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[Tip] How To Calculate The Best Time To Take Landscape Photos
Aug 14, 2021 04:28:09   #
Brokenland
 
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes you may see people putting there pointed fingers together creating a box or frame to view a shot, typically this is done for movies etc. But remove the top portion of this box and you're left with a pointing finger with the thumb extended upward. The smoking gun, is then used to judge where the sun should be while taking sunset photos without actually having the sun in the image.

In my "Endless Miles of Straight Line" I used my smoking gun trick to judge where the sun was then took the shot with the sun out of the picture at the top. In other words, hold your index finger level with the horizon the extended your thumb upward. The sun should be at or above your finger when taking these shots. But if one was to do this without bending their elbow, the sun would be too low on the horizon. So best bend your arm at the elbow and hold your hand approx 2 feet away from your face. This will give you the proper perceptive when taking these types of shots.

Take note of the shadows on the clouds. The sun was above the clouds and out of the frame. This technique can be used at sunset or sunrise. So give it a try on your next landscape photo



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Aug 14, 2021 06:13:56   #
Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
 
Thanks for an interesting tip, literally a rule of thumb (and forefinger). I don't remember seeing this before.

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Aug 14, 2021 06:14:08   #
Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
 
Thanks for an interesting tip, literally a rule of thumb (and forefinger). I don't remember seeing this before.

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Aug 14, 2021 09:13:18   #
wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York
 
And if you rotate your hand around your trigger finger your thumb points to where the sun can be for sidelit images, and where a polarizing filter will have the greatest affect.
Brokenland wrote:
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes you may see people putting there pointed fingers together creating a box or frame to view a shot, typically this is done for movies etc. But remove the top portion of this box and you're left with a pointing finger with the thumb extended upward. The smoking gun, is then used to judge where the sun should be while taking sunset photos without actually having the sun in the image.

In my "Endless Miles of Straight Line" I used my smoking gun trick to judge where the sun was then took the shot with the sun out of the picture at the top. In other words, hold your index finger level with the horizon the extended your thumb upward. The sun should be at or above your finger when taking these shots. But if one was to do this without bending their elbow, the sun would be too low on the horizon. So best bend your arm at the elbow and hold your hand approx 2 feet away from your face. This will give you the proper perceptive when taking these types of shots.

Take note of the shadows on the clouds. The sun was above the clouds and out of the frame. This technique can be used at sunset or sunrise. So give it a try on your next landscape photo
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes yo... (show quote)

Reply
Aug 14, 2021 11:17:31   #
Brokenland
 
wham121736 I was using an experimental polarization filter while taking this image.

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Aug 14, 2021 12:33:26   #
UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT
 
Excellent shot and good tip!

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Aug 14, 2021 14:57:36   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
Brokenland wrote:
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes you may see people putting there pointed fingers together creating a box or frame to view a shot, typically this is done for movies etc. But remove the top portion of this box and you're left with a pointing finger with the thumb extended upward. The smoking gun, is then used to judge where the sun should be while taking sunset photos without actually having the sun in the image.

In my "Endless Miles of Straight Line" I used my smoking gun trick to judge where the sun was then took the shot with the sun out of the picture at the top. In other words, hold your index finger level with the horizon the extended your thumb upward. The sun should be at or above your finger when taking these shots. But if one was to do this without bending their elbow, the sun would be too low on the horizon. So best bend your arm at the elbow and hold your hand approx 2 feet away from your face. This will give you the proper perceptive when taking these types of shots.

Take note of the shadows on the clouds. The sun was above the clouds and out of the frame. This technique can be used at sunset or sunrise. So give it a try on your next landscape photo
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes yo... (show quote)


I've got a better idea. If it looks good through the view finder take the shot!

Reply
 
 
Aug 14, 2021 15:58:43   #
joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
 
Brokenland wrote:
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes you may see people putting there pointed fingers together creating a box or frame to view a shot, typically this is done for movies etc. But remove the top portion of this box and you're left with a pointing finger with the thumb extended upward. The smoking gun, is then used to judge where the sun should be while taking sunset photos without actually having the sun in the image.

In my "Endless Miles of Straight Line" I used my smoking gun trick to judge where the sun was then took the shot with the sun out of the picture at the top. In other words, hold your index finger level with the horizon the extended your thumb upward. The sun should be at or above your finger when taking these shots. But if one was to do this without bending their elbow, the sun would be too low on the horizon. So best bend your arm at the elbow and hold your hand approx 2 feet away from your face. This will give you the proper perceptive when taking these types of shots.

Take note of the shadows on the clouds. The sun was above the clouds and out of the frame. This technique can be used at sunset or sunrise. So give it a try on your next landscape photo
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes yo... (show quote)



Reply
Aug 15, 2021 09:28:35   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
Whatever works. (thanks for the tip)

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Aug 15, 2021 10:52:16   #
jederick Loc: Northern Utah
 
Retired CPO wrote:
I've got a better idea. If it looks good through the view finder take the shot!



Reply
Sep 8, 2021 10:27:12   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
Brokenland wrote:
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes you may see people putting there pointed fingers together creating a box or frame to view a shot, typically this is done for movies etc. But remove the top portion of this box and you're left with a pointing finger with the thumb extended upward. The smoking gun, is then used to judge where the sun should be while taking sunset photos without actually having the sun in the image.

In my "Endless Miles of Straight Line" I used my smoking gun trick to judge where the sun was then took the shot with the sun out of the picture at the top. In other words, hold your index finger level with the horizon the extended your thumb upward. The sun should be at or above your finger when taking these shots. But if one was to do this without bending their elbow, the sun would be too low on the horizon. So best bend your arm at the elbow and hold your hand approx 2 feet away from your face. This will give you the proper perceptive when taking these types of shots.

Take note of the shadows on the clouds. The sun was above the clouds and out of the frame. This technique can be used at sunset or sunrise. So give it a try on your next landscape photo
Here's a neat trick I teach students. Sometimes yo... (show quote)


Love the way this shot demonstrates the "optical illusion" of parallel lines seeming to converge in the distance

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