Photography Board Monthly Assignment - October 2010: Backlighting

[cpbjgc]

From the grounds of our provincial Legislature Building.

 

[dcg0317]

Great shots alan, I really like the first one Edinburgh Music Theatre, Copacabana; and #3

 

[dcg0317]

For clouds don't meter off the white's of the clouds, the camera meter will just turn it gray like when shooting in snow. Try and find a gray section or meter off the sky (no clouds) and lock exposure, try using polarizing filter.
For shooting people in the sun don't, or try using fill flash or spot metering off different areas of the face.

But here are some shots from the weekend....


I might need some pointers on how to meter off for cloud shots...

These are friends of mine; and the sun was almost directly behind them. I like the effect around her hair but it seems hazy to me.

Is there a particular technique or set up I need to do when taking pictures of people against a sunset?

I acknowledge that I am a rank novice at this and haven't done any research on the topic other than reading the links that Joe provided. But this second shot seems a lot sharper than the above (i.e., not much haziness) and I'm not sure if this the backlight effect of my lack of proper lens focussing.

Another friend of mine....and this was taken about 5 minutes earlier than the above shot.
Looking at the angle of the sunlight, should backlit shots with people be taken with the light at a cross angle?

 

[dcg0317]

 

[NLD]

 

[PrincessInOz]

For clouds don't meter off the white's of the clouds, the camera meter will just turn it gray like when shooting in snow. Try and find a gray section or meter off the sky (no clouds) and lock exposure, try using polarizing filter.
For shooting people in the sun don't, or try using fill flash or spot metering off different areas of the face.

Thanks! Much appreciated.

 

[dcg0317]

 

[TheGoofster]

 

[JoeDif]

I just spent 3 days shooting at the Philly Susan G Komen 60 mile breast cancer walk and it seemed like the entire route I was shooting directly into the sun. I hope I'll have some good back lit shots once I download them.

 

[Coach]

 

[zackiedawg]

I haven't entered one of these threads yet...I assume the idea is to post shots you've taken during the month of the challenge (as opposed to digging up archive shots). I was thinking about backlighting while out shooting a few times this month, and decided to go after a few backlit shot ideas.

A favorite type of shot is birds in flight, so I went after some birds flying through the setting sun for some strong backlighting:

Spider webs are great with backlighting, when you can get that glisten and shine on the web...this is a spinyback orb weaver spider and web:

This one isn't shooting into the sun causing the backlighting, but the very strong light reflections off the waters and grasses behind the bird:

That's all I got for now! If I can squeeze in any more before months end I will, but I'll be off on vacation right at the end of the month and may not get the chance to shoot this weekend.

 

[dcg0317]

 

[Twigs]

Took these at Epcot this past week. The first I metered below the sun, I like how it came out. The second I metered low on the foliage, not too thrilled with it.

 

[mdb78]

Purple berrries at Paynes Prairie by mdb78, on Flickr

 

[WDWAurora]

From the first real day out with the new camera:

Tips are welcome!

 

[dcg0317]

 

[cpbjgc]

I only ordered it so I could take this shot....

Post shoot wrap-up -->

 

[ColleenG]

 

[spinetnglr]

I didnt get any good back light pictures to post in this thread until I was on vacation last week in Florida. I spent a day at Sebastian Inlet State Park on the east coast and got this shot of two guys cast net fishing in the inlet. It was close to sunset with the sun low on the horizon. They were between me and the setting sun.

 

[DizDragonfly]

got this shot of two guys cast net fishing in the inlet.

I love that shot!! Beautiful!

Here's a few of mine. I took them in October at Ko Olina Resort, but didn't get a chance to post until tonight. Pretty sure this is the first time I've posted pics to a photography board.