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Reply Tricks of the trade!- Tips and tricks for taking better pictures!
Getting the perfect sunset picture

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Ever heard of this trick?
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  nope, thanks for sharing!
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Kokihi
Captain

PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:36 pm


When trying to take a portrait against a sunset, one of two things always happens 1) the subject becomes silhouetted because of the sunset behind them or 2) You use a flash, and the subject looks washed out.
so, what you do is

1) turn off your flash and aim at the sky
2) hold your shutter button halfway down ad get an exposure reading from the sky
3) while still holding down the shutter button, recompose the shot by aiming at the subject
4) turn the flash back on (keep holding down the shutter button!)
5) take the picture


this way, you get a beautiful sunset, and your subject gets fill flash and doesn't end up washed out!
PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:47 pm


Do you happen to have a sample for this tutorial? I'm just interested to see what it would look like on an actual picture. I'll also add things I've learned in the past. smile

I happen to like silhoutte-sunset shots and I like to play with them even more. The main problem a lot of people (and I mean amateurs and professionals alike) encounter is that their sky doesn't have enough contrast.

The way I fix this is by exposure compensation. Start with -1 and work your way around it (if it's too dark, try -2/3. Too light, try -1 1/3).

Both of these pictures were taken by me on the same day (I believe). No post-production editing done except for resizing.

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Kineyas
Vice Captain


Kokihi
Captain

PostPosted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:59 am


I like Silhouette shots to. i was talking about when you want to be able to see the person's face. sweatdrop

I had an example picture, but i lost the CD it was on. I was so bummed... crying
PostPosted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:35 pm


I don't think I have any portraits in front of a sunset/sunrise but I do have these pics taken with fill flash smile

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/phoenixliv/AutumnSunset2.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/phoenixliv/yellowflowers.jpg

Wait no! here are some fill flash candids in front of a sunset biggrin
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Phoenixliv
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Kokihi
Captain

PostPosted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:09 am


Nice! I like them!
PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:32 am


Thanks!
I just noticed I keep posting photos everywhere ... I'm not annoying anyone doing that am I?

Phoenixliv
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Kokihi
Captain

PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:17 pm


It slows my computer down a bit... they aren't to bad tho, because there aren't many of them.
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:04 pm


Hmm...
Im gonna steal my mums camra and try that theroy out :3

The Grace Of Rain

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Kokihi
Captain

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:09 pm


it usually works.

I keep trying to get the effect in my own pictures, but the sunsets have been...well, not worth taking pictures of. plus, no one wants to model for me.
PostPosted: Sun May 23, 2010 7:40 am


You can also turn on the fill flash mode in your flash menu if you have a D-SLR wink
That's where I usually keep my flash set

Phoenixliv
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5xad4i

PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:54 pm


Kineyas
Do you happen to have a sample for this tutorial? I'm just interested to see what it would look like on an actual picture. I'll also add things I've learned in the past. smile

I happen to like silhoutte-sunset shots and I like to play with them even more. The main problem a lot of people (and I mean amateurs and professionals alike) encounter is that their sky doesn't have enough contrast.

The way I fix this is by exposure compensation. Start with -1 and work your way around it (if it's too dark, try -2/3. Too light, try -1 1/3).

Both of these pictures were taken by me on the same day (I believe). No post-production editing done except for resizing.

User Image
EV: 0

User Image
EV: -1


I'll have to try this one as it seems to work quite well for you! Thanks for sharing! smile
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Tricks of the trade!- Tips and tricks for taking better pictures!

 
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