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Just a tip for these bright summer days #35756
07/13/11 04:33 AM
07/13/11 04:33 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Washington
G
Greg D Offline OP
Wanderer
Greg D  Offline OP
Wanderer
G

Joined: Jun 2011
Washington
The bright midday summer sun is always a challenge in photography but here is one simple way to make a difficult situation work for you.

If you have a concrete driveway that is in partial shade it is common for dogs to lay just inside the shade on the cool part.

If you approach from the shade side and either spot meter or use manual mode you can produce high key pictures with ease.

The sun lit cement background will overexpose and go almost pure white without the need to actually set up a white lighted background.

Once you learn the trick it becomes easy, I have attached a snapshot of a friends dog I made on a casual visit, I wish I would have wiped her eye gunk first and stopped down so that both eyes were in focus.

This works best on dark dogs, as you can see how the white blaze on this dogs neck starts to be lost into the background. That would have been less noticeable had I not overexposed the frame by about one to two thirds of a stop.

Best of luck,

Greg



Just another snapshot taker
Re: Just a tip for these bright summer days [Re: Greg D] #35757
07/13/11 04:48 AM
07/13/11 04:48 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Washington
G
Greg D Offline OP
Wanderer
Greg D  Offline OP
Wanderer
G

Joined: Jun 2011
Washington
I should mention the "the inverse square rule" of light for when you do have a flash and want the reverse effect.

Every time you double the distance the light travels from a flash the power output actually drops 4 times.

So if you get your diffused flash close to your subject and far from almost any background it will go pure black.

My poor woolly husky blew her coat late this year, when she was just on the cusp of making my life hair ridden she walked in on a human picture session I was having so I snapped this picture as she walked up to say hi.

Of course if you are lighting a dog on purpose you would want a catch-light in both eyes, but this is a good example, she was much shorter than the person the lights were set for.

In this case I am using a soft-box but an umbrella will work too if you have a large enough room.

The "soft-box" was about a foot from her and there is a WHITE painted wall directly behind her about 10 feet away.

the only post I did was to up the fill light to try and get her right side of the face to lighten as my fill light was not pointed that low.

"FYI a week later after three baths and a leaf sized garbage bag of hair she is her skinny little summer self"



Last edited by Greg D; 07/13/11 04:58 AM.

Just another snapshot taker
Re: Just a tip for these bright summer days [Re: Greg D] #35761
07/13/11 05:44 AM
07/13/11 05:44 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Augusta, GA
M
Marie Mitchell Photography Offline
Old hand
Marie Mitchell Photography  Offline
Old hand
M

Joined: Jul 2009
Augusta, GA
Hey, thanks for the tips! Great captures too.


Re: Just a tip for these bright summer days [Re: Marie Mitchell Photography] #35771
07/13/11 03:16 PM
07/13/11 03:16 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Manhattan, New York, New York
James Morrissey Offline
I
James Morrissey  Offline
I
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Feb 2005
Manhattan, New York, New York
Hey Greg,

Thanks for sharing some of your techniques and your photos.

James

Re: Just a tip for these bright summer days [Re: Greg D] #35872
07/28/11 03:12 AM
07/28/11 03:12 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Denver, CO
S
Sue Deutscher Offline
Wanderer
Sue Deutscher  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2011
Denver, CO
That is a great tip and I love the photo. I like the white blaze getting lost in the background. Also, PShop works great on eye gunk, have had to use it myself because I forget to wash a face.

Really nice shot, Sue

Re: Just a tip for these bright summer days [Re: Greg D] #35873
07/28/11 03:16 AM
07/28/11 03:16 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Denver, CO
S
Sue Deutscher Offline
Wanderer
Sue Deutscher  Offline
Wanderer
S

Joined: Jul 2011
Denver, CO
This is amazing that the wall was white but you got it to look black. It's a really beautiful shot.

Re: Just a tip for these bright summer days [Re: Sue Deutscher] #35945
08/02/11 04:00 AM
08/02/11 04:00 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Australia
As I see it Offline
Wanderer
As I see it  Offline
Wanderer

Joined: Jul 2011
Australia
Oh wow ... thank you for the tip, I have so much to learn. Your husky is absolutely gorgeous.


“She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes.” Frank Deford
Re: Just a tip for these bright summer days [Re: As I see it] #35949
08/02/11 08:18 AM
08/02/11 08:18 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
San Antonio, TX
FretlessD Offline
Journeyman
FretlessD  Offline
Journeyman

Joined: Jun 2011
San Antonio, TX
Thanks for the tips. These are the things we newbies appreciate. Nice images.

Doug


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