Need help with shooting sunsets

Hey guys,

Everytime I shoot against sunlight, it messes up everything with lens flare, overload of light, and washes out everything, like so:

When i try to get the foreground properly exposed:

Exposure blending. Take multiple shots, one for the foreground, one for the sky, etc. Blend 'em.

that wasn't done with one exposure. you need to utilize hdr for that sort of effect, but i beg you not to abuse the technique.

ps: you'll have to send me your steam name later so i can ubersaw you while you're setting up your tripod for your next sunset photo.

Kevin,
Forum rules state that you can post a link but not the actual image that is owned by others.

That is my shot btw. It was done with one shot and no HDR was used. Try shooting in RAW and expose for the mid tones later in the day with lower light that isn't so dynamic. In LR you can use the select tool to darken the sky and lighten the foreground.

You can also use grad ND filter so that you can expose for the ground and not overexpose the sky as well.

Link fixed.

That would work, but when the sun is in the frame, adding another element to the front of the lens is another opportunity for flare. If you see flare with it, try tilting the filter just a bit to move the flare away.
If you already have a filter on your lens, I suggest that you take it off & make sure that the lens is clean.

Tee Why wrote in post #8456776
Kevin,
Forum rules state that you can post a link but not the actual image that is owned by others.

That is my shot btw. It was done with one shot and no HDR was used. Try shooting in RAW and expose for the mid tones later in the day with lower light that isn't so dynamic. In LR you can use the select tool to darken the sky and lighten the foreground.

You can also use grad ND filter so that you can expose for the ground and not overexpose the sky as well.

Woops! Sorry about that! I wasn't going to claim credit for the photo or anything. I was just using yours as an example.

That's fine. I didn't think you had any bad intentions. Just stating forum rules.

But try shooting when the sun is lower, like almost touching the horizon like in the second shot. If you don't over and under expose the shot too much, you can get a lot of detail back in RAW, especially if you shoot in RAW and at the lowest ISO. You also have to know what to do in LR/ACR and then in PS too. Don't expect it to come out like that if you shoot in JPEG setting. That highlight priority tone feature on Canon's seems more like a gimmick, so I wouldn't recommend that as it forces you to shoot at ISO 200.

As for the flare, you can just move a touch and it will affect the flare dramatically. Feel free to join in when we go out as a group at lashooters and I'd be more than willing to share any tips first hand.

Good luck.

Meter away from the sun ball..but next to it then take your shot

Good point!