by
Whitney Hubbard,
Staff
Photographer
Summer is almost here! If you're like me, you'll be
spending a lot of time outside and using the great
weather as a photo opportunity. Working around the
full sunlight while taking pictures requires a few tricks
and a little forethought to pull off, so I've made a list of
a few simple tips to help you while you're shooting
outside in the sunny summertime!
1) Location, location, location!
As the sun changes it's position in the sky over the
course of the day, the way light will look in your
pictures will also change. Early morning or around
sunset are the best times to shoot, because the light
is coming from lower in the sky and will often have a
soft, warm quality. As a rule, it is best to avoid taking
pictures in the noonday sun, because the light is
coming from straight overhead and is the least
flattering. Also, If you place your subject in front of the
sun and shoot towards them, you will end up with lens
flare. When you look at your viewfinder or LCD, if you
have lens flare you will see like little hazy circles
across your image that will ruin a photograph. The
best way to avoid this is to move your subject so that
the sun is behind or to the side of the camera. A quick
way to understand the way the sun will effect your
pictures is to take someone outside and walk all the
way around them, taking pictures from different
angles. The next time you want to photograph outside,
you'll know exactly what to do!
2) Shadows and shade.
The summer sun is strong and will cast lots of
shadows, and these shadows can be your best friend
or your worst enemy when you shoot. For example,
placing your subject under the full shade of a building
will even out the light on their skin and eliminate harsh
contrast, while having your subject stand under the
patchy shade of a tree may cause an unintended
blotchy effect. You want to pay attention to where the
shadows fall, especially on the face. Take the time to
look carefully at your subject before you snap the
picture, and pay attention to where you see shadows
and bright highlights. Although shadows can cause
some undesired effects in your pictures, the strong
patterns made by the sun can be fun to play with.
Dappled light through the trees or diagonal lines from
a fence or railing can create an interesting
compositional element. Experimenting with light and
shadow may help you develop a more artistic eye, so
don't be afraid to try new things!
3) Light in your eyes.
Perhaps you've found the perfect location to shoot with
the perfect amount of sun, avoiding lens flare and
harsh shadows, and you get your subject in place. But
suddenly, they're complaining that the sun is in their
eyes, it's too bright, and they can't see! You don't want
to catch them squinting, so what do you do? I deal with
this problem on a daily basis, and I have a simple trick
to solve it. Just ask your subject to close their eyes,
and tell them you will count to three before you take the
picture. When you say the number three, tell them to
open their eyes and you can snap a shot during that
moment before the sun begins to bother them. You'll
get a fresh expression every time, and your subject will
be much more comfortable.
The best way to improve your skills at photographing
in the sun is just to go out and do it. Get familiar with
your camera, take a lot of pictures, and have fun! And
take a second look at your camera's manual. You
might find some helpful tips in that little book
collecting dust in your camera bag.
