Sunsets
Now lets split this guide into 3 sections, for easy reading, the first is for both compact & SLR users, the second for compact cameras and lastly for bridge/SLR users.
1
So to start a warning, do not look directly at the sun with your camera, a strong sun can damage your eyes and possibly break your camera. Also don’t bring your camera from a warm environment to a cold one do it slowly.
Composition- Guys you should try and compose your shot with the sun on one side of your image, you can try a central shot but i advise keeping to one side. Now this is where a tripod can come in handy, with a tripod you can get you shot composed in advance and it also allows us to use long exposures as the sun dips.
White Balance- Now for each of you guys there is different advice you can set the white balance to auto (of course it doesn’t really matter if you shoot in RAW). But why not try different settings, a flash white balance will make you image a warm red, experiment.
Exposure- This can be tricky as you camera can over expose to balance the picture, for SLR user try using spot metering and take a reading of the sky (not the sun). Or for you compact players try point your camera up at the sky, press and hold the shutter button and recompose. Or why not try telling you camera you are taking a sunset image, using one of your program modes. If you are still struggling use exposure compensation to bring it down a stop or 2.
Focus- Focus in low light can confuse cameras my advice is set you focus to manual if possible and use infinity. And once again setting your mode to sunset will probably depending on camera do that.
Aperture- My advice is to use a large aperture (a small F-stop) this will help in a number of ways, first it will let more light in so you will have faster shutter speeds, secondly it can make the sun look like a star. Compact user try the sunset mode, it should do the same.
Focal Length- Or if you like zoom, A short focal length will give a wide angle and make the sun seem small, you will get more of the scene and capture a nice gradient from sunset to night. Or you can zoom in to great more emphasis on the sun and it will appear as a big disk, but you will have less of the sky involved.
Please be aware of what shutter speeds you can hand hold to-
The focal length you choose gives you the min hand hold speeds, so if at 50mm min shutter speed would be 1/50sec, 200mm would be 1/200 sec. Compact users it not so easy, start with the wide focal length which should be on the front of your camera, then for each 1x zoom add 50mm, or easier if you know the equivalent you camera has ie 28-300mm you can judge where you are in steps.
But most of all experiment and have fun!!!
2
Compact User Tips
Use part of the sky for metering, press and hold shutter button and recompose.
White Balance- Try auto to start, but maybe try daylight or flash.
Try to take different images zoom right in and out wide.
And of course make use of the camera’s scene modes, they do help!!
3
SLR/Bridge Users
White Balance- Ideally shoot in raw you can then convert and experiment post shoot, but even in raw why not try daylight, auto or flash. Not shooting in raw you need to get it right in camera.
Exposure- Use spot metering if available if not try using the compact method.
Focal Length- My advice is to decide before what you want to achieve, you don’t want to be frantically changing lenses at the last minute. A good zoom lens could be a good option say 70-300mm, or a nice 28mm wide angle lens.
Aperture- Large aperture.
Focus- Focus manually to infinity, then you won’t miss that shot as you camera search for focus, remember cameras use contrast find find focus and in low light the ain’t much.
Last Point- I think from the last meeting it was evident that people are not sure of how to change settings on your camera. My advice is to practice changing settings in the comfort and light of your own home, so when your out in the field you can basically do it with you eyes shut.
Taking photos should be fun, not confusing.
Below are a few things I think are important.
Using and changing aperture priority/shutter priority.
Changing ISO
Changing White Balance
Changing from one scene mode to another (compacts)
Exposure compensation
Exposure lock
Metering Mode
Focal Point Selection
Oh and just to let you know there will be a fun practical quiz later in the season, so the quicker you can change the settings the better. There will be prizes!!! Not big ones though :-)
Cheers
Dean
Now lets split this guide into 3 sections, for easy reading, the first is for both compact & SLR users, the second for compact cameras and lastly for bridge/SLR users.
1
So to start a warning, do not look directly at the sun with your camera, a strong sun can damage your eyes and possibly break your camera. Also don’t bring your camera from a warm environment to a cold one do it slowly.
Composition- Guys you should try and compose your shot with the sun on one side of your image, you can try a central shot but i advise keeping to one side. Now this is where a tripod can come in handy, with a tripod you can get you shot composed in advance and it also allows us to use long exposures as the sun dips.
White Balance- Now for each of you guys there is different advice you can set the white balance to auto (of course it doesn’t really matter if you shoot in RAW). But why not try different settings, a flash white balance will make you image a warm red, experiment.
Exposure- This can be tricky as you camera can over expose to balance the picture, for SLR user try using spot metering and take a reading of the sky (not the sun). Or for you compact players try point your camera up at the sky, press and hold the shutter button and recompose. Or why not try telling you camera you are taking a sunset image, using one of your program modes. If you are still struggling use exposure compensation to bring it down a stop or 2.
Focus- Focus in low light can confuse cameras my advice is set you focus to manual if possible and use infinity. And once again setting your mode to sunset will probably depending on camera do that.
Aperture- My advice is to use a large aperture (a small F-stop) this will help in a number of ways, first it will let more light in so you will have faster shutter speeds, secondly it can make the sun look like a star. Compact user try the sunset mode, it should do the same.
Focal Length- Or if you like zoom, A short focal length will give a wide angle and make the sun seem small, you will get more of the scene and capture a nice gradient from sunset to night. Or you can zoom in to great more emphasis on the sun and it will appear as a big disk, but you will have less of the sky involved.
Please be aware of what shutter speeds you can hand hold to-
The focal length you choose gives you the min hand hold speeds, so if at 50mm min shutter speed would be 1/50sec, 200mm would be 1/200 sec. Compact users it not so easy, start with the wide focal length which should be on the front of your camera, then for each 1x zoom add 50mm, or easier if you know the equivalent you camera has ie 28-300mm you can judge where you are in steps.
But most of all experiment and have fun!!!
2
Compact User Tips
Use part of the sky for metering, press and hold shutter button and recompose.
White Balance- Try auto to start, but maybe try daylight or flash.
Try to take different images zoom right in and out wide.
And of course make use of the camera’s scene modes, they do help!!
3
SLR/Bridge Users
White Balance- Ideally shoot in raw you can then convert and experiment post shoot, but even in raw why not try daylight, auto or flash. Not shooting in raw you need to get it right in camera.
Exposure- Use spot metering if available if not try using the compact method.
Focal Length- My advice is to decide before what you want to achieve, you don’t want to be frantically changing lenses at the last minute. A good zoom lens could be a good option say 70-300mm, or a nice 28mm wide angle lens.
Aperture- Large aperture.
Focus- Focus manually to infinity, then you won’t miss that shot as you camera search for focus, remember cameras use contrast find find focus and in low light the ain’t much.
Last Point- I think from the last meeting it was evident that people are not sure of how to change settings on your camera. My advice is to practice changing settings in the comfort and light of your own home, so when your out in the field you can basically do it with you eyes shut.
Taking photos should be fun, not confusing.
Below are a few things I think are important.
Using and changing aperture priority/shutter priority.
Changing ISO
Changing White Balance
Changing from one scene mode to another (compacts)
Exposure compensation
Exposure lock
Metering Mode
Focal Point Selection
Oh and just to let you know there will be a fun practical quiz later in the season, so the quicker you can change the settings the better. There will be prizes!!! Not big ones though :-)
Cheers
Dean
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