Washed Out Skies

[Sungrazer]

What are some tricks for getting a properly exposed subject without ending up with a washed out sky?

[24Peter]

You either need to add light to your subject or take away light from the sky. The problem is the differential in brightness between them. An ND grad filter can help darken the sky while leaving the (usually) bottom portion of the image untouched. Or you can add light/flash to your subject to bring the brightness up closer to the level of the sky. Here's an example of both:

Here I used a .6 ND grad filter: http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/marinadelrey/large/IMG_7140.JPG

Here I added flash to my subject: http://photos.imageevent.com/24peter/modeljenla/large/IMG_0263.JPG

Frankly it's pretty hard to properly expose both the daytime sky and most subjects given the limited dynamic range of today's digital sensors. But supposedly Canon is developing super sensitive/high DR sensors for their next crop of cameras so we'll see.

[GaryS]

If its a landscape type shot, you can also try taking 2 or more exposures (on a tripod), one exposed for the sky, and one for the foreground, and then combine them in post.

Actually, I always use the exposure bracketing function in my camera when shooting landscapes.... Then I have the option to combine the shots later if need be.

[JMWallace]

OOOO OOOO OOOO, how appropriate. I was just talking with a photographer friend about this today and just reading this guys web site. Take a look. He takes some AWESOME shots by under exposing the sky by one stop, then setting the WB to 3600K, adds warming (orange-ish) filter to his fill flash. VERY cool effect.

The warming filter with the 3600K WB creates natural skin tones while making an incredible blue sky.

www.daveblackphotography.com (http://www.daveblackphotography.com)

Take a look at Sept 2006 & Feb 2006 workshops.

Jeff

[toriaj]

You can even get similar results to the above by using one photo. Select one part of the photo, process it (such as brightening the foreground,) then select another part, and process it (such as darkening the sky.) You can use layers, and differently saved versions of the same pic, as well.

[michaelb]

You can even get similar results to the above by using one photo. Select one part of the photo, process it (such as brightening the foreground,) then select another part, and process it (such as darkening the sky.) You can use layers, and differently saved versions of the same pic, as well.

I have Paint Shop Pro 10 and I am trying use layers in this manor or to combine multiple exposures.....does anyone know of a tutorial on how to do this?

[Rhys]

You can play with curves in Photoshop.

[toriaj]

I'm no expert. I hope someone who is replies to you :o I don't know of a PSP tutorial, although you might want to look at all the tutorials and see if you can piece it together ... Also, take a look at this Photoshop tutorial. PSP should be similar.
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?p=162176#post162176

In general, I think you can make adjustments to each layer separately, (such as darker exposure for sky and brighter for foreground) and then make part of the layer transparent so the one you want shows through.

I hope that made sense. I've just been doing the select-adjust method, instead of layers. I know it's not as advanced, but so far it works for me, and it's simpler. When you get one to work, post it up!