Sunset and later problems: I have a Sony A55 and shooting sunset and later with my wide angle lens. I am having trouble getting the light that I am seeing. I am on M, A22, ISO 100 and...

mahillis Loc: San Francisco

I have a Sony A55 and shooting sunset and later with my wide angle lens. I am having trouble getting the light that I am seeing. I am on M, A22, ISO 100 and shutter where it tells me to be, but the light of the sky and colors are not coming out except being gray. The sky in this picture had some pinks and blues and as many times as I tried, I did not get it.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I suggest the book Understanding Exposure by Scott Kelby. From your settings it seems obvious that you need it. If your were on "M" for manual, your camera will not tell you what the shutter speed should be. For that you would need an aperture priority selection (or whatever Sony calls it). In Manual YOU select all the settings, the camera just records the shot as you have instructed.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Personally I notice in any 'special mode' ie., S, P, A or manual, that when I change a setting, the effect is mirrored in the viewer ( eye piece - not the lcd affected by ambient light)

As long as you have a minute, you can adjust any view to what you like by actually looking through the viewer.

Sarge69 :shock: :shock:

mahillis Loc: San Francisco

Actually I was taking a class and that was the recommended settings, I did have better luck with aperture
Thanks

mahillis Loc: San Francisco

That was it looking through the viewer

jimni2001 Loc: Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA

I am guessing 22 is the aperture setting. That would be the reason for the darkness. Try an f8 or lower number (wider aperture) for the aperture. You can only aperture as much light as you let in. As long as you focus on a far point you should not have any depth of field problems. If you are editing with Photoshop you can bring out a lot of what is in the shadows in Camera Raw. This may help you to save some of the photos that you have already taken.

ftpecktim Loc: MONTANA

MT Shooter wrote:

I suggest the book Understanding Exposure by Scott Kelby. From your settings it seems obvious that you need it. If your were on "M" for manual, your camera will not tell you what the shutter speed should be. For that you would need an aperture priority selection (or whatever Sony calls it). In Manual YOU select all the settings, the camera just records the shot as you have instructed.

:thumbup:

Chris

I've noticed with my sunsets the white balance makes a difference

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

With my camera I find that if I use P mode and under-expose by 2/3 or 1 stop that I get the results I am looking for. This tends to increase the effect that I actually am seeing with the eye.

This photo could be adjusted in PP to bring out what you are looking for.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

If you have a live view mode on your camera, you can adjust exposure until the LCD looks the same as what your eye sees. You can adjust 1/3 of a stop one way or the other to fine tune the exposure. I suggest shooting in manual, using a good tripod, long exposure, and in most cases for sunrise and sunsets, you will be underexposed by 1/3rd to 1 stop for the image to look the same as your eye sees.

Your vantage point for this shot isn't the best either. Too much dark foreground to deal with. I suggest you find a better vantage for this shot or similar shots. Composition is just as important as the exposure.

Itpurs Loc: Carson City, NV

MT Shooter wrote:

I suggest the book Understanding Exposure by Scott Kelby. From your settings it seems obvious that you need it. If your were on "M" for manual, your camera will not tell you what the shutter speed should be. For that you would need an aperture priority selection (or whatever Sony calls it). In Manual YOU select all the settings, the camera just records the shot as you have instructed.

I think "Understanding Exposure" is by Bryan Peterson.
:thumbup:

shutterbug65 Loc: Oakville, Canada

I think you might get a more pleasing effect if you are
1. Set to Aperture Priority.
2. Under Expose by 2/3 of a stop.
3. Set the white Balance to cloudy.
4. ISO to 100.

mahillis Loc: San Francisco

Thanks everyone

shutterbug65 Loc: Oakville, Canada

Hey Good Luck to San Fran in the World Series. Not a Detroit fan.

mahillis Loc: San Francisco

Thanks, we just have to get by Vreelander and be on our way.