bit of a mare:(

(Thread hijack on
Nice bee eater George, you are showing off now:lol:
Thread hijack off)
 
God... that flat blue sky is a pest.... Will just have to hope for some sky detail!

Anyone any other tips... I've got a circular polariser....

M
 
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