Photographing Sunset (Page 2): Hi Firefly - I enjoy taking sunrise and sunset photos but unfortunately at the moment I am not having any luck with posting my pics on this reply page.

Dave Lind Loc: Auckland New Zealand

Hi Firefly - I enjoy taking sunrise and sunset photos but unfortunately at the moment I am not having any luck with posting my pics on this reply page. However I usually spot meter ever so slightly to the side of the sun and manual focus. If you set your white balance to shade it will enhance the orange etc and you won't need to do that in post processing. As you are new to it I suggest you start by switching to full auto - point just to the side of the sun and half press the shutter - note the settings that the camera has set - Set the camera to manual and dial in the settings that showed on auto - this will be your starting point. If I can figure out how to put up a pic of the sunset/sunrise and moon then I will and I'll put the settings by each pic. Enjoy experimenting and never look straight at the sun through the lens. If this works the settings were 1/90th sec - Centre weighted metering - iso100 - Set on Apeture priority - F8 Exposure compensation +1 NOPE STILL CANT ADD A PIC - sorry

firefly662 Loc: Warren, MI

Dave,

Thank-you for taking the time to PM me with some ideas. I really appreciate it. I will definately try setting my camera to auto to get the settings and then set them manually. Never thought of that myself, lol! The metering and white balance is something I can easily experiment with also. When, not if, I get that great sunset pic, I will let you know. Thanks again! Colleen

Dave Lind wrote:

Hi Firefly - I enjoy taking sunrise and sunset pho... (show quote)

Iowegan

mgstrawn wrote:

This advice is right on. In March of 2011, my husband and I set off to board our first cruise but went to Key West a few days before our actual departure.

My wife & I are going on our first cruise as well. Port of Miami, via Key West, to Cozumel, MX. Then back the same path.

Looking forward to the one to Alaska next Summer. I can't wait..

I was looking tinto this a few days ago, knowing well, we'd be doing some of the same.

Dave Lind Loc: Auckland New Zealand

Iowegan wrote:

mgstrawn wrote:

This advice is right on. In March of 2011, my husband and I set off to board our first cruise but went to Key West a few days before our actual departure.

My wife & I are going on our first cruise as well. Port of Miami, via Key West, to Cozumel, MX. Then back the same path.

Looking forward to the one to Alaska next Summer. I can't wait..

I was looking tinto this a few days ago, knowing well, we'd be doing some of the same.

OK I have fixed the uploading problem - here's a quick pic of a sunset and I'll also add the metadata if I can find it.

Coker Loc: Havana, IL

Fly - Looks like you will be stepping up to a real SLR sooner then later. Here is a simple rule to follow when trying to get sunset and sunrise photos. Look at your exposure and reduce the exposure by 1 f/stop. It is that simple. You can reduce the aperture (making a smaller hole) or like someone said, you can also adjust the shutter speed to reduce the light. good job!

firefly662 Loc: Warren, MI

Dave Lind wrote:

quote=Iowegan quote=mgstrawn br This advice is ... (show quote)

Thanks Dave, what a beautiful photo! I really appreciate the time you took to help me toward the right direction. Everyone has great ideas and so much for me to practice with. One day, I will get that sunset!

:)

firefly662 Loc: Warren, MI

Coker wrote:

Fly - Looks like you will be stepping up to a real SLR sooner then later. Here is a simple rule to follow when trying to get sunset and sunrise photos. Look at your exposure and reduce the exposure by 1 f/stop. It is that simple. You can reduce the aperture (making a smaller hole) or like someone said, you can also adjust the shutter speed to reduce the light. good job!

Coker, thanks for the advice. A definate way to change things for me to see how the different settings will work. Stay tuned......
:)

Your pictures are beautiful!

Coker Loc: Havana, IL

Much appreciation! Your next sunset will be amazing.. just under expose by one f/stop..

LouEllen

Your sunset pics are great! And I LOVE what you wrote on the top one!

Lou Ellen

Fly - Looks like you will be stepping up to a real SLR sooner then later. Here is a simple rule to follow when trying to get sunset and sunrise photos. Look at your exposure and reduce the exposure by 1 f/stop. It is that simple. You can reduce the aperture (making a smaller hole) or like someone said, you can also adjust the shutter speed to reduce the light. good job![/quote]

sparky57 Loc: OREGON COAST

Great shot, Shakey.

sparky57 Loc: OREGON COAST

Coker, your sunset is beautiful!! Also thank you for all your info. Sunsets can be very difficult to catch just right. Pam

Coker Loc: Havana, IL

A rather simple rule to follow for sunsets is to cut the light down by one f/stop from what the camera is giving you... Works great

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

firefly662 wrote:

I have a Fuji Finepix S4000 "Bridge Camera". I love the camera and it takes great pictures, except when I try to take pictures of the sun. Maybe someone can tell me what I am doing wrong here. Every picture, the sun is distorted with a weird glow around it, as in this picture. The setting I used was in aperature priority, f/5.9, SS 1/2000 and ISO 100. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Try not shooting directly into the sun.

Folks will say oh it's overexposed and it is but guess what the sun will always be "overexposed" cuz its the source of light.

Put the sun off the side or meter off the sky around the sun but not including the sun - BRACKET - maybe 5 shots.......and watch till the sun is gone

lightchime Loc: Somewhere Over The Rainbow

I wouldn't play with your exposure. That is not the culprit. You are struggling with a lack of dynamic range - that is not unusual for a digital camera. Your picture is quite correct. You can make a large investment in another camera that may be still outclassed by what a sunrise/sunset exhibits. Some film will give you an increased dynamic range of several f/stops.

If you are into post production - an HDR could solve your problem.

Once again, you did fine. Most cameras would have the same problem.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

lightchime wrote:

I wouldn't play with your exposure. That is not th... (show quote)

good comment only film does not provide more dynamic range then digital.