Can't keep sky from blowing out...

[skyy38]

As promised.....

Gakona-The Storm 5 MP June 2010 008 p | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

A nice June evening in Gakona, AK sitting on the porch when the God Of Thunder decides he wants to take a drum solo. I had been reading so I didn't notice how dark the sky had become. I got my camera and stayed under the roof in case of rain.

in this picture, beyond the Teepee is east and behind me is west, more or less. This was taken 15 minutes into the storm-in less than 30 minutes it would be over as the clouds provided a convenient hole for the sun to shine through, even as it was heading southwest to Anchorage. The perfect schizoid situation!- Dark background and light foreground!

I took a reading in "P" mode and it gave me 1/250 for a shutter speed but the image in the viewfinder didn't look as pleasingly contrasty as the real thing, so I went to "S" and set it to 1/500. That did it, even by lo-res viewfinder standards. The f stop settled in at 4.5 and that was it- I knew I had it. ISO (in auto-I never mess with it, at least not when there's enough light) came in at 347.Metering was set to "Spot AF Area" but on EXIF it says
"partial"-is this the same thing?

This worked because the sun was behind me. If this had been a TOTAL coverage of clouds, I never would have gotten this shot. And if I had been facing west-well forget about it!

Just keep the sun behind you whenever possible!

 

[New Hampshire]

idk if you've ever seen this picture but this is my inspiration, once i can take a photo that looks this amazing then i'll be happy. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/497258503_9dde7d27aa.jpg

You won't be able to take this kind of picture in one shot....you will need about three or more since it is an HDR image.

Brian

 

[512_SIR II]

I appreciate all the help guys. I went back today at sunset and I tried my best to keep in mind everything you guys had mentioned. I think the sky came out a lot better. Waiting till the end of the day when the sun isn't pointing directly at my lens helped so much. I also met a guy there who had a polarizing filter on his kit lens and I know now how easy it is to use one of those even if the end of the lens rotates. He also let me borrow his Joby gorilla pod and now i've got to get one of those things, it was pretty cool. I know there are more ways and techniques I have yet to try as to solving my problem but the information I got from you guys sure helped a lot, thanks.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

 

[bevoholic]

Love 1 and 5. 2 and 3 don't do anything for me. For me personally, the angle of 4 is off. I like how in 5 you're looking more down the road.

 

[Pepperpwni]

a LOT better! glad to see this update.
#1 I think you're framing should be a little more to the right of the left should be cropped out. I think having the tree on the left portion of the frame would be nice, rather than having all that extra space inbetween the lefthand portion of your shot and the tree. It might make it feel more "complete"

Overall, good job!

 

[DerekSalem]

I'll say this...stay away from the Gorillapod. It's not a bad tripod for connecting it to a pole or leaving it stationary on the ground without getting the camera dirty...but it's functionally useless for anything else.

Get a real Tripod and you'll be completely satisfied with it.

 

[512_SIR II]

I plan on getting an actual tripod along with the gorilla pod. Thanks again fro all the help guys.

 

[iNick]

i love the composition even tho the sky is blown out, the shot is still cool IMO. I have trouble with this too sometimes, keep it up!
Cheers!
-Nick

 

[D-B-J]

Merging two shots can be a useful technique, but can also be a pain.

Regards,
Jake

 

[Shawnda]

the part it screws onto is the focus ring. so every time it goes to focus the end of the lens rotates and if there is a filter attached then the filter will rotate too.

This doesn't matter at all.... you'll get the same look no matter where the filter is at, considering its all the same in a complete circle :lmao::lmao:

 

[Shawnda]

@512 -

I am going to be in Austin on Saturday and would love to grab some of these photos from this spot .... can you tell me where exactly it is. I live in Dallas and don't know that area well. The photography club here is meeting up with the Austin photography club there and we're going out shooting for the day. If you're interested in joining us - I can tell ya where it is that we are meeting up on the 5 Feb 2011.

 

[enzodm]

the part it screws onto is the focus ring. so every time it goes to focus the end of the lens rotates and if there is a filter attached then the filter will rotate too.

This is true for a gradient filter, but a circular polarizer is made for this situation. Anyway, you can always adjust it after focusing.

EDIT: apologies, I missed to end reading the thread. Anyway, morning and late afternoon are called golden hours, and are the best time for photos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_hour_(photography)

 

[512_SIR II]

@512 -

I am going to be in Austin on Saturday and would love to grab some of these photos from this spot .... can you tell me where exactly it is. I live in Dallas and don't know that area well. The photography club here is meeting up with the Austin photography club there and we're going out shooting for the day. If you're interested in joining us - I can tell ya where it is that we are meeting up on the 5 Feb 2011.

the bridge is at north capital of texas hwy and west courtyard dr.
I'd love to join you guys but i'm going to a car show that day here in town. (cupcakemeet.com)

 

[R.D.]

cool ****, I actually became more interested in that tree than the bridge. oddly.

 

[Shawnda]

@512 -

I am going to be in Austin on Saturday and would love to grab some of these photos from this spot .... can you tell me where exactly it is. I live in Dallas and don't know that area well. The photography club here is meeting up with the Austin photography club there and we're going out shooting for the day. If you're interested in joining us - I can tell ya where it is that we are meeting up on the 5 Feb 2011.

the bridge is at north capital of texas hwy and west courtyard dr.
I'd love to join you guys but i'm going to a car show that day here in town. (cupcakemeet.com)

Is the area where you are at in those photos hard to get too? Parking near by?