Afraid of Sun Pictures!! HELP!

[thirdof11]

Am I letting the sun cripple me too much? I know the basics of shooting in sunlight; Best times to shoot are morning and night, worst mid-day. Best if you can be in shade. How can you make a good picture at noon in that harsh sunlight if you don't have shade, or can you? Also, it seems that when I take outdoors pictures the sky ends up being white. How do you get blue skies? Is it just by using a gray card? Any technique for shooting in daylight will be appreciated.

[WMS]

... Also, it seems that when I take outdoors pictures the sky ends up being white. How do you get blue skies? Is it just by using a gray card? Any technique for shooting in daylight will be appreciated.

Polarizing filters help with making the sky bluer and saturating colors in general. Remember you have the light you have, use it, modify it, post process it.

Wayne

[Woolburr]

Your issue is one of dynamic range. The key to success in your case...GNDs...(graduated neutral density filters)...to tone down the sky to a level that it can be competed with by the much darker tones of the earth. You will find many threads around about the use and selection of such filters. Here is a starter...http://singhray.blogspot.com/search/label/Galen%20Rowell

[inthedeck]

Of course, if you are well versed in post processing, you could bracket exposures. Of course, this may not work for people that are constantly moving, or not willing to stay in the same spot for a few seconds. Still subjects are very easy to work with, since they don't move during the day...or night, etc. :lol: Trust me, I know...:lol: