C&C welcome and requested thanks

[tmjjk]

I am having a terrible issue with blowing out backgrounds.... any advice? My camera allows me to choose evaluative, center weighted, and partial metering. Thanks for any help.

 

[SCraig]

Use fill flash. It will allow you to use a lower exposure to prevent blowing out the background but will properly expose the subject.

 

[dxqcanada1]

Avoid shooting sunny backgrounds when your subject is in the shade.
Change view to avoid sunny background.
Shoot on over-cast day.
Use a flash (if you do not mind adding artificial light) as suggested by SCraig.

 

[tmjjk]

thank you... does this qualify as fill flash...Walmart.com: Canon Sunpak DF3000 Flash: Digital Cameras
this is the only flash I have... but I am totally willing to purchase something different

 

[MTVision]

thank you... does this qualify as fill flash...Walmart.com: Canon Sunpak DF3000 Flash: Digital Cameras
this is the only flash I have... but I am totally willing to purchase something different

Should work - you can use the cameras pop-up flash for fill light.

 

[cgipson1]

ditto on the fill flash! Properly done, you can can expose properly for the background.. and still expose your subject properly also!

 

[paigew]

I wouldn't use fill flash, but I can never get it to look natural . I would just choose a background with less sky showing. In the photo you posted the background is not blown. You could burn it a little in lr to make the subject stand out more. Her exposure looks great to me!!

 

[cgipson1]

I wouldn't use fill flash, but I can never get it to look natural . I would just choose a background with less sky showing. In the photo you posted the background is not blown. You could burn it a little in lr to make the subject stand out more. Her exposure looks great to me!!

Then you are using too much!

 

[NikonO4K]

Fill flash would also get you some good catchlights in both eyes and let you stop down to get a little more depth of field. Her right eye is out of focus because the dof is too short.

 

[tmjjk]

Fill flash would also get you some good catchlights in both eyes and let you stop down to get a little more depth of field. Her right eye is out of focus because the dof is too short.

Definitely going to play with the flash... thanks. I can't even tell her eye is out of focus... I have much to learn