Sun is my worst enemy! How about you?

[Lisard]

Hello people! I just so fed up with a life in Florida! We have more sunshine one photographer can take! Well, you can shoot on the beach a year around. It's a good thing. But what do you do if you have a client who wants a photoshoot at 2 pm. on the beach? If I shoot someone for pleasure I usually pick my own time and do it early morning or in late afternoon when sun is in good angle. But sometimes clients pick their own time.
So my question is: what do you do if you have to shoot in the middle of afternoon and there is no shadow available? I have a client who wants to be photographed on her yacht in the middle of the day (she is busy lady). What do you do to prevent her from squinting and what are tips on the shooting on the sunny day? How do I achive the smooth morning sun effect while sun is right over your head? I don't even hope for cloudy day. I have worst luck in universe :)

[PacAce]

Here are a few thing I would try if I were in your shoes (I'm sure other people can come up with a few more ideas):

- position the subject so that she is not looking in the direction of the sun so that she's not squinting so much. However, if the squinting is from the sun reflecting off of bright surfaces around her, then there may not be much you can do about it

- see if you can create your own shadow by using a large golf or patio umbrella

- use a fill flash or better yet, reflector(s), to eliminate the harsh shadows (if under the sun) or provide a more balanced lighting if in the shade

[cmM]

another thing you could do is give me some... God knows how long it's been since I last saw it.

[Cadwell]

I'm sitting here... it's 3pm. It's cold, damp, so overcast and grey outside that I doubt I could get a shot without going to ISO800 and it'll be dark in half an hour...

My advice is count your blessings. :p

[stoneylonesome]

I agree with the last 2 count your blessings, geez I haven't had a sunny day to shot in about a week overcast dreary and only about 9 hours of daylight. I do think that PacAce gave some good suggestions.

[Lisard]

Ok, I am ready to ship you the sun via FedEx right now :) Thanks for the tips. Once I watched how they shoot VS Catalog on th key Biscayne on the sunny day. They had a crew of about 30 people who were holding large white sheets and even one large reflector went above models to get these difused light. Since I have only one assistant I will ask him to hold reflector of course. The large white patio umbrella sounds like a good idea. I have to figure out where to borrow one since the both I own are green :) I am thinking about the simple white sheet on the one site and the reflector on the other.
I don't like to use flash, but I will if I really need to.

[tim]

Polarizing filters might help you too.

[robertwgross]

You know how product photographers set up a light tent to diffuse the flash lighting? Well, for a sunny scene like you describe, I would try to set up something like that, but upscaled a bit. There are some large portable tent/shelters with a lightweight framework. Take off the opaque fabric material and substitute your own thin white fabric. Put your subject under that so that the tent is out of the frame, and the light under it is diffuse, maybe with water in the background.

---Bob Gross---

[mdude85]

I would invoke some cool accessories to help block out the sun -- take some shots with the subject holding a small umbrella, twirling it around or something, or perhaps some shots with sunglasses. then there is always the selective use of "good" blown highlights, but they are hard to achieve and not everyone likes that style because it's very progressive.

[Vegas Poboy]

Diffusion Panels is the best way to set up for that type of shoot. Go to Wescott website & look @ some examples or pick up one of thier product books

[Tripod]

If the boat is a sail boat see if she has a Spinnaker pole. If she dose you can use that a white sheet the the sail lines to left the sheet up high so you get the shade and the sheet out of your way. Just hope for no wind.

[Laziferous]

another thing you could do is give me some...
Don't waste any time... do you? ;) :p

[Jon]

Really? You were happier photographing when Frances and Ivan were in town?

[cmM]

Don't waste any time... do you? ;) :pLMAO!!!
I was talking about the SUN!

[Laziferous]

LMAO!!!
I was talking about the SUN!
That's what I'll say the next time I get slapped when asking for some.... "I was talking about the sun!!!".

J/K, that was funny...




to me anyway.

:D