how do you shoot portrait while the sunset in the background?

[Galaxy99]

This one is always in my mind. How to do a portrait as the sunset is in the background. The sun never not as strong as day light, but still create the back light. Using a fill-in flash will destroy the sunset atmosphere in my opinion. How to do a proper exposure on the person(s) but still keep the sun setting environment? Your input with/without sample is appreciated. :)

[nouse4aname]

maybe a reflector and an off camera flash.
i had a shot like this before and i used flash, looked okay to me.

[Wilt]

Reflector or fill flash, with intensity on the subject just a little bit less (-0.5 to -1EV) from the amount for 'full' exposure of the subject. If sunset exposure is f/11 1/60, for example, the flash set to provide Auto for a shooting aperture of f/8 or f/9 would give you the amount of light without it being so obvious in appearance that flash was used. A warming filter over the flash would help make it even less apparent!

[tdodd]

Here are a couple of examples. I included a non-portrait at the same location because the sunset was a bit brighter. I then move on to photograph my girlfriend, but the sunset had almost disappared. They aren't great, as I had only had the camera for three months so was still operating in numpty mode (Program). The key thing to consider is that you are mixing two different exposures - one for the background, metered in the usual way, and one for the subject, which will be illuminated by the flash.

To tone down the sky I dialled in some negative EC (-1.33 stops in the first example and -2 stops in the second) to drop the overall exposure, thus darkening the background and the subject. I let the flash (580EX) run an ETTL2 mode with 0 FEC and that filled in the subject quite nicely in each shot.

A bit of experimentation was required in order to get the balance right (well, as I wanted it). In the first example there is no PP except sharpening. In the second I did bring up the levels by 0.5 stops in DPP. Now that 18 months have passed since taking these, I would approach the challenge just a little differently. I would use manual exposure to fix the background brightness to suit, regardless of the exact composition and position of the sun, and I would quite happily ride the FEC until I got things just perfect. I would also pay momre attention to the RGB histogram than I did back then, in order to verify my levels properly.

Exif data is in the images.

[c71clark]

You can try using HDR also. Use your camera's Bracketing feature to take 3 to 6 frames of a static image, then combine in PS. Other than that, you will have to get light back onto the subject either through reflectors (better) or flash.

[yogestee]

This one is always in my mind. How to do a portrait as the sunset is in the background. The sun never not as strong as day light, but still create the back light. Using a fill-in flash will destroy the sunset atmosphere in my opinion. How to do a proper exposure on the person(s) but still keep the sun setting environment? Your input with/without sample is appreciated. :)

Like this?? Set your camera to manual and meter for the sunset.. I had my 430EX on ETTL with -2/3 exposure compensation..

Camera Model = Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
Lens = Tamron SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
Exposure Time = 1/200"
F Number = F10
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 400

[bieber]

My favorite to date was with an off-camera flash in a shoot-through umbrella really close to the subject (as in, close enough for me to hold it so it couldn't blow away ;))

[Hermes]

Fill-Flash with a 1 or .75 strength OC gel depending on how high the setting sun is.