Sunrise Photo Tips

[skidzam]

Hi all,

I'm posting this sunrise I took over the summer for C & C and helpful tips on sunrise photos.

When I took this I nearly went blind trying to set up the shot. So how do you guys do it? Do you use LiveView, focus lock and exposure lock? When I tried, I didn't trust LiveView enough, couldn't really tell if the shot was ok, and just had to look through the view finder.

I know the ISO is too high (400) because it was taken on a tripod, but I forgot to change it.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[M_ark]

I know exactly what you mean about going blind, and believe me, ive been there.

some things you can do, 1, hold your hand in front of the sun and set your focus on some other similarly far away object. (don't look) Shoot and chimp.
2, use the DOF Preview button and wear sunglasses. Presuming you're somewhere around F16-F22 this should be enough light reduction combined with your sunglasses to compose the shot.
3 live view
4 stack about 3 pairs of sunglasses on your head... or get a solar filter (used on telescopes to look at the sun a - very very very dark glass filter) to look through and place between the view finder and your eye.

or some combination of the above methods.

[corkneyfonz]

A nice picture which would benfit from the brightness being turned down and the contrast being cranked up.

[skidzam]

Thanks M_ark and corkneyfonz! I didn't even think about blocking the sun with my hand or using sunglasses...DUH! I'm not really a THAT early in the morning person, so my synapses must not have been firing. This image had very little PP, but I will try and tone down the brightness, up the contrast and see what it looks like.

[Matt Leitholt]

I agree with the above info :)

Not much to add :)