Need Tips: We've been having heavy summer fog along the coast. I need to take photos of a large group of people (22) outside around 5:00 p.m. What tips would you have? I would imagine...

LPigott Loc: Monterey Peninsula, CA

We've been having heavy summer fog along the coast. I need to take photos of a large group of people (22) outside around 5:00 p.m. What tips would you have? I would imagine a flash would be ineffective. Thanks.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Fog could be a real proublem. You dont want to use flash it would only show off the fog more. It may lift by 5:00 If it was 5:00 in the morning you would have a real proublem. Good luck.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

LPigott wrote:

We've been having heavy summer fog along the coast. I need to take photos of a large group of people (22) outside around 5:00 p.m. What tips would you have? I would imagine a flash would be ineffective. Thanks.

LP, by ineffective, you mean because the group is too large, or because of the fog? I don't see a broblem with either. Unless your talking about your pop-up flash, but even that for fill and color will help. The group would have to be pretty far away for the fog to come into play, I think.
Use your flash, what choices do you have? If the flash is off camera it should be fine. If your in tight, 22 is not that big. You need flash for color. With fog there is zero, contrast, highlight or shadow, just flat light.
Maybe I'm missing something. SS

LPigott Loc: Monterey Peninsula, CA

SharpShooter wrote:

LP, by ineffective, you mean because the group is too large, or because of the fog? I don't see a broblem with either. SS

My assumption is the light from the flash would bounce off the fog the way car headlights do.

I'll try to practice. Thanks for input.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

LPigott wrote:

We've been having heavy summer fog along the coast. I need to take photos of a large group of people (22) outside around 5:00 p.m. What tips would you have? I would imagine a flash would be ineffective. Thanks.

If you can, avoid flash in this case. Take advantage of the evenly distributed light source of the fog. You might have to experiment with metering too; perhaps increase exposure comp. Post a pic after the shoot so we can see how you did. Good luck. -Mark

LPigott Loc: Monterey Peninsula, CA

mdorn wrote:

If you can, avoid flash in this case. Take advantage of the evenly distributed light source of the fog. You might have to experiment with metering too; perhaps increase exposure comp. Post a pic after the shoot so we can see how you did. Good luck. -Mark

Helpful comments. Thanks.

rebride

This just came up in PopPhoto.com today.
F is for Fog. Tech Support.
http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2013/06/photography-z-26-tips-better-photos?page=0,1
http://links.bonniersciencegroup.com/servlet/MailView?ms=NTU5Nzg4NAS2&r=MTU0ODUxMjQwNTgS1&j=MzI2MzQxNzMxS0&mt=1&rt=0