SLR newbie - Blown-out skies

[Speedie]

Hi,
I recently upgraded from a point & shoot to my 1st digital SLR (EOS-350D/Rebel). At the moment I'm using the auto. modes while I get used to the camera (mainly the landscape and A-DEP settings). I noticed most of my landscape shots have washed-out skies (samples attached). What's the best way to avoid this? Presumably I have to go to full manual? If so what sort of settings should I use for these type of shots? Any advice appreciated.

http://www.mgpages.co.uk/digitalnature/scottish-borders/Scot_Borders_IMG_0059_resize.JPG

http://www.mgpages.co.uk/digitalnature/scottish-borders/Scot_Borders_IMG_0158_resize.JPG

[blue_max]

I imagine that there is probably very little colour in the sky to start with, so if you expose for the sky, the rest of the scene will be dark. You could try a polariser filter, which might help. Failing that, you could take a number of exposures and blend them together in photoshop or similar if you have the programme and the skill.

Graham

[Hellashot]

I tried darkening your the highlights in your first image and the clouds seem very odd. Probably because of compression used when you saved for this use. But all there were was clouds - not really any blue sky.

[Speedie]

Thanks guys - it was a very cloudy day but I was hoping for a bit more detail in the clouds themselves rather than blue sky. I've seen some very dramatic skies in other peoples landscape shots but I guess they are just darker skies to begin with.

[VegasGeorge]

It's easy to lighten up a too dark image. It's impossible to do much with a blown out sky. So, go manual, notice the "proper" exposure settings according to the meter, then decrease the exposure (faster shutter or smaller apeture) by one stop or so depending on the situation. See if you don't like that a lot better.

[AjP]

agree with others, or another way is to do composition, shot RAW, create 2 images one underexposed for sky, another over exposed for landscape, and combine them.... IMHO

[toyguru]

If you wanted to try this shot in camera as opposed to going through post processing you can try using a gradual ND filter which will darken the sky and keep the bottom normal exposure. I like to do as much in camera as possible and not rely too much on Photoshop.

I'm still a little old school when it comes to doing it in camera... nothing against Photoshop because I use that too!

[rammy]

Speedie,

I agree with others but you can still continue to use the Auto settings whilst you are learning.

Go to the menu and set the AEB to approx -2 and +2 stops, also make sure you have drive mode set to continuous.

That way then, you will get your underexposed shot that you can use to blend with the +0 shot to get better skies.

When you switch over to full manual, which hopefully will be very soon :-) , you can still use the AEB feature to give you your two exposures (well three). Manual will give you more fine control so learn all about the Auto modes first.

[malcolmx]

:) fix on a circular polaroid or a grey grad should darken sky:)

[DxHatchback]

i have the same problem with my 300d, but i just started using AEB as mentioned

it works nice, but its a pain blending the two images together

[cfcRebel]

If you don't have any polarize filter, try dial down your camera Exposure Compensation about -1/3 or even -2/3. This can at least help avoid overexposing the highlights.

[Alex_Galea]

agree with others, or another way is to do composition, shot RAW, create 2 images one underexposed for sky, another over exposed for landscape, and combine them.... IMHO

How would you go about combinding them if I have the 2 raw files like you said?

[Broncobear]

How would you go about combinding them if I have the 2 raw files like you said?

Something I'm interesting in knowing myself...how do you combine two images?

[rammy]

Something I'm interesting in knowing myself...how do you combine two images?

AJP is talking about creating two seperate images that you can put on two seperate layers in Photoshop or any other image editing software that allows you to "stack" images. Just like adding gels, one on top of another in different shapes and allowing the light to shine through to give you your final image.

You can do this with RAW or JPG:

In a RAW file you would adjust the exposure twice; once for the sky and press ok. Load image again as RAW and adjust exposure for the foreground. You now have two images in your editing software (I'll refer to Photoshop or Elements which is similar. PSP can also do this, amongst others).

With JPG's, load the image twice and use the levels and curves command.

In PS,

1) Create a new layer in your foreground image, Copy and paste or drag and drop your sky adjusted image on top of the foreground image, onto the new layer
OR:
Drag and drop the sky adjusted image onto the foreground image.
2) You should have two layers in your foreground image, the bottom layer and the top layer which is the sky.
3) This is now your preference: EITHER - Create a layer mask on your sky layer and paint blank on the mask to paint out the foreground which should be dark. OR - Use the eraser to remove the foreground in your sky layer to show through your background foreground layer. OR - Use the gradient tool and fill a gradient onto the sky layer mask, if the horizon is level and even.

There are so many other ways of doing this. Play about and take your time to blend the two images to show the foreground and sky. Then make a flattened image and save :-)

Another way of doing this is HDR in PS CS2.

Read this link as well: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital-blending.shtml

Have fun!

[Broncobear]

Thanks rammy, this is very informative and excellent for me. I appreciate you taking the time to write this out.

[Alex_Galea]

Yes, thank you. I personally like the gradient method you described. For the type of work i do (not proffestional) it works really well.

[rammy]

Thanks rammy, this is very informative and excellent for me. I appreciate you taking the time to write this out.

Yes, thank you. I personally like the gradient method you described. For the type of work i do (not proffestional) it works really well.

Very welcome indeed, as usual :D

I would like to say at this point that shooting in RAW (If out in the field, you know you are going to have this issue - review your histogram) will give you the best PP editing facility.

Also, use the burn tool (with a soft brush) set to 3% - shadows for the sky and 3% - highlights for the foreground and "sweep" your images slowly, using the history palette to review your progress.

Have fun!

[gcobb]

I found that my biggest help with blown out skies are two things:
Make sure the sky has color and maybe clouds
Shoot in evaluative metering mode.
That has helped me the most.