BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

BetterPhoto Member
 

How do I...


 
 
Hi all. I took this shot with my digitial at daybreak and had a question. The foreground is really really dark. Any suggestions on how I could have avoided this?

Thanks


To love this question, log in above
July 03, 2006

 

Richard Lynch
  Using more than one exposure could help solve this problem. That is:

1. set your camera up on a tripod.
2. Determine the exposure for the sky
3. determine the exposure for the foreground.
4. Set the framing for the scene.
5. take a picture exposing for the sky
6. take the same picture exposing for the foreground.
7. use Photoshop or Elements layers to combine the images that result with masking and/or other layer properties.

Another thing that layers will allow you to accomplish that would be difficult any other way. My new course can show you how!


To love this comment, log in above
July 03, 2006

 

Slim Brady
  dodge the rocks in PS


To love this comment, log in above
July 03, 2006

 

Samuel Smith
  welcome adam,
do not center the sun and don't use the reading that your camera sets.
the sun will blow out all the highlights,it's just too bright at that time of day.even if you take a reading off the rocks,which will set a slower shutter speed,and will blast your picture with too much light.
in horizontal put the sun to one side,pretty far if you can,and try again.
now if there is a lot of humidity and dust, that will mask a lot of the suns brillance,but never center the sun unless conditions are perfect.
then you added the reflection off the water to really muck things up.and a circular polarizer ain't gonna help much.changing iso or aperture won't help much either.
you shouldn't even look through your camera at the sun like that,could damage your eyes.
you did say avoid not fix?and since i'm on that line,do you have a clue on any photo editing programs?
i'm just messing with ya folks.
best of luck,sam


To love this comment, log in above
July 03, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  Graduated ND filters block out light in parts of the pictures. You could have it block more light from the top of the picture, and the whole picture would then be properly exposed. Do a search on ND filters and you'll find out good information. That should help you get a similar shot which is properly exposed throughout the image. Your lens needs to be threaded, though, to attach filters.

Like Samuel suggested, you could edit the one you already took. Try brightening the shadows. If you have Picasa2, you could add "fill light".

Ariel
ScrattyPhotography


To love this comment, log in above
July 03, 2006

 
Log in to respond or ask your own question.