Pictures at high noon

Midday sun is often very harsh so you need to think about what you photography and how

When I first began to photograph there was a standard rule – don’t take photos in the middle of the day because the light is harsh and the results will be poor. For the most part I have stuck to that rule, especially in my landscape photography. Because the sun is high, midday light can be contrasty and harsh. But often we find ourselves out for the day – perhaps for a family outing or on holidays – and we want some photos as keepsakes. Here are some tips that will give you better results from your middle-of-the- day photographs.

Come in closer

Moving in closer to your chosen subject – be it a person, a building or almost anything else – will help to eliminate bright highlights and deep shadows. Film can’t cope with too much shadow or highlight and it loses detail. This is often true at midday. Simplifying your composition will make for a better picture at any time of the day, but it’s especially so in hard midday light. When you move closer and fill the frame with your subject, the sky becomes almost absent from your photo – thus you eliminate the cause of much of the harshness.

Watch for passing clouds

Learn to be a sky watcher, especially during the middle of the day. Use clouds and their shadows as they pass by. Many people enjoy taking pictures in public gardens, perhaps to photograph displays of colourful flowers. Waiting for a passing cloud to photograph these scenes will enhance colour and reduce contrast in your picture. A greater saturation of colours will result because the shadow has reduced the glare.

Work in the shadows

Even if there are no clouds in the sky, shadows can be found almost everywhere. In lightly shaded areas, there’s less contrast and film can cope with all the detail. Buildings and trees create wonderful shadows to work with. Watch your background so as to avoid the meter being fooled into underexposure because of a bright sky or sunlit area. That’s why getting in closer is so important. You can create your own shadows by using an umbrella, a vehicle, or even by using your own body, especially for subjects like flowers.

Use fill-flash

The light in the middle of the day bounces around everywhere and we often think that it’s bright enough in the shadows to take a picture without flash. Use your built-in flash more often, especially when taking pictures of people. It can add important “catch lights” in people’s eyes and eliminate dark shadows from their faces. In open shade or under cloud your flash still works a treat. Try it next time and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Don’t put the camera away on overcast days

Many people leave the camera at home if the weather looks dubious. Or they bring it along, hoping that the weather will improve. Even overcast days can yield lovely photos, though concentrating on details by moving in closer is a much better option than photographing a grand landscape. Use faster rated film like ISO 400 for saturated colours. And remember to use your flash for all sorts of subjects, especially people. By following a few of these simple tips, you too can photograph all sorts of subjects at any time of the day. Remember, some rules were meant to be broken!

For more tips on improving your photography when you’re out and about, you can contact Ian Rolfe at his web site at www.ianrolfephotography.com.au

Source:
http://photo.blorge.com/2007/03/04/pictures-at-high-noon/