Advice on Golden Hour shots
Jul 22, 2017 12:16:33 #
Looking for advice on how to capture or enhance golden hour lighting in landscapes. I usually have my camera on auto WB which may be trying to cancel out the orange light I am trying to capture. What is the best WB setting? Just warming it up in PP is not giving me that golden glow I am after. I take a lot of shots involving salt marshes. It pretty hard to find a balance between the golden light and the green grass. I have had some success through experimentation, but would appreciate some advice.
I shoot in RAW and use ACR for PP. Any PP tips appreciated.
I shoot in RAW and use ACR for PP. Any PP tips appreciated.
Jul 22, 2017 12:28:46 #
Here's my suggestion. Since everyone replying to this post is going to be sending you in a different direction, I'd suggest you find that scene you want to photograph, put your camera on a tripod, then take photos at each of the WB settings available to you. Then try different PP techniques, you can probably find more than you need on youtube. In the end, you'll have your decision based on your camera and your techniques. Oh, I'd also make notes so you can refer to them when you are post processing.
--Bob
--Bob
repleo wrote:
Looking for advice on how to capture or enhance go... (show quote)
Jul 22, 2017 12:29:21 #
If you shoot in RAW, just use AWB. Then, get a Kelvin color guide. You can download a JPEG for reference from many sites. As you develop familiarity, you'll experiment on the results of varying the Kelvin value in post between 2000K and 3000K in 100K increments. Continue to bump up from 3000K to add warm (yellow / orange) or go down from 2000K as needed. If way too far away, use 1000K increments and refine until you achieve the desired result.
Jul 22, 2017 12:43:33 #
Why not get a GREY CARD and use it. Most people paid professionals) have faulted me for anything else. I was just at Tamron keep on Clicking and they spend much time on that subject. If I can get it as right as possible in camera all else goes well.
J. R.
J. R.
Jul 22, 2017 12:52:17 #
Grey cards are good for exposure. They aren't good for white balance.
--Bob
--Bob
Gifted One wrote:
Why not get a GREY CARD and use it. Most people paid professionals) have faulted me for anything else. I was just at Tamron keep on Clicking and they spend much time on that subject. If I can get it as right as possible in camera all else goes well.
J. R.
J. R.
Jul 22, 2017 12:54:51 #
If you shooting in aperture or shutter priority lets say you will find that your camera will automatically adjust one or the other to give a Nice Proper Exposure normally brighter than what your already seeing. Even as the sun sets your camera will continue to compensate. This also depends on the area of the photo your meter on ect... With that said to start getting some of the richer colors you see you can simple dial in Exposure compensation. Start at -.03 , -.07. -1, ect until desired affect is given. The darker the photo becomes the richer the color. Of coarse you can go to far and loose all detail, just pay attention to the results. And as the sun gets lower you can start adding the exposure compensation back in. I would fix your ISO as well as you don't want the camera to compensate by changing the ISO, you may end up with grainy photos..
Jul 22, 2017 13:01:36 #
rmalarz wrote:
Here's my suggestion....
Thanks, Bob. I shoot RAW with AWB and try all the presents (sun, shade, cloudy, etc.) But have never been satisfied. Your solution may be too obvious but I'll try it.
Jul 22, 2017 13:08:25 #
I do not know what camera you use but some of the Nikons have a routine where you can check the WB from a test shot taken using a white card or by using the WB of a shot that you have in memory. If you use Nikon this may allow you to get what you are looking for. I have not used this method personally but it may be worth it to you to try it. If you use another brand of camera perhaps they might have this feature.
Jul 22, 2017 13:27:30 #
Linary
Loc: UK
rmalarz wrote:
Grey cards are good for exposure. They aren't good for white balance.
--Bob
--Bob
I beg to differ - grey cards are excellent for white balance. If the user obtains a set, say 15%, 25% and 50%, and tests them, they can be used in programs such as LR to control different WB temperatures just by using the WB eyedropper.
A colour passport contains all these greys and more, but it is expensive. Just buying some cheap, different brands of grey card will almost certainly procure the different greys albeit all professing to be 18% but actually varying. The test for using them is to actually use them.
Jul 22, 2017 13:39:05 #
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m7f4o19aH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bue-LfPa9jw
Preferred - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTlugQd3L5g
--Bob
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bue-LfPa9jw
Preferred - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTlugQd3L5g
--Bob
Linary wrote:
I beg to differ - grey cards are excellent for whi... (show quote)
Jul 22, 2017 14:04:37 #
repleo wrote:
Looking for advice on how to capture or enhance go... (show quote)
Try a blue blocker filter lens .
Jul 22, 2017 14:10:14 #
Well, there is always the ExpoDisc: https://www.expodisc.com/. I used to use these in difficult lighting situations when I was shooting chromes. But for me, I used to get just the effect I wanted shooting film that was balanced for daylight. So when I see the golden hour light lighting-up mountains or buildings, I set WB to Direct Sunlight. Works for me.
Jul 22, 2017 17:16:07 #
Linary
Loc: UK
rmalarz wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m7f4o19aH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bue-LfPa9jw
Preferred - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTlugQd3L5g
--Bob
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bue-LfPa9jw
Preferred - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTlugQd3L5g
--Bob
Thanks Bob. The first video did not impress. I'm not convinced the "orator" knew what points he was trying to make. In the second video, the photographer was trying to say you do not need a grey card, but was actually using his phone as a grey card to achieve colour and white balance.
The third video was really interesting. Joe Brady was convincing and competent. The Colour Passport is a great tool for setting colour balance, but it is expensive to buy so only serious photographers are going to invest - even then many don't.
If it stops raining in the next couple of days, I'll shoots so me images with home made grey cards (different shades of grey) and try to demonstrate how they work - without having to set up camera profiles and buy the passport. (I am not knocking the passport, I have one and do use it but most don't.)
Jul 22, 2017 17:30:07 #
You make a great point in your comment regarding the color passport. Folks think nothing of purchasing an expensive camera/lens combination, expensive bags to carry their camera gear, tripod, etc. However, when it comes to purchasing a tool that will ultimately assist all that gear in making outstanding images, they tighten the purse strings. I've used a Macbeth (bought by X-Rite) color chart for numerous tests, evaluations, etc. It's worth every bit I paid for it. Even though most of my work is black and white, it is critical, when using digital, to get the exposure and colors correct from the start. 95% of the time, I use UniWB in the camera. I then correct colors in post.
--Bob
--Bob
Linary wrote:
Thanks Bob. The first video did not impress. I'm n... (show quote)
Jul 22, 2017 18:26:14 #
Linary wrote:
I beg to differ - grey cards are excellent for whi... (show quote)
That is assuming all grey cards are color neutral. Some cards made for exposure aren't necessarily neutral, especially cheap ones.
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