Lorraine Jones |
Dark Photos on a Sunny Afternoon Yesterday I went to the mountains to take some fall shots of all the wonderful trees turning color up there. I took about 90 photos, but was very disappointed that MOST of them turn out dark/shadowy. I tried the different modes in my Digital Rebel (especifically, Program, Shutter Priority, Auto DOF, and Landscape) and tried some with flash and without flash (most of the time I had to force the flash as it was pretty sunny out). I tried faster shutter speeds and adjusted white balance. I even set my camera to do auto exposure bracket, then white balance bracket. I ended up adjusting my photos' colors/balance in PS. What did I do wrong, or should have done when taking those photos? I really would like to use my camera to its potential, but I was getting better/crisper shots with my Sony Mavica CD350. I know I have a lot to learn and I am trying. I would appreciate any insights or advice anyone could provide. If you'd like me to upload a sample photo, let me know. Thank you very much.
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Bob Cammarata |
The best time to shoot fall scenics is when clouds or haze obscures the direct rays of the sun. In your case though, you might want to try metering manually off the leaves themselves. (Get up close to them if you have to, but try to fill the frame with a neutral color.) This will give you a good aperture/shutter speed combination to properly expose the leaves. You can then back up and compose your shot. You will still get shadows, but your foliage will be properly exposed. You can also use the harsh light to your advantage, by using the deep shadows as part of the composition. Along the same lines, you can also shoot individual leaves in deep shade, which will give a cool, saturated look. The advantage of digital is that you can see the results and make exposure adjustments at the scene. Good luck.
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