help with sunsets

[ahmadof]

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2930962






this is what i get when i try to capture a sunset. I can expose the sky the way i want it, but the sun is always blown out. how do i capture sunsets?
thanks[/img]

[Steveo31]

Graduated ND filter, 2 stop is the averagely used.

[theflyingkiwi]

Does anyone know if there is a site that has any information on what ND filters do and what types there are ?

Thanks

[Olegis]

Does anyone know if there is a site that has any information on what ND filters do and what types there are ?


Here you go (http://members.aol.com/kevinoneil/nd.html)

[sdommin]

Sunsets are tough. First, you need the right kind of weather. Clear, haze-free skies are not good for sunsets, because the sun is too bright, even as it's actually setting. You want hot, hazy, humid days, when the atmosphere blocks out a lot of the brightness. My rule is that if I can look at the sun with my naked eye, then it's good for a photo. If it's too bright, forget it. If the sun is too bright, try taking your picture after the sun has set. You can get good colors from the sky and any clouds that are still relecting the light.

If you do get a good sky with not too much brightness of the sun, try not to base your exposure on the sun itself. Aim your camera a little bit away from the sun to get your exposure reading. ND filters are good, if you have one.

[kevinma]

My starting point, exposure-wise, is to point my camera at the sky directly over my head and use that exposure. In my experience, that often generates a good result.
Kevin.

[tim]

I take them when the sun is out of my direct view, behind the horizon. There's only a very shot window of opportunity, though.

http://mrwild.co.nz/ExperimentalGallery/BeachClass/slides/Chris2.JPG
http://mrwild.co.nz/ExperimentalGallery/BeachClass/slides/Sunset01.JPG
http://mrwild.co.nz/ExperimentalGallery/BeachClass/slides/Sunset03.JPG

[TammieO]

Tim, those sunsets you captured are gorgeous!

[robertwgross]

Normally, most photographers try to shoot the sunset just before the sun touches the horizon. That may be good for you.

On the other hand, try shooting just after the sun has slipped past the horizon. Your eyeball and brain will tell you that it is inferior, since it is less bright. However, you may find that there is more color saturation in the sky, even though the overall light level is lower. Well, overall light level is easy to work with, just by lengthening the shutter time. If that gets a deeper color in the sky, then so be it.

I've done the same with sunrises. I did a lot of shooting about 45 minutes to 15 minutes before sunrise. Try it.

When it is dark like that, it will generally require a very stable tripod and probably a shutter cable.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

Tim, those sunsets you captured are gorgeous!

Cheers, they're not too bad, and they're from the 4th or so week of my beginners digital photography class :)