How to Avoid Blown out Sky

[linpelk]

Sometimes I will be taking a photo in the open shade and the background or sky will be blown out. If I expose for the sky, then my subject will be underexposed. Is there any way to avoid this. I know that shooting when the sun isn't so harsh would be helpful, but sometimes I can't avoid it. Here is an example:

 

[KmH]

Graduated Neutral Density filters is one.

The other is to expose for the background and use a speedlight to balance the exposure on your subject.

 

[ANDS!]

On its own, no your camera can't avoid it. It doesn't have the dynamic light range that our own eyeballs do. Even if you aren't shooting in a "harsh" sunlit environment, you may still find your shots blown out because the range is still too much. So if you only have your camera, you have to decide what in your picture is worth the most.

However there are "tools" that exist to help you out. One is the Graduated Nuetral Density Filter. You will also see standard Neutral Density filters, but those wouldn't help you. The "graduated" version has a graduation of the filter from the outer edge (where the sky would be) to the center of the filter. This way you can let less light come in from the top part of your picture, and let the proper amount of light in from the rest.

The other option is a dedicated flash unit. Nikon calls theirs Speedlights, Canon Speedlite - original I know. Slap one on your camera, and you will then be able to expose for the sun, and STILL fire off enough flash to illuminate your imediate subject.

 

[noritje]

On its own, no your camera can't avoid it. It doesn't have the dynamic light range that our own eyeballs do. Even if you aren't shooting in a "harsh" sunlit environment, you may still find your shots blown out because the range is still too much. So if you only have your camera, you have to decide what in your picture is worth the most.

However there are "tools" that exist to help you out. One is the Graduated Nuetral Density Filter. You will also see standard Neutral Density filters, but those wouldn't help you. The "graduated" version has a graduation of the filter from the outer edge (where the sky would be) to the center of the filter. This way you can let less light come in from the top part of your picture, and let the proper amount of light in from the rest.

The other option is a dedicated flash unit. Nikon calls theirs Speedlights, Canon Speedlite - original I know. Slap one on your camera, and you will then be able to expose for the sun, and STILL fire off enough flash to illuminate your imediate subject.

Ok here is another noobs Q.
That graduated ND filter, my lens rotate when focusing, so having that on while focusing isn't working well... so I think you will need to readjust it after focusing? Would your focus sorta 'screwed' aftwerwards? Or do you have a way to do this?

Well, apart from getting lens that doesn't rotate

PS: Maybe I get confused on the filters and talking about the wrong filter, so please excuse me if I did.

 

[TamiyaGuy]

Provided your Grad ND filter is a square-type (in my opinion, screw-in round GND filters are kinda pointless), you can just rotate it after focusing. However, I'm not sure a Grad ND filter would help there; a lot more than just the sky is blown out. Instead, I'd recommend manually using your flash, Exposure Lock for the sky, re-compose, and shoot. You may or may not need to stop down your aperture to prevent over-exposure because of your DSLR's flash sync speed.

 

[noritje]

Provided your Grad ND filter is a square-type (in my opinion, screw-in round GND filters are kinda pointless), you can just rotate it after focusing. However, I'm not sure a Grad ND filter would help there; a lot more than just the sky is blown out. Instead, I'd recommend manually using your flash, Exposure Lock for the sky, re-compose, and shoot. You may or may not need to stop down your aperture to prevent over-exposure because of your DSLR's flash sync speed.

Ah! square type! Just googled it and now I get it! * embarrassed* Thanks a lot!

 

[bdavis]

Expose for the sky then use a flash to properly expose your subject...

 

[linpelk]

Thank you all for your help. I don't know why I didn't think about using my flash. I DO have a Speedlite, it's still new to me and I'm slowly learning how to use it so it's not really second nature for me yet to throw it on. I knew the exposure was all wrong as I was taking these shots. I would look at the histogram on my LCD and I could see right away that it wasn't working. I only had a minute since the train in the background was just stopped temporarily, but I really wanted this shot. I was frustrated about it and now I'm kicking myself that I didn't think about using my flash. Oh well, lesson learned and next time I see this issue I will know JUST what to do! Thanks again for taking the time to help me out on this one.

 

[Breanna]

Thanks for asking this question. I have the same problem, also have a Speedlite, but also don't use it at the proper times. Dur.

 

[ANDS!]

Sometimes the sun gives A LOT better lighting than your speedlight - also, you may well be in a situation where you just cant light your subject with the speedlight because of distance.

So basically - there are a ton of ways to do what the OP is trying to do, its just up to them to figure out the best one that works for them.