shooting portraits over bright background

hello everybody,
I am having problems shooting portraits over brighter backgrounds.
for example having a city behind a person and shooting from some high building.
If i expose for the sky my subjects are very dark, if i expose for my subjects sky is blown to pieces

Using Ps to increase exposure selectively, decreases my image IQ noticeably.
how could i go shooting this kind of situation?

Its hard to tell without an example...

but one way is to shoot two shots...one exposed for the subject....and one for the sky....

and then merge the two in PS.

Someone said the other day in a similar thread that if the background is not important but the shot is, just blow out the background so you get your shot...
thats a choice only you can make.


Also if you ETTR(expose to the right of the histogram)....and don't clip anything....you can bring back the exposure without losing IQ.

Expose for the background, use fill flash to illuminate the subject.

^ Best answer and I'll add that off camera flash with some sort of modifier will give you the most pleasing results. ^

Veemac wrote in post #13284389
Expose for the background, use fill flash to illuminate the subject.

Dustin Mustangs wrote in post #13284415
^ Best answer and I'll add that off camera flash with some sort of modifier will give you the most pleasing results. ^

These. Really the only way to get a pleasing image in this situation.

Yes, lol how did i forget that.

Definitely using a speedlite will forever change your pictures and allow you at least 70% more control.

Youll still be limited in certain areas but adding in more light and more control always fixes that!

alright then flash it is.
i also find the ETTR idea interesting
thanks guys.

You probably don't have a light meter or a soft box but you may find this interesting to see how it is done. You can even shoot on camera flash if you have to but OCF would be better. A flash bracket makes a difference. I use one.

After watching the video turn your flash off and meter to get the background exposure you want. Then turn the flash on and adjust it to how you want the person to look. You can even use the white towel method and use our histogram for the flash part.

Scroll down half way to the image of the fellow holding the white towel and look at the histogram.

http://super.nova.org/​DPR/Histogram/

The video

http://www.youtube.com …ISm7C6fiY&featu​re=related

Here is a good one on how to use HSS so you can achieve blurred a background during daylight. Go to Videos - Tutorials - Lighting Tutorial

http://www.stansphotos​.com/

digital paradise wrote in post #13284559
You probably don't have a light meter or a soft box but you may find this interesting to see how it is done. You can even shoot on camera flash if you have to but OCF would be better. A flash bracket makes a difference. I use one.

After watching the video turn your flash off and meter to get the background exposure you want. Then turn the flash on and adjust it to how you want the person to look. You can even use the white towel method and use our histogram for the flash part.

Scroll down half way to the image of the fellow holding the white towel and look at the histogram.

http://super.nova.org/​DPR/Histogram/

The video

http://www.youtube.com …ISm7C6fiY&featu​re=related

Here is a good one on how to use HSS so you can achieve blurred a background during daylight. Go to Videos - Tutorials - Lighting Tutorial

http://www.stansphotos​.com/

nice!!
but to tell the truth this is a bit too much for me.
I should have noted from the beginning that i am not a pro. just a mortal with a camera and build in flash who likes good quality photography.

No problem. It may help someone else. You already got the Coles notes version, Turn the flash on

yeah! and i also found a library full of tutorials! Yoohoooo
thanks.

If you prefer natural light, expose for the subject and let the background go.
If you pay attention to when the light is best you may be able to pick a time of day where the exposure will work for both the subject and the background...then go shoot at that time.

If you are proficient with flash you can bring up your subject with flash and expose both the background and the foreground properly.

If you are not proficient with flash and don't want to spend the time (a lot) to become proficient, don't mess with it....that is a whole nother world....if you care what the shots look like that is.

Chrizz wrote in post #13284849
nice!!
but to tell the truth this is a bit too much for me.
I should have noted from the beginning that i am not a pro. just a mortal with a camera and build in flash who likes good quality photography.

The built-in flash and good quality photography are in two totally different worlds.

To do what you want, you will need at least something like a good Speedlite and, preferably, a large bounce panel to provide pleasing light on your subjects.

SkipD wrote in post #13284926
The built-in flash and good quality photography are in two totally different worlds.

To do what you want, you will need at least something like a good Speedlite and, preferably, a large bounce panel to provide pleasing light on your subjects.

thanks skipd

personally I'd go for blowing the b/g out or using flash for a blip of fill.