How To...

I totally don't post "how to's" enough but now seems to be a good time.

Lacy Tatum asks:

What settings should you use on a cloudy, blue-sky day if you want your subject still light enough but your sky not over-exposed (w/o using flash)?

This is a great question! I know so many people that have asked the same question. There are a few ways to accomplish this but I will focus on one. Also know that all my advice is based on a person shooting in manual mode. Because that's what I encourage everyone to shoot in.

1) A main key to be aware of is the time of day. Most of you know that the best time to shoot is sunrise and sunset. This is also true when setting up this type of shot. You most definitely cannot get good light on your subject and the clouds when there is sun directly above you because it will create shadows all over your subject's face.

2) Face your subject toward the sun. This will be your light source to light up the subject's face while not over-exposing the beautifully blue and fluffy clouded sky. Depending on how much the sun has set and how bright the sun is, will determine when you need to take your shot. If the sun in BRIGHT!! then wait for a cloud to cover the sun. The cloud will soften the light on the subjects face. If the sun is farther along in the "setting" process, then shoot it that way.

3) From there it is just adjusting your settings. Your ISO is usually down low, your aperture is usually a little higher, and your shutter speed is... well all depends on how much the sun has set.

Sun fully out!

f/13, 1/200, 200 iso, 35mm

Here are two other ways to get that effect...

1) USE YOUR FLASH. Its not the end of the world to use a flash. Just manually control the power of the flash.

Using a flash. :)

f/11, 1/200, 200 iso, 35mm

2) Use a reflector. Like a white wall, garage door, brick, concrete, store bought reflector, ect. In this situation the light would be behind the subject, you being against or in front of the reflective surface, and adjusting your manual settings as needed. This would require the sun not to be in full blown out setting mode. Just catch the sun a little higher in the setting process.

Hand held reflector. Mountains are acting as clouds in this example.

f/7.1, 1/800, 400 iso, 35mm

And just to give the opposite view...

Shooting into the sun! Great sun beams!

f/2.8, 1/320, 250 iso, 35mm

I hope this is helpful!

Love,

CPP