Help with my 2 major photo problems...

[JasonMX]

I consistantly have problems with the two following problems. I need any advise I can get. I am using a Canon Digital Rebel EOS. (BTW, these are some of the worst shots I have taken, but I experience the effect a lot):

Oversaturation when there it's a sunny day: (the blue sky is white)
http://www.outphishing.com/images/ex1.jpg

In areas where there is little light I get this (dark areas, trees are black):

http://www.outphishing.com/images/ex2.jpg

[/img]

[Scottes]

Those shots can't possibly be exposed "correctly" for every part of the image - the range is just too great.

In both cases you've got a mix of dark and bright areas, just in different ratios. You have to pick what you want to expose for - brights or darks, because (in these examples at least) both won't fit.

For a while I would take the image and check the LCD. Make sure that you can see the histogram and see what parts are blinking to tell you where you're overexposing. After some time you'll be more used to adjusting the exposure to suit your final desires.

You could also bracket your exposures and check them when you get home.

Artful use of an image editing program can bring out the darker areas, but it often will increase noise in those areas and you will lose some details. But nothing can bring back overexposed areas - the detail is completely gone in those areas.

You can also take 2 images, one exposed for the dark areas and a second exposed for the bright areas. Then combine them.

I'd also shoot in RAW which will allow you some more adjustments to the exposure level. But again, you can't bring back the overexposed parts.

[JasonMX]

So what would be some good settings for shots with a lot of light? Same for dark..

Basically, if a have dark areas in the front and bright areas in the back, what settings do I use?

If a have a large amount of sun behind an object that washes it out, what settsings do I use?

[PacAce]

So what would be some good settings for shots with a lot of light? Same for dark..

Basically, if a have dark areas in the front and bright areas in the back, what settings do I use?

If a have a large amount of sun behind an object that washes it out, what settsings do I use?

Refer to page 76 of your manual on how to set and use the Auto Exposure Bracketing that Scott was referring to. As he said there is no one setting that is going to give you a satisfactory picture so you have to take at least two and merge them together. With AEB you'll take 3 pictures using different exposure settings.

[Tom W]

You can cut back a bit on the in-camera contrast. It won't completely resolve the issue, but it can help.

Also, to the extent possible (I know that conditions don't always allow it), try to shoot with the sun at your side or behind you. Use the sun to your favor. Having some sun hitting the front of that nice-looking building from an angle over your left shoulder would provide some very nice highlights to the building, and would have kept your blue sky blue.

And, as Scott says, shoot in RAW. You will have more leeway to adjust your exposure after-the-fact.

[snibbetsj]

You might also try a graduated neutral density filter to lower the light from the sky and keep a good exposure on the ground/foilage.

Jeff

[vfilby]

The first one looks alittle overexposed. You can always boost the saturation by underexposing by a 1/3 stop or so. Basically just reducing the lightness of the colours I believe.

Now as for light, remember you are recording light. It is the lighting that makes a photo good and not the subject. A camera is a tool for recording light. Therefore you must take your picture when the light is at its best -- usually early morning or late evening IMHO. If the sun is in the way you will have to wait to take the picture another time.

Or... you could do as Scottes suggested with the two photos. Perhaps a Graduated ND filter could be used to darken the sky a bit too. However, I stick to my find a better time of day shpiel.

Edit: Sorry for duplicating to Tom W and snibbets, I didn't see your posts.

[vfilby]

So what would be some good settings for shots with a lot of light? Same for dark..

Basically, if a have dark areas in the front and bright areas in the back, what settings do I use?

If a have a large amount of sun behind an object that washes it out, what settsings do I use?

Hmm another thought in support of my argument. With the sun shining almost directly in the camera you will likely get flares. As well the direct light will reduce both contrast and sharpness. At least so I have been told!

[maderito]

Most of the suggestions here concern adapting your camera settings or post processing to the shooting conditions.

May I suggest that you also think about adjusting your eyes to see what is photographically possible and what is not.

Because of the huge dynamic range of our natural eyesight, we often see scenes that are visually exciting becomes of extreme contrasts between light and dark. Many times, these scenes cannot be captured in camera images.

So we wait for different lighting conditions and learn to see what will be beautiful not only to our natural vision but also on the final printed image. One approach is to shoot only early or late in the day. But that's too restrictive.

A good part of photography is finding the right light.