Advice for when shooting in direct sunlight

[patrickt]

A lot of good suggestions but one warning. I live in Mexico and we're a colorful place. Walls can help with reflected light but beware of the odd color cast.

 

[SommarShade]

I just wanted to resurrect the dead ! If that is allowed.
One thing I learned over the years is have them stand in shade on a bright day... have the sun bounce off a nearby surface like the concrete, sidewalk, a wall, etc... they dont need to be directly in the sun

 

[zombiesniper111 11]

This thread is 16 years old and the OP hasn't been on in years.
Let this Zombie thread die.

 

[DanOstergren25]

This thread is 16 years old and the OP hasn't been on in years.
Let this Zombie thread die.

Even if it's an old thread, folks can still find and share useful advice here. I have never understood the hostility that seems to be the usual response from staff to an old thread being posted in, especially when it's a topic that is still relevant.

 

[petrochemist115 140]

Even if it's an old thread, folks can still find and share useful advice here. I have never understood the hostility that seems to be the usual response from staff to an old thread being posted in, especially when it's a topic that is still relevant.

Yes it's a mystery to me too. Around half the forums I've loined have been because Google searches on current issues I've been having have highlighted old threads.
IMO It is the extended life of topics that make forums so much better than the likes of Instagram & Facebook.

 

[zombiesniper111 11]

Even if it's an old thread, folks can still find and share useful advice here. I have never understood the hostility that seems to be the usual response from staff to an old thread being posted in, especially when it's a topic that is still relevant.

Point taken. I just see it as the OP's gone and won't see it.

I don't think anything I posted was remotely hostile but again intent is hard in written form.

 

[AlanKlein80 19]

Thanks for the tips everyone. In the case of the family gathering I'm just taking snapshots to help document the event. I do a few posed portraits now and then but usually I don't have the luxury of telling say my 90yr old grandmother to move her chair so I can get better lighting on her. Its more of a "make due with what you got". Were I doing a planned purpose shoot I would definitely look into some type of diffuser/reflector setup.

Also to those who say don't shoot, that applies to planned shoots. Were I to wait until ideal lighting conditions, the party would be over and I would miss every photo opportunity. Usually I'm one of the few people with a camera at the "event" and the family is starting to "expect" that the "photographer" will take pictures for later. They like the pictures and poo poo when I cringe at a photo because it's only a so-so shot.

You can only get what you can get. Family shots don't have to be perfect. People are just happy looking at pictures of themselves or their close relatives. More importantly, try to get off the cuff pictures of them hugging or doing things rather than just posing as most people do. Don't clip the bright parts and let the shadows fall where they fall. If fill flash helps, OK use it. Take some short video shots of family interacting. IF you make a digital slide show, you can add these clips for variety. Just have fun. You're with your family.