Long Lead Question on Technique

So I'm talking to a model I've worked with several times and she tells me that she'd like to do a set in the fall that has all of the following:

1) She's standing in the water in a bikini (color TBD)

2) There's a sunset sky behind her

3) The trees on the far shore have fall colors.

Believe it or not, I have a location that would give us all that. What I don't have is any idea how to combine all those elements in an evening shot using the equipment in my sig.

I might be using a T2i by that time but I don't think there's any significant difference from my 450D.

I've got 2-3 months to figure this out so let's hear from y'all.

Thanks.

The trouble with that is capturing the sunset sky with sufficient saturation (expose for the sky) while also capturing the leaves of the far shore, since the leaves will have insufficient light compared to the sunset sky. Hard to get both together.

The model herself can be lit with flash.

I agree. You're probably going to have to PS in the bright fall colors.

There are some options, to do it without having to PS the fall colors. However, I can't think of any that don't seriously restrict your shot options. Specifically you would always need to make sure the models head doesn't go above the tree line behind her. This can be done by shooting from a slightly higher angle relative to her than you might normally use, or by shooting from far enough away that the background appears larger.

If you do that, then all these options could work:

Get a hard-edge neutral density filter, perhaps 4 or 6 stops worth. Either a 77mm one plus a 67-77 step up ring and a 67-72 step up ring, or a 58mm one, or best yet, both. However, this will really only work if the treeline behind her is pretty even so you can position the hard-edge right at the top of the tree line and not over or under expose anything.

You could shoot multiple exposures, trying to capture the model and trees on the high-exposure shot and the sky on the low exposure. Then merge the shots in PS.

You could also use a tripod while shooting to do panos. Take a few shots of the model from a certain spot with the sky in the top 20% of the frame and exposed for the trees. Then when done with the model from that angle, or no less than every 30 seconds or so, pan up, expose for the sky (have the settings planned ahead, or use TV for one set of settings and AV for the other, or similar) and shoot the sky with the top of the trees just in frame. Then merge them in PS later.

Thanks guys. PS is an option especially if I just shoot for the rees and then for the sky.

Arentol, thanks a ton for the very specific ideas.

Another complication is that the trees will be about 1/2 mile behind the model. Here's an example of the location during the day. Imagine a red sky sunset and the far shore in fall foliage. The model will be either on the dock or in the water next to it.

The complex PS work on that will be fun?

TBH looking at the scene I think you will be limited to shooting multiple exposures and blending them.

That will be the only route that could capture sufficient details in low light to give the foliage colour while capturing the sunset.

Because of the strong sun near the horizon, it will tend to cause an underexposure of the background (as per your example of the sunset). A high enough exposure for the foliage and the sun will get blown out.

As Frank says, the PP is going to be complex and fun

Personally, I'd talk her into shooting an hour before sunset so you still have the nice golden light and you can actually see the trees. How are you planning on lighting her?

Thanks all.

I plan on lighting her with two off camera speedlights, probably either reflected or diffused with umbrellas.

Exposing (oops lighting ) the model correctly will actually be the easy bit - the speedlights will take care of that as they can be set to any desired level.

The background is a whole different story though for the reasons above (either the sunset or the landscape will be properly exposed).

Neil - I agree that the model is the easy part whether she's exposed or just lit.

I'm also starting to think I'll have to bracket the exposure on the trees and the sky and then hope that CS5 HDR Pro can help me out. I know how to get her and the sunset but I just don't see how to get it all in one image without a HUGE strobe located across the river.

Then again, I just upgraded my camera from a 450D to a 550D so I'm automatically a much better photographer right?

Shoot the model on green-screen and then insert her in to the scene?

If I were you, I would do a trial shot of the background long before the date of the shoot if possible - then you know what you are faced with. If you can somehow get an image that manages to capture the sunset and the tree colours, lighting the model should be child's play (expose for the background and light the model as required).

Definitely shoot in RAW though as you just might be able to do something with curves/layers/selectio​ns etc (even adding a grad in ACR to bring down the sky?)

Oh and yeah the change in camera means you are automatically a 22% better photographer !