advice needed: I have been asked to take some photos of the family in late afternoon sun. I could use some suggestions on how to get good facial exposure without facing them into the...

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

I have been asked to take some photos of the family in late afternoon sun. I could use some suggestions on how to get good facial exposure without facing them into the sun. There is some shade to use, but sun filters through the trees making them look splotchy. Help.

Leitz Loc: Solms

faygo wrote:

I have been asked to take some photos of the family in late afternoon sun. I could use some suggestions on how to get good facial exposure without facing them into the sun. There is some shade to use, but sun filters through the trees making them look splotchy. Help.

Fill flash or reflectors will solve your dilemma.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Leitz wrote:

Fill flash or reflectors will solve your dilemma.

When I switch back and forth between cameras in my main (Domke) bag, the items that always stay in are my cleaning supplies and my small (18 inch) reflectors. They're not large, but they can redirect light over an entire area if used properly. I also always have a 32 inch 5-in-1 in the car.

Jackinthebox Loc: travel the world

Mogul wrote:

When I switch back and forth between cameras in my main (Domke) bag, the items that always stay in are my cleaning supplies and my small (18 inch) reflectors. They're not large, but they can redirect light over an entire area if used properly. I also always have a 32 inch 5-in-1 in the car.

Hi Mogul, please tell us what is a 32 inch 5-in-1.
Thank you kindly.

Also what type of 18" reflectors?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Jackinthebox wrote:

Hi Mogul, please tell us what is a 32 inch 5-in-1.
Thank you kindly.

Also what type of 18" reflectors?

Here is an example of a 5-in-1 reflector: http://www.paulcbuff.com/crk42.php
Mine was a $50 Lumiquest close-out.

My 18" inch reflectors are silver, gold, white and black. I also have a n 18 inch 18/50% grey target for setting white balance. I also carry one or two cheap (second hand) translucent 24 umbrellas. I have stands for them, but seldom bring them with me. Right now my trunk looks like a tornado got loose in there.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

One possible setup is to face them away from the lower sun and reflect the sun back into their faces from an angle. The sun behind them will give you rim lighting and separate them from the background.

You avoid the shadow and sun contrast and can control the fill light by angling your reflector.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

faygo wrote:

I have been asked to take some photos of the family in late afternoon sun. I could use some suggestions on how to get good facial exposure without facing them into the sun. There is some shade to use, but sun filters through the trees making them look splotchy. Help.

1.) Don't photograph them in direct sunlight. Find shade, and NO dappled lighting.

2.) Put them at the edge of the shade so that one side of their face is slighting brighter than the other...but stay out of direct sun.

3.) Make sure that the background isn't brighter than they are and not to "multicolored"

4.) Up the lighting ante by hitting them with some "side flash" aka off camera 45 deg soft light...don't just take what nature gives you.

The suggestion to rim light them by facing them the opposite direction and then reflecting light back into their faces is a good one but it's a bit harder to control than flash in shade.

vanelli Loc: Melbourne Florida

All great advice!

AVOID SQUINTING

If they have blue eyes or are sensitive to the light, have them close their eyes and when you say get ready smile, smile, smile open! They will have a happy expression PLUS they won't squint

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. rpavich stated no dappled lighting, that may not be possible, as I have checked the area to shoot the pictures and it is trees or direct sun.

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

If I use a strobe on camera, with a diffuser, would that be sufficient, or should I still use a reflector?

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

faygo wrote:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. rpavich stated no dappled lighting, that may not be possible, as I have checked the area to shoot the pictures and it is trees or direct sun.

Then put up a bed sheet or something to block the direct sun.

You HAVE to control the light...don't settle for what you get...improvise.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

faygo wrote:

If I use a strobe on camera, with a diffuser, would that be sufficient, or should I still use a reflector?

If you get your flash off camera you still have to make it "large" by putting it in an umbrella or softbox.

What makes "soft" pleasing light is the "apparent" light size in relation to your subject.

A flash is about 4" wide...and your subject is 5' tall...see the problem? It will look like you used a flashlight on them...the shadows will be harsh.

When you put a flash in an umbrella or softbox the light that the flash emits "becomes" that size....3' x 4' or whatever....then the size of the light in relation to the subject is better.

If you have a large reflector you can bounce it off of that and into your subjects because the size of the light 'becomes" the size of the reflector.

Make sense?

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

There is a GOOD book by Lindsey Adler called "Shooting in Sh*&TTY light" where she goes through all these conditions and shows how to solve them.

And you HAVE to solve them.

Check amazon...it's a good book.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

faygo wrote:

If I use a strobe on camera, with a diffuser, would that be sufficient, or should I still use a reflector?

If possible, try to raise the flash a foot or so above the camera. Definitely use a diffuser in either event. That will be much simpler than setting up reflectors, particularly if you are photographing children. In the situation you describe, less is more - all you need is enough diffused flash to eliminate the dappled natural lighting. Good luck. :)

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

faygo wrote:

I have been asked to take some photos of the family in late afternoon sun. I could use some suggestions on how to get good facial exposure without facing them into the sun. There is some shade to use, but sun filters through the trees making them look splotchy. Help.

It is obvious that you need to avoid the sun under those conditions. I am going to say that you will need fill-in flash and my recommendation is that you cut the light from the flash by 1 stop to make the facial features look more natural.
If the evening sun is soft enough it will be a beautiful light and then you can make your subjects face the sun without using flash.