Sunset Photography Questions
Sep 22, 2019 15:13:20 #
Bettona
Loc: San Francisco Bay area
Yesterday evening I set out to photograph the sunset from the east side of San Francisco Bay, looking west toward the city. I found an appropriate location with the Photographer's Ephemeris (a fantatic tool!) and used a Sony a7 iii with a Sony 55-210 lens, Sony RM-VPR1 remote control, ISO 100, f/8.0, speed varying between 1/200 and 1/400, auto focus and a tripod. In a series of pictures over a span of 15 minutes, some of the photos were in focus and some not, even though I made no adjustments to the setup. Two of these were only 11 seconds apart in time, but worlds apart in quality. I'm baffled. The only explanation I can think of is that the camera was intermittently unable to focus and I should have focused manually. Is this the answer?
If I may prevail upon you with another question, we've all seen pictures of a clearly defined sun sinking below the horizon. The sun in my pictures was an undifferentiated blaze of light. How are the first results accomplished? Filter? Small aperture?
Many thanks.
If I may prevail upon you with another question, we've all seen pictures of a clearly defined sun sinking below the horizon. The sun in my pictures was an undifferentiated blaze of light. How are the first results accomplished? Filter? Small aperture?
Many thanks.
Sep 22, 2019 15:19:38 #
Have had that happen as sometimes auto focus won't pick a
focus point use a larger focus area just a thought
chuck
focus point use a larger focus area just a thought
chuck
Sep 22, 2019 15:30:16 #
In some cases with remote control, the camera makes the exposure prior to AF acquiring focus. This is compounded at times if the camera's focus point is no on a particularly suitable object on which to focus. My suggestion would be to focus the camera on that part of the scene you wish to be the sharpest then turn off AF. After that, compose your scene within the viewfinder and you'll be set to capture everything photo of that sequence sharply focused.
--Bob
--Bob
Bettona wrote:
Yesterday evening I set out to photograph the suns... (show quote)
Sep 22, 2019 15:36:28 #
Sep 22, 2019 15:56:07 #
Bettona wrote:
Yesterday evening I set out to photograph the suns... (show quote)
To prevent the sun, or the sky, from overexposing your image, consider 2 techniques.
Assuming you use Lightroom and Photoshop, take 2 images, one exposed for the sun, the other for the foreground. In Photoshop open both on separate layers and use a layer mask to keep the sky portion of one image and the foreground in the other. If you are not proficient with Photoshop, this can be daunting. There are a lot of YouTube tutorials out there covering layer masking.
The next technique is to use a Neutral Density Graduated filter, like a 3x or a 6x to knock down the sky/sun and expose for the foreground.
Sep 22, 2019 16:11:52 #
Bettona wrote:
Yesterday evening I set out to photograph the suns... (show quote)
I'm a Sony user, a7iii, a7s, a7Riii, a6000, and a99ii. since I don't see any examples it's hard to figure out the problem. I usually shoot sunsets with the white ballance set to open shade. (the house with the shades side) This inhances the reds and yellows. Sometimes depending on how I have AF set, I will go to manual focus. That is because the AF may lose a focus point. Usually my exposure compensation may be anywhere from -.5 to -3. Then pepending on the foreground I will chose an f stop between F4.5 and F16. I have shot sunsets with everything from my 14mm to 600mm . I set the camera to "P" mode, there is no need to go to Manual mode....too much work. The a7iii is a great camera for sunset, sunrise, and star shots.
85mm f5,6 ev -.5
24mm f9.5 ev -4
60mm f 16 ev -1
Sep 22, 2019 16:21:04 #
Bettona wrote:
Yesterday evening I set out to photograph the suns... (show quote)
When I shoot into the sun I generally use a manual approach for exposure as I know the sun is moving downward quickly. I also put my focus/exposure point right on the sun itself and keep it there. I would also, if needed, move my aperture to f/11 or f/16, but not so high that a lot of noise would be added. I'd always use ISO 100 since I would be on a tripod. Doing an HDR shot would ensure that you get both the sky and the land in a correctly exposed image: LR is great for putting HDR images together. Another option, if not shooting for an HDR, is to ever so lightly put in some color on the white sun to tone it down, you can do this in LR or PS, using about 15-20%, it will depend on the image. Getting the sun right at the horizon is your best bet, otherwise it may be nearly impossible to avoid that white blob that I see so often in shots.
Sep 22, 2019 16:23:48 #
Sep 22, 2019 16:44:07 #
Bettona
Loc: San Francisco Bay area
Chuckwal wrote:
please post some photos and download
Here are the two photos taken less than a minute apart. Thanks for looking.
Sep 22, 2019 16:54:09 #
Yes, #1 is out of focus. Either go to manual focus...always works or to wide AF rather than spot or center weighted focus. As Forest Gump said, " Shit Happends".
Sep 22, 2019 19:24:54 #
Sep 22, 2019 20:27:39 #
cahale
Loc: San Angelo, TX
Manual is always a good idea - for anything. And, probably, layers in Photoshop.
Sep 22, 2019 20:36:32 #
Focus ONCE on your object of choice - for me that was almost always a Lake Michigan Lighthouse, then set your focus to manual.
Rotate your camera straight up and meter on the sky at 90 degrees vertical from the sun. This will set your exposure to the surrounding landscape and will slightly burn the sun. Then, if you bracket from this point, you will have an excellent set for HRD.
Rotate your camera straight up and meter on the sky at 90 degrees vertical from the sun. This will set your exposure to the surrounding landscape and will slightly burn the sun. Then, if you bracket from this point, you will have an excellent set for HRD.
Sep 22, 2019 21:40:57 #
Bettona wrote:
Yesterday evening I set out to photograph the suns... (show quote)
Use manual focus. If the sun is too bright, lower the ISO or shorten the shutter speed. If you are having dynamic range issues, shoot raw.
.
Sep 22, 2019 21:50:36 #
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