Exposing for High Contrast Techniques

 When photographing a scene where the brightest part (like the sky) and the main subject (in shade) have drastically different exposures, you have several techniques to balance the exposure while preserving detail in both areas. Here are some options:

1. Expose for the Highlights (Sky)

• Why: Cameras retain more detail in the highlights than in the shadows. If the highlights (sky) are overexposed, they’re often unrecoverable.

• How:

• Use spot metering to measure the exposure for the sky and set your camera to avoid clipping the highlights.

• This may result in the main subject being underexposed, but it can be corrected in post-processing (if shooting RAW).

2. Use a Graduated Neutral Density (ND) Filter

• Why: A graduated ND filter reduces the brightness of the sky without affecting the darker foreground.

• How:

• Place the darker part of the filter over the sky and the lighter part over the shaded subject.

• This equalizes the exposure difference, allowing you to capture both areas more evenly.

3. Add Light to the Shadows (Fill Flash or Reflector)

• Why: Brightening the subject in the shade reduces the contrast between the sky and the foreground.

• How:

• Use a reflector to bounce natural light onto the shaded subject.

• Alternatively, use a fill flash to add artificial light while maintaining the natural ambient exposure.

4. Bracket Your Exposure (HDR)

• Why: High Dynamic Range (HDR) combines multiple exposures to retain details in both highlights and shadows.

• How:

• Take at least three shots: one exposed for the sky, one for the subject, and one in between.

• Combine the exposures using editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop.

5. Post-Processing Techniques

• Why: Shooting RAW allows you to recover details in highlights and shadows during editing.

• How:

• Expose for the sky, then brighten the shadows and mid tones in post-processing without overexposing the highlights.

Additional Tips

• Dynamic Range: Use a camera with a high dynamic range sensor to better capture details in both bright and dark areas.

• Time of Day: Shoot during golden hour when the lighting is softer and the contrast between highlights and shadows is reduced.

Which technique works best depends on your style and the tools you have at hand!

The Exposure Triangle with flash photography.

 The Exposure Triangle, as a concept and with the specific term, was first introduced in 1990 by Bryan Peterson in his book "Understanding Exposure."

While the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO (or film speed in the past) has been understood by photographers for much longer, Peterson was the first to formally define and popularize it as the "Exposure Triangle."

The exposure triangle is a fundamental concept in photography that explains the relationship between three key settings that control exposure: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Here’s a breakdown of each component and how using off-camera flash impacts them:

1. Aperture

• Aperture controls the size of the lens opening, letting in more or less light. It’s measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/4, etc.).

• A wider aperture (e.g., f/2.8) lets in more light and creates a shallow depth of field, blurring the background.

• A narrower aperture (e.g., f/16) lets in less light and creates a deeper depth of field, keeping more of the image in focus.

2. Shutter Speed

• Shutter speed controls how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light. It’s measured in seconds or fractions of a second (e.g., 1/200s, 1/1000s).

• Slower shutter speeds allow more light in, which is useful in low-light situations but can introduce motion blur.

• Faster shutter speeds let in less light but help freeze motion.

3. ISO

• ISO determines the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light. Lower ISO values (e.g., ISO 100) are less sensitive and result in less noise, while higher ISO values (e.g., ISO 1600) increase sensitivity but may add grain or noise.

When these three elements are balanced, you achieve a proper exposure. Changing one setting affects the others, so understanding their relationship is key to creating the exposure you want.

Using Off-Camera Flash

When you add an off-camera flash to the exposure triangle, you have an additional light source that can alter how you approach each component:

1. Aperture and Flash Power: Since aperture affects the amount of light hitting the sensor, a wider aperture can let in more of the flash’s light, resulting in brighter images. You can balance flash power and aperture to get the desired exposure while controlling depth of field.

2. Shutter Speed and Ambient Light: Shutter speed controls the ambient light exposure in flash photography but doesn’t affect flash power (up to the camera’s sync speed). By adjusting the shutter speed, you can control how much of the ambient light is captured, often darkening the background while keeping your subject lit by flash.

3. ISO and Overall Brightness: A higher ISO can make both flash and ambient light appear brighter in the photo. However, if you want to minimize ambient light while enhancing flash exposure, you might use a lower ISO.

By mastering the exposure triangle with off-camera flash, you can achieve a more dynamic and controlled lighting effect that isolates the subject, balances light, and emphasizes creative aspects such as depth, motion, and texture.

If Santa can do it so can you!

If Santa can do is so can you as photographers! Do you know what I am talking about? I am not talking about taking kids photographs but you could to make money! Do you know what I am talking about now? I am talking about pets. You can make some good money photographing peoples pets. Pet lovers spends a lot of money on there pets. If you  photograph their pets.They may use your services to make postcards for their kid’s pet who is away at college to a large print to put on the family wall. Most pet owners will treat their pets like a part of the family. I am a pet lover also so I know this. I hate to say this but if my pet is getting up there in age I would want to get the best image of my pet to have up on the wall before something bad happens to my pet that I love. They say mans best friend is a dog for a reason. If you are not a pet owner then you don’t understand. lets say you do a family portrait at a clients house. If you see a pet. Always after the family photo session. Let them know you also photograph pets. If they want prints of their pet try to shoot their pet while you are there and offer a discount because you will save gas money and time.Work the up sale to fit you and the client. Also for the future let them know you would love to set up a photo session for christmas cards. See if they are interested especially if you are near christmas. If its not near christmas get that email and phone number for the future. Offer a special rate for repeat customers. If they can recommend me to their friends and If I get at least two more photoshoots out of it.( Family Photoshoots) I will give them a free photoshoot. Don’t forget the up sale because it was free they could spend some money on extra prints or a larger print. Offer each one of them the same deal. Thats how you can build clientele fast. You may bring in a lot of cash in a short time period. This is just an example. You need to set what will work for you. You may need 3 photoshoots before you are willing to give a free one. You need to figure out your sales model on your own. 

Just Enjoy Photography!

If you are a hobbyist photographer. Or a beginning photographer. You will never please every Critic. Photograph what you love and enjoy your work. Take the positive with the negative but do not dwell over the negative. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is your photographs. Always remember that. Here is an example as a new not well know photographer. You posted a not so tack sharp image on some social media site. Your image is slightly soft. The comments will just say some horrific things about your work. If you used that same image and you was well known photographer who has been around for years. The comments would be so different. They would be so positive with words like dreamy and artistic. Another little bit of info some people on social media just love to be the biggest ass on purpose just to get a response out of you. 

 A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words!

You are wasting your time trying to make money as a photographer!

You are wasting your time trying to make money as a photographer! Have you ever heard this? I hate to say I have. From people I thought who would support me! I was wrong. So were they. I have made money as a photographer. Not always 50% of my income But I made money selling prints,hand made coasters,T-shirts,magnets,gift cards,and many more items. I have sold items at fairs, artisan craft show,online, and custom request. From the skills learned as a photographer using an editing app like photoshop®. I also was able to make a custom Item for a company using there logo making many of the same item for display and as gifts. I will leave you with this just go prove them wrong. If you sell one print for more than it cost you to print. You made money. Start by one step at a time and see how far you will go. I will leave you with a motto.

 NEVER STOP IMPROVING! 

Never work for free!

Never work for free! Thats what schools teaches students. If you only work for fee you will never make money that true. But working for free can be very beneficial for you. The questions to ask yourself before you turn down free work is can I profit from this. How can I profit from free work. No money equals no profit right. No not always. The free work could be you biggest way of getting your name out to other potential paying clients. Working for small profit free charities in you area is a great way to get your name out in your area. A larger or a charities that make profit for themselves. Do not do it for free. If they are going to get paid so should you also get paid. A local theater that puts on plays could get your name out fast. If they put out flyers and have brochures with your photographs and crediting your name about the newest play. This is a good one to do it at least the first time for free. You just goto know how to approach the theater. Tell the theater how much you normally charge to photograph the actors in their costumes for their brochures. You goto come up with a great reason why you want to do it for free. You love the theater or the play that they are putting on. Make it about them way more then you. 

Heres another tip. The theater may say no because they already have a photographer. Don’t take no for an answer and give up. Ask questions like is that photographer getting paid,is he a photographer or just someone they may know? If yes is the answer that he gets paid. and they have been using him or her for years. Then you got a chance to still photograph the actors. Sell the free aspect. Tell them how much time you need ( Make sure you finish before the time you told ) to get the images and you can do the shoot at a practice dress rehearsal.  Make sure to shoot before the other photographer. Tell the theater if they don’t like your work no harm no foul. They can just go with the other photographer. But if they do go with you because it free you need credit for all you your images. You still own the all right to the images. They may use your images online for promoting the theaters play. Any image they use must be credited by your name or your brand. Just because its free still make a contract with the theater. This will cover you and them. You own the rights to your images. Use those same Images to promote you. No one need to know you did it for free. If your work is better than the paid photographer they may call you again but now you can charge them at full price or at a discount price.

I will leave you with a list of local places to offer free work to help get your name  out that could potentially get you paid work. Non profit charities,theater,churches, SPCA, pet adoption, or the humane society can turn into paid work. Think of it this way if one free job can turn into many paid job is it worth your time. I think so but that me, You will have to decide for yourself.

Never Stop Improving!   

Take Snapshots!

Have I lost it by telling beginning photographers to take snapshot? No. Take a snapshot only if you are able to take a photograph of the same subject right after. Why would you take a snapshot of a subject then a photograph? They are the same thing right? No not at all.

 A snapshot is just a shot of a person,objects, or some event that is just a simple shot to record a image. A snapshot could be out of focus slightly that was unintentional,bad framing,and no artistry whatsoever. A snapshot is someone who just pointed the camera in the right direction and clicked the shutter! Some people call them a guy or girl with a camera. “GWAC”  

A photograph is an artistic interpretation of a person,objects, or some type of event. If a viewer,any viewer can tell something about the subject. A photograph is taken with care and must be composed with all of its elements selected and arranged to work together. In a photography you pay attentions to every details thats in the frame and try to get them just right. You will see the artistry in a photograph.

If a photograph is much better than a snapshot. Why should I take a snapshot. For future reference to show and help teach, if you decide to. Also studying the snapshot and comparing it to the photograph will help improve your compositions more and more. The last reason to take a snapshot, sometimes all you need is a snapshot of a love one for the memory. If Its possible I want a photograph but a snapshot is way better then no shot at all.

As you grow as a photographer your snapshots will grow into photographs. 

NEVER STOP IMPROVING!