exposure help

[mugsisme]

So today I was trying something new. Every time I go to Maymont, there are parts in the sun and parts in the shade. Half my pictures are too dark, half over exposed. (I had the white balance at auto after I realized I couldn't leave it at sunny or cloudy.) Then, I was shooting towards the sun (I had no choice). I wanted to get the James River through the trees. But, all I ended up with was a blown out sky. What should I have set the camera to?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/2153220826_08455e7c97.jpg
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 36 mm

Then, I wanted to get the landscape, but the sun was starting to set, and I would have cut off part of the trees to lower the camera.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/2152431127_390cb35309.jpg
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160) Aperture: f/6.3 Focal Length: 18 mm

Then, my DD was on this rock screaming, take my picture. Again, I was aimed towards the setting sun.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2153223160_14389e918f.jpg
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400) Aperture: f/5.6Focal Length: 200 mm
I did have the flash on for that one.

I moved in closer, and got this shot, which is good.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2152432749_7c5bc7e6b7.jpg
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50) Aperture: f/5.3 Focal Length: 90 mm
Did this one work because I was close enough for the flash to hit her?

Any suggestions if I encounter a situation again where I am shooting towards the sun rather than with the sun behind me? (My ISO was 400, and I had my polarized lens on.)

[XaiLo]

Try This Leah Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated @ Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003)

:)

[mugsisme]

OK, I put it on hold again at the library. I probably have taken it out more than anyone else in the last 10 months. I sometimes feel so dense when it comes to this, you know?

[toriaj]

Unfortunately, our cameras have limited "dynamic range," which means that they cannot capture the wide range of bright and dark that occur in our world. The camera can expose for the sky, the ground, or somewhere inbetween. In your first and third images, your camera chose a "middle" exposure. Thus you see that neither the sky or the ground is well-exposed. I think your 2nd image is quite well-exposed, actually. The sun is blown out, but anytime you have the sun in the frame it will be blown out. But you have good color in other parts of the sky, and the ground looks good as well. The main reason your last shot is well-exposed is that there is no sky in the photo, so the camera was able to simply expose for the subject.

In high dynamic range situations such as your #1 and #3, we have limited options. We can expose for the subject and just know that the sky will be blown out. :( We can choose a middle exposure, and work on the pic in PP to try to get something decent (this works best when shooting in RAW.) We can take shots at several exposure levels and combine them in PP, even using HDR (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?p=232450). These last two options can be a lot of work.

Another option is to use graduated neutral density filters (http://www.singh-ray.com/grndgrads.html). They fit onto the front of your lens (or are held in front of the lens.) Half of the filter is completely colorless and clear, and the other half is clear gray. You put the clear gray part in front of the sky, so it makes the sky darker. The colorless part is in front of the ground, so the ground is unaffected. This reduces the dynamic range of the image by making the sky darker, so your camera can effectively capture the whole scene.

I hope that helps.

P.S. I've never used the Galen Rowell filters I linked to. I chose the link for the pictures. I bought my graduated neutral density filter from here (http://www.2filter.com/prices/htpackages.html).

[SpecialK]

I wanted to get the James River through the trees. But, all I ended up with was a blown out sky. What should I have set the camera to?


Nothing different. Shooting into the sun is nearly impossible to get good results. The backlighting just magnifies the atmospheric haze and makes it brighter, plus reduces contrast. The grass has about the correct exposure.
Solution - go to other side of river and shoot away from the sun. Sorry....




Then, I wanted to get the landscape, but the sun was starting to set, and I would have cut off part of the trees to lower the camera.


Just a problem with position, then. And same thing - don't shoot landscapes into the sun.




Again, I was aimed towards the setting sun.

The camera/flash sensor probably said "oh, it's very bright" and just underexposed. Setting the flash to "manual" or adding +1 or so compensation would help - if you were close enough to start with.

Three of the same - shooting into the sun...



I moved in closer, and got this shot, which is good.


Yes it is. You are not shooting into the sun, and you are close enough.

[XaiLo]

OK, I put it on hold again at the library. I probably have taken it out more than anyone else in the last 10 months. I sometimes feel so dense when it comes to this, you know?

It's an excellent book and thank GOD we have brains that catch up sooner or later. Best advice when shooting in harsh sunlight is to get creative if you can (find shade if possible lighting will usually be pleasant) it's a light balancing act going on... most of the time though the only way to fix these are in post.