A project of mine. Difficult for me..

[Ursula]

Well, I'm much more prone towards landscapes, people, and macro or "set-up and controlled" shots. I have always been open to new things and when this job project came to me I didn't think I'd have a problem. Yeah, I was wrong. I cannot find many articles on taking pictures of ROOMS, either.

During the day I went there but because there's one big window with the sun coming in there is a battle of artificial light in the back and natural light in the front. Also I'm trying to make it bright enough to capture the back without blowing up the highlights in the "front" of the store.

The main goal here is : Brighter images.

This was the daylight/indoor light battle picture..
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/3572/cafe15sm.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cafe15sm.jpg)

An indoor shot that is too dark.
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/703/cafe26ke.th.jpg (http://img483.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cafe26ke.jpg)

Another indoor shot.
http://img288.imageshack.us/img288/8648/cafe31dj.th.jpg (http://img288.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cafe31dj.jpg)


If you have any articles or anything to add please do!
Some ideas I have came up with myself is increasing the exposure by 2 and possibly trying some bounce flash angles. Maybe mess with the white balance as well.

[Dchemist]

Hi Ursula,

The images that you posted open as very small size (150x110 pixels) and that makes it hard to look them and make any comment. You mentioned that you can not balance the window light with the artifical light. Have you thought about comming at a time when the outside light is less of an issue -- late in the day for example - and you can then control the artifical light by adding or taking away as needed? Just 2-cents worth - are you using a tripod?

You might also consider changing your edit photo permission to "OK" as this will allow others to edit your images and povide feedback that way.

Good luck,

Dennis

[In2Photos]

You might want to try blending several exposures to capture the entire range. You could use AEB with +/- 2 stops and 1 at 0EV and then blend them in Photoshop. Make sure you use a tripod and cable release. Otherwise I would think you need some kind of portable lighting setup.

Also if shooting RAW try to overexpose slightly and then process in 16 bit. Finally use the Shadow/Highlight tool to bring out the details in the shadows and bring down the highlights.

[ibdb]

You might want to try blending several exposures to capture the entire range..
Looking at your samples this suggestion definitely looks like the way to go. I don't think you need to go the whole HDR route, but reading a little about how others here have used HDR to handle some tricky lighting may help.

[blue_max]

You might find that flash will help equalise the contrasts and give you a detailed exposure. It depends on what you want to achieve. I quite like the contrast between the light and dark.

Graham

[PhotosGuy]

Dchemist the pics are thumbnails that you can click on to get the bigger pic.

Ursula, you're on the right track with bouncing a little light in. Just shoot lots of variations while you're learning & keep at it. These links might help, too:
Airport runway shoot (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117950)
Understanding Contrast Masking
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/u-contrast-masking.shtml

[Ursula]

Thank you for your help everyone, yes they are thumbnails just click em. :)

I also like the shadows and how the light comes in at an angle, however what I like and what my boss likes are 2 different things. ;) Unfortunatly, eh? :lol:

My very first attempt I actually took 3 images that were most alike (since I had no tripod) and put them together... that did seem to be the best outcome. Time consuming... but the best.

Thanks again everyone! :D

(edit) PhotosGuy.. I love your "L"et there be light! signature!! So true, so so so true...

[Palladium]

couple of thing - to get some ideas you should probally turn on image editing OK to see some edits.your quick fix (I think this is what your looking for):

- open image in PS and dupe the image layer
- change the vibibility mode from normal to screen
- save ;)

[PhotosGuy]

My very first attempt I actually took 3 images that were most alike (since I had no tripod) and put them together..Tried RAW? You might be able to get enough difference making a light & darker conversion & blending them. That should help 'till your boss buys you a tripod? ;)