Our local agility club has asked for some beach shots for its annual calendars. Most of the dogs are border collies, and the light will be harsh - not the best conditions, eh

I'm planning on shooting as early in the morning as possible, using a grey card for metering, and bracketing. We're also going to the western side of an island so as to try and avoid too much direct sunlight.Any other suggestions?

Audrey

Any chance you can do both a morning and evening shoot. Sunset gives some lovely silhouette shots of dogs in the light-path if you are on the western side (which island is it?). And even if the daylight is, as you say, a bit harsh, it will give great light for stopping action with good dof, so it's not all bad.

My biggest worry always with beach shots is sand and salt in the cameras - take care.

We're off to Bribie Island, off the coast of Queensland. Gorgeous spot, some very secluded spots with driftwood for lovely portraits. Thanks for the comments. I'll post some pics when we're done.

Audrey

You did not say if youre shooting ditial or film. I set my exposure the same way in any event.

If I were going to shoot that, I set my white balance, and then I'd set my exposure for the white on the dog and then just let everything fall into place. Spot meter the white on the dog and open up about a stop and a half or meter the black and stop down the same. If the light will change a lot, it will be more of a challange - shoot raw and you can later change the white balance if needed. As per exposure, use the histogram to make sure you not clipping the white, unless you have too. . .

You might also use the sunny f16 rule too. . . Simply put, the rule tells us on a bright sunny day to set your aperture at f 16 and convert the ASA or ISO settings to the closest shutter speed.

You might also try metering the sand, it might be middle gray as are most green planst. . .