Shooting with teh sun

[cadman]

So I am known for my sunset shots, whether good or bad. They can make the most wonderful shots dependant on the sunjects outside of the sun in my opinion. Anyhow, lets say you are shooting a sunset at the beach with rocks and birds in the foreground with breaking waves and the full ball of the sun in the background. What do you meter for? How do you deal with the different lights srouces such as the reflection off of the sand, the water, the sky, and the sun itself. In the NW, the sunset can be so remakrable, but yet sometimes, hard to capture as you may want and therefore I wanted to get other peoples take on this?

One other thing to note, what if you want the full ball of sun in the pick and possibly as the subject, how would you meter and expose for that without it being to much and without any glare?

Lets hear or see your thoughts here folks!

[Ronin]

Using a graduated neutral density filter is how I mitigate a lot of issues with landscape photography particularly when you have a bright sky. Here's some info on graduated ND filters and metering http://www.singh-ray.com/shawarticle.html

[butterflykiss]

that was a great article Don, thank you for posting the link!

[Ronin]

If you're a nature photographer that book by John Shaw referenced at the end of that article is excellent. Highly recommend. Here's a link to Amazon's listing of the book http://www.amazon.com/Shaws-Nature-Photography-Field-Guide/dp/0817440593/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4188572-7742358?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174855876&sr=1-1

[Majik_Imaje]

Want to learn how to shoot magnificent sunsets.. ???

I got a method that always works for me.. but I am different.. I do things different but I still get great results.

a meter ?? nope that meter cant possibly read that scene CORRECTLY.

I know there are many that will argue with me on this, but based on 40 years experience I can tell you how to easily accomplish this...

first the easy way.. turn on your light meter and turn your BACK to the sun. now take a reading., now lock that reading in and turn around and "create" that image.! I am sure you will be happy!

Second method: my method is to look, and read that light !

This takes practice and experience..

remember this.. only three things happen when you squeeze that shutter release.. that image you just created will be too dark, too light, or right on.

go out and learn how to read that light! PRACTICE and take notes.

I threw my light meter away in 1973 and I haven't used one since.


some sunsets:

ONE SUNSET (http://majikimaje.com/SUNROCK.JPG)


Another sunset (http://majikimaje.com/watching1.jpg)


Third sunset (http://majikimaje.com/mid.jpg)


Last but not least (http://majikimaje.com/SUN COPYa.JPG)


YOU HAVE : ? a digital camera ?? piece of cake;

Here is where you START and take notes; 1/125 @5.6

if the scene it much darker than you remember your original then open one stop, not right open another stop.. you have to build a data base in your head as to what you have seen. Once you learn how to do this, then you can confidently walk up to any scene and -=[click]=- and get the results that YOU WANT... after you practice and LEARN how to LOOK!

fiddling about with meters and menu's and other buttons and such you will never master the Art of Photography.

Photography is all about light.

now what can you do with your imagination and that light!

Practice !