Covered Arena ...

[Digital Prophet]

Ok, so I do alot of shooting in covered arenas. That is to say that they are arenas that have roof to provide shade, but no walls. That way the air can still circulate.

My problem is that it never fails that around 11 the sun is just blaring. And the shots that I take are typically dark in the covered areas and too bright in the areas outside the arena. Obviously what is happening here is that the bright sunlight is fooling the meter. But I just don't know what to do about it.

Indoors? No problem. Outdoors? No problem. I get good shots 95% of the time that require little post. But the shots from the arenas always require work.

Does anyone have any tips? The lens that I primarily use while in the arena is the kit lens. Is there a different lens that I should look into? I want to stay at or below 50mm because of the proximity of the horses. That and I have shakey hands, so anything above 100mm doesn't work well for me w/o a tripod. And fill flash really isn't an option since I am dealing with animals that are 1,200 to 1,500 pounds with people on them. Horses tend to get startled for strange reasons.

So aside from the lens and flash I am pretty open and look forward to hearing your thoughts. I was wondering if a ND filter would help. I have one, but it seems awfully dark. Then again it is a ND2, so maybe a ND1 (if there is a ND1) would work better.

I just want to get photos that as consitantly good as the shots I get in open sun or indoors. That and cut down on my post work.

Thanks in advance.

- Digital Prophet -

[robertwgross]

Can you describe the exposure problem that you see?

Is the camera reading the bright arena roof and getting fooled? If so, is it getting fooled consistently? If so, then the subjects of exposure compensation or else manual exposure mode will come up.

I've found that external flash will even out a lot of light.

And then, there is no reason not to use a tripod. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes not.

---Bob Gross---

[Digital Prophet]

Well the deal is that the roof provides shade for the riders. But the open walls alow sunlight in. And what happens is that the objects outside the arena (fences, greenery, barrells) reflect that light and fool the meter. So the rider and horses are dark because the meter is reading and compensating for the overly bright objects in the sunlight outside the arena.

And I am sure that an flash would even things out. But like I said, I don't think that is an option. When you deal with large (or even some small) animals the potential for injury is too high to risk it.

I guess I am thinking (or hoping) that my solution lies in a passive piece of equipment. Like a filter or a setting or something. Until then it is a problem I can only solve with PS in post. And that isn't how I want to shoot.

I know alot of people say you don't need a hand meter. But I just signed a city contract (hooray for me, but that is another post) and one of the things I plan to buy is meter so that I can get a better handle on this probelm and other tough lighting situations. At least that is what I am thinking.

- Digital Prophet -

[robertwgross]

If I was trying to shoot a horse and rider, and if there was a bright background, and if I was not allowed to use flash, then...

... I'd try to have my assistant hold up one of those really large 5-in-1 reflectors. I only have a small one, but a partner has a really big one. Get that held to reflect the bright background light onto the horse. Since it is constant, it shouldn't confuse an animal too much. Well, it least it would not confuse a mule.

Reflectors are pretty low-tech, but effective.

---Bob Gross---

[Digital Prophet]

Now that is a good idea. Maybe I can get one that comes with a packaged assistant.

- Digital Prophet -

[robertwgross]

No, there aren't any packaged assistants. I would want one in the maximum height of 5'5".

You could suspend a reflector from a light stand. This would require a stable floor, and the arena may not have that. A sandbag on the light stand feet would help.

My light stands are not very portable, and when I go to the field, I generally carry only one tripod, and it goes under the camera. So, I seldom have a good place to set up a reflector either.

---Bob Gross---

[Jon]

Try metering the arena floor/sawdust, or take a close-up meter reading of a rider, then shift to manual mode. Once you establish the correct adjustment to make for metering that, you should be OK for the inside area. Going to blow out the background, but . . .

Also, try staying on the east side in the morning, west in the afternoon so there's a bit of shade just outside the arena instead of sunlight streaming into the perimeter area (I know - not always the easiest thing to do!).

I'm not sure how well a reflector will work around midday given the geometry of your situation. Your subject's what, 20 or more feet in from the edge of the roof. It should be able to get some light in, but not very much.