Shooting between the "golden hours"

[slitherjef]

Seems the best light of the day is about one hour as the sun rises and another hour as the sun is setting, and while it is true I have seen some stunning shots of landscapes and wildlife taken during the golden hours of light, but can you get away with shooting under high contrast conditions? Like from the midday sun on a clear sky? I suspect if you can't shoot something in the golden hours, your next best thing would try for diffused lighting like under some thin over cast.

What I would like to see if your shots of either landscapes or wild life take outside of the golden hours, to see if good usable shots can be had under some contrasty lighting. Diffused and maybe areas of shade are welcome too. I just want to see if all hope is lost for shooting outside the time when light is at its what could be called best :)

[NAisBEST]

Cool idea.

One of my images that pops into my head is this one I shot of a sign.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3093332087_f7d597d4b7_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vincentcento/3093332087/)

It was taken at around 11:15am in New York. Way after sunrise. The trick was exposing for the harsh sunlight reflecting off the highly reflective portion of the sign itself. This in turn underexposed the sky just enough to make it a nice, deep blue. Every time fellow photogs see this image, I've been asked if I used a CP for it. The light just worked in my favor here. :)

Another example. About 10 minutes earlier. Same concept, except I used the bright white on the seagull to drop the background exposure.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3190729474_9035cb3b70_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vincentcento/3190729474/)

[tonylong]

Well, you have to know your place and your lighting. For this scene, the best time is the afternoon, but not too near sunset because, well, there's just not enough light where it counts! But for other scenes, it's best to get up early and/or stay light for those special lighting conditions:

http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/98693743/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/tonylong/image/83258136/original.jpg

[NAisBEST]

Possibly another one that might fit your description. This one was around 5:15pm during the late summer. Way before sunset. Only thing is I tried to balance the ambient with a blast of flash. Same concept I guess.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3189939301_e4d299281b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vincentcento/3189939301/)

[blackcap]

This was taken in the middle of the day:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3034718295_40efd03ffa.jpg?v=0

This was taken a few hours before sunset:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/3160469422_2c19fcef14.jpg?v=0

This is an HDR taken in the middle of the day:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3066290522_6a40d2a46e.jpg?v=0

________________________________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_gin/

[Nistelrooydude]

This was taken in the middle of the day.

http://hrephoto.smugmug.com/photos/455512647_AJ7mi-M-1.jpg


This one was too. On this one though, you ca see the wqhite head feathers are a bit blown out.

http://hrephoto.smugmug.com/photos/454761754_pH4gy-M-1.jpg

[ajayclicks]

Shot at 9.20 am (a few hours after sun rise). Used a polariser for this shot.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/3053583046_1cdcd1e2c8_o.jpg

Cheers

[_aravena]

I'm confused. Lighting is very good without being contrasty throughout the day. It's more based on your cloud cover that screws that up.

[New Hobby]

Here one to give the idea of shooting in weather. Not fun to stand in but it is one heck of an opportunity. This was shot a little past noon. No issue with harsh contrasty light.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/3126522480_92e8cb3fb1_b.jpg

[number six]

On the California coast at 8:40 AM PDST - about 3 hours after sunrise. It takes the sun quite a while to peek over the coastal mountains.

335835

[Marius B]

This was taken in the middle of the day:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3034718295_40efd03ffa.jpg?v=0

This was taken a few hours before sunset:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/3160469422_2c19fcef14.jpg?v=0

This is an HDR taken in the middle of the day:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3066290522_6a40d2a46e.jpg?v=0

________________________________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_gin/


I just love nr 2 :)

[Nistelrooydude]

Here one to give the idea of shooting in weather. Not fun to stand in but it is one heck of an opportunity. This was shot a little past noon. No issue with harsh contrasty light.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/3126522480_92e8cb3fb1_b.jpg

I miss that. I moved from Boston 4 years ago and I don't think I've been back in the winter yet. Is that Beacon St. ?

[New Hobby]

I miss that. I moved from Boston 4 years ago and I don't think I've been back in the winter yet. Is that Beacon St. ?

It's Comm. Av. in Allston. The Green line.

[Nistelrooydude]

It's Comm. Av. in Allston. The Green line.

Oh, woops, I was pretty far off.

[tonylong]

On the California coast at 8:40 AM PDST - about 3 hours after sunrise. It takes the sun quite a while to peek over the coastal mountains.

Somewhere around Big Sur?

[number six]

Somewhere around Big Sur?

Nope, way north of that. Highway 1 north of Westport (which is north of Ft. Bragg). It's about 20 miles from the north end of Hwy. 1.

My favorite riding area...

-js

[tonylong]

Hey, I know the area, redwood country FTW!