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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Informative Topics on Photographing People

Photography Question 

Nicole Boenig-McGrade 		 

How to Avoid Sun Glare


 
 
How can I reduce sun glare on a portrait (face)?
How can I best avoid glow of sunlight in a person's hair, if I must take a photo with the sun slightly behind the person?


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July 30, 2003

 

Jon Close 		  With the sun behind your subject you're apt to get overexposure of the highlights to get a good exposure of your subject (as in your picture here), or a nicely exposed background with the subject too dark or in silhouette. To even things out you have to either use reflectors to light your subject or use fill-flash.


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July 30, 2003

 

Nicole Boenig-McGrade 		  Thank you Jon, looks like a fill-flash will be my next investment. Do you know how I can "sharpen" the photo more, a finer grain? This was taken with a 100 35mm Kodak film.


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July 30, 2003

 

Maynard McKillen 		  Dear Nicole:
If you still want some of that "rimlighting", which can add charm or zip to a photo, you could reduce it. Have an assistant stand off camera, between the subject and the sun, and hold up translucent white fabric, perhaps three feet square, mounted in a frame of wood or PVC. Thus some of the sunlight will still rimlight the subject, but it will be reduced to a hopefully less objectionable level.


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July 31, 2003

 

Nicole Boenig-McGrade 		  Thanks Maynard. Yes, I do like a little "rimlighting" but not quite this much. Will give your tip a try. Thank you.


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July 31, 2003

 

Tiffany M. Barkevich 		  hi Nicole,
i have asked many people about using a POLARIZING FILTER on your black and white photos. they can be expensive, but it also depends on what size lens you have. dont get me wrong, you can find them at a decent price, just make sure you bring your lens with you.
the whole purpose of a polarizer if to eliminate glare. I think you will find this extremely helpfull.please let me know what you do.

Tiffany Barkevich
Antigodess@hotmail.com

P.S.
if you live in the southern California area I can tell you where to go!


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August 13, 2003

 

Nicole Boenig-McGrade 		  Hi Tiffany, what a great tip. I have one of them. By the way, I live a bit further away, in Perth, Western Australia


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August 13, 2003

 

Anand S 		  Hey you can even try to under expose your subject by a stop or two. It worked for me and still managed to get a rimlighting without using any other filter other than the conventional UV filte. Ofcourse this was in a color film.


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August 18, 2003

 

Nicole Boenig-McGrade 		  Hi Anand, it's very nice to hear from you. I'll need to play around with my exposures. Good learning curve. Thank you.


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August 18, 2003

 
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