RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

No stupid questions.

You've gotten some excellent answers here, I'll repeat most of them and add a few points. Strong back light situations are ALWAYS a challenge. You normally have to sacrifice the foreground or the background in a single exposure.

I'd shoot in raw as in 12-14 bits, it will capture detail in the shadows and highlights that are filled in/blown out in an 8 bit jpeg. BUt you'll have work a bit in PP to bring out these details.



Using a fill bounce flash will help, and is your best choice if hand held is your only option and you have to take it now. Having a flash can help fill in problems in many situations, even in seemingly perfect lighting conditions, everyone should have one. The more expensive ones have more "adjust-ability", and do way more then simply flashing- can operate remotely, etc. They are little computers themselves and that's why they cost so much more. and are quite powerful as such, but you have to learn how- the manual is thick!

Taking two exposures, one correct for outside, then another just for inside, then combine in photoshop. Perhaps all three (Flash, outside and inside exposures), then use the best of each but you'll need a tripod and be careful not to move anything. And a bit of knowledge on how to isolate the pixels you want from one layer from the other in photoshop (or similar).

On my camera I can control where the focus point and meter point is without moving the camera. But anybody can do this by filling the viewfinder with whatever you want correctly exposed and then holding the shutter release halfway down, this locks the exposure and perhaps the focus, then pan your camera or move your body into your correct final composition and shoot. Watch wedding photographers closely and you'll spot this and a bunch of other tricks... They have to move fast so they can't bother with the focus and exposure points.

katbandit Loc: new york city

all you could possibly do is lighten the shadows and highlight the background..too bad that the flash didn't go off..i feel just like you when i mess up sometimes when i get my own family together that has no patience for me to snap a group shot..and if the flash doesn't go off thats it no second chances ..they're off and running..

billj316 Loc: Bedford, VA

I took the liberty of running this through Photoshop but gave up and ran it through Aperture. If you had used backlite flash it would have came out better. My attempt is lacking patience.

Peter Boyd Loc: Blyth nr. Newcastle U.K.

No such thing as a stupid question! The way to go without resorting to HDR or multiple RAW conversions is to use a technique called 'balanced flash', but you do need a reasonably powerful flashgun. This technique involves creating a situation where the same exposure is correct for both inside and outside and is achieved as follows:-

For this technique the camera should be in Manual Mode.
Set up camera on tripod and compose shot.
Using a flashgun to light the interior take test shots to determine the aperture that gives best exposure for INSIDE.
Lets say the aperture turned out to be f11 - remove camera from tripod and take it to window pointing it at the outside and use the meter to determine the correct shutter speed for f11.
You now have a shutter speed and aperture combination that will produce corect exposure for both outside and inside at the same time.
Return camera to tripod and take shot.
Sory this was long winded but it is quicker to do than to describe.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Wow - one more new thing for me to look at - like I have said before and other are saying here - THE ONLY STUPID QUESTION IS THE ONE YOU DON"T ASK - sometimes many of us learn from the answer - I just learned something from yours.

A good book or course on flash & lighting is a must for any photographer - some camera stores & camera clubs give them from time to time.

Harvey

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

In this type of shot where it is possible to select the subject from the bright area I am sure the results would be much better than working with the whole photo - give it a try - I am sure you will be happy with the results.
Harvey

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

You could always wait until its dark outside.

13oct1931 Loc: Lebanon, Indiana

Yes, indeed. Your camers is reading the light from the window; take your reading elsewhere...or turn your back. elementary.
almc

bobbym Loc: Portadown co Armagh Ireland

hope this helps

Gramps Loc: Republic of Tejas--Tomball, TX

Duque!!! Here come the stupid answers!!!!!! Regards shooting in the RAW---been too cold in Texas. Use yer flash---says so in the manual.

marty wild Loc: England

You could use delayed flash or tripod the a longer time but as rule of thumb get the light at the back of you. May off camera flash to the side of your set he is your image with adjustment

MarthaMary

How did you do that?????

ROBSKI

planepics,

I used Lightroom 4.3 to retrieve almost to a normal picture by removen the shadows, still using D-lighting would helped alot when no flash is used.

Een gezellige kamer

Robert

marty wild Loc: England

with photo shop curves it requires very little knowledge

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I did some selection with the magnetic wand - then use brightness/contrast on the background then did the same to each persons head
Some improvement on a tough challenge- IMHO
Harvey