Tips for shooting in bright sunlight

[alexkidd]

Well seeing as outside is quite bright and it's probably a rarity for us brits i figured i'd start a thread about shooting outside in very bright light

Any tips all and sundry can offer are appreciated, i'll start with a couple of mine

1) be aware of harsh shadows for instance under trees, that create a mottled effect, shooting in shadow itself isn't a problem but the lattice effect created by somethings may not be to your choice
2) be aware of people squinting, pointing them directly at the sun might illuminate them nicely but people will be doing this face >.< which isn't always the most desirable
3) similarly to number 1 you can use a reflector to fill in harsh shadows especially on portraits

dunno if they're any good but it's a start

 

[photon]

Recruit assistants and use a diffusion panel.

 

[stevedunster]

1. If the sun is high enough, have the subject with the sun on their backs. This will give a nice hair light effect as well as ensuring you have soft light on the subject's face.

2. Use some fill flash to defeat ugly shadows and overcome panda-eyes.

3. Don't let sun fall on your front element, have a friend cast a shadow onto your front element.

4. Shoot in open shade i.e. put your subject in an opening that has something above to cast soft light shadow - like a door way.

5. Your camara probably has a dynamic range or around 6 stops, your eyes are much better at something like 12 stops. So in bright sun, squint at your subject and you will see how all the detail in the shadows goes to solid black - which is a good indicator of the problem your camera will have. As an artist you have to choose which 6 stops (of the 12 stops you can see) you want to expose for (low, mid or high tones).

Hope this helps

Steve

 

[mrtoad]

try to diffuse or add strobe to the shot
dont try and fight the sun
umbrellas are good for shade
really the best times to shoot daylight are not in the hours before and after mid day