Learning to work with harsh light

[dearlybeloved]

So over the past few weeks, I've been trying to work with light and learn how to use it to my advantages. The biggest challenge for me is working with mid day harsh light. I watched a few kelbytraining.com videos and started to really look deeper into my compositions and highlights.

For the most part, I tried to keep my subject between me and the sun and use highlights from the sun rays to help bring more life into the photographs. This is the first attempt on working with this technique, so I was looking to get some feedback on what I can do to make this type of light work for me.

Thanks for looking and hope you enjoy.

its not letting me upload some of them so I put them on Imgur here Jessica Aston - Imgur

Thanks in advance

 

[Derrel]

The ones done with her standing under the arbor--NICE use of the light that was there. You did a pretty good job on those. You could use some fill light but 1) flash often looked, well, like flash and therefore kind of fakey. Reflector fill looks better than flash, I think, and is easier to work with, since there are no synch speed limits, and it's totally WYSIWYG. The third option is to expose for the shadowed side, and let the backlighted areas blow out. The option it looks like you went with was to expose sort of in a compromise, and just "lift" the shadows up in post.

The situation you shot in was challenging; for a first time you did very well. A couple have weirds, yellowish-looking skintones, which is unflattering. But a few of the color ones look spot-on.

I think these show that you actually payed attention to the light. Only one way forward now, and that's up!

 

[dearlybeloved]

Thanks Derrel! I was going to use a reflector but I had no one to hold it for me. I have a wedding that im a second shooter on this saturday and wanted to work with harsh light and learn how to control it. I think im going to get out there again today and get someone to hold the reflector for me and maybe play with the flash to see what I come up with.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[DTB58]

That online training you mentioned looks pretty good I think I will give it a try.

 

[JenR]

The lighting on most of these looks really lovely. I know you didn't ask about it, but you might want to watch your exposure and white balance-- many of these are way off.

 

[TCampbell]

Thanks Derrel! I was going to use a reflector but I had no one to hold it for me. I have a wedding that im a second shooter on this saturday and wanted to work with harsh light and learn how to control it. I think im going to get out there again today and get someone to hold the reflector for me and maybe play with the flash to see what I come up with.

Thanks for the feedback!

There are stands holders for reflectors that mount to light stands -- they are inexpensive and it avoids needing an extra person (as long as it's not windy). But that's not ideal for weddings only because it's not as fast as have an assistant and you have a limited window of time -- the bride & groom need to get back to their guests. Snatching them for 15 minutes for some outdoor shots is one thing... but if it starts to take longer it's going to be a problem.

 

[kathyt]

I hold my own reflector 99% of the time, and I use it ALOT. I would try to learn how to do it w/o any help so you don't have to rely on others to during a shoot. They have reflector stands but they are pretty crappy and fall over very easily. You def. need some fill light in your shots, and you have some strong green casts.

 

[The_Traveler]

I think these are generally pretty nice, graceful, comfortable poses, well focused and framed.

Perhaps a bit of color management as an option.

Oops, just looked and you have a no edit profile.
I think they are slightly yellow-green and a bit undersat in red.

 

[dearlybeloved]

I'm going to give these another look and edit sense I have a lot of feedback on the color. Maybe my monitor is off because I didn't really notice much. I'll shoot back with updated edits.