Light on location isn’t in our control, and can make or break our images.
I was working on a project which included capturing postcard-type images in and around San Francisco. A huge challenge with this project was that I was doing it on my own time, which wasn’t much. That meant that I couldn’t often visit the best locations at the most ideal times.
This presents a problem to solve which is, how can I get at least a good (doesnโt have to be great) photo when the light isnโt very good?
On one particular occasion, I took time to shoot after getting everyone to school in the morning. That meat that the best light was already gone but, still, I wanted to see what I could get in about an hour. I visited Fort Point in San Francisco which is a very good vantage point for Golden Gate Bridge photos.
It was around 10 a.m. by the time I even got started and the light got worse from there. By this time, the light didn’t show the bridge in its brilliant morning red (“International Orange” for you trivia buffs), and the sky was rather bright. In addition, some foreground elements were in the shadows.
Here are a few things I did to solve this problem and get something that I might use in my project.
5 recommendations when faced with โblahโ lighting
1. Bracket your exposures
My first thought to combat mediocre to bad light is always to bracket my exposures. My brain is wired this way I guess, and I’ve been enamored with the technique since the HDR stone age of 2004. But, itโs a great way to be able to expose for a bright sky and also some dark foreground elements.
During my short time at this location, parts of the foreground were in the shadow of the hillside while the sky was too bright to still preserve much blue. By bracketing my exposure and Tone Mapping, I was able to get a pleasant image. For advice about how to shoot bracketed images, please see my article here.
2. Change the main subject
I used this in varying degrees in the included images. For instance, I noticed a surfer walking to his launch site, perhaps having second thoughts? In others I included the rusty chain fence in more and less detail.
3. Make the poor light work in your favor
Make the poor light work in your favor. Even though the bridge is the star of the show, it’s good to turn around and find images that don’t include it. In the black and white image, I feltย that the stark light made a good retro style image.
4. Post-process your heart out!
While I very much appreciate getting shots right in-camera, I also recognize the need to perform some inspired post-processing. Post-processing is such a deep subject, we can spend a lifetime always learning.
For these images I used a combination of my post-processing skills and Perfectly Clear which really helped bring out that little bit of punch!
5. Try a different or unusual crop
The popularity of a square crop is really helpful to save a mediocre images, and I don’t mind admitting it! A little โcompositionโ of any shape can allow us to compose the image later on.
Whatever the reason you find yourself with a photo-opportunity, and disappointing light, it’s important to be flexible about the image you expected to get vs. the image you can get. At the very least, it’s an opportunity to try something new and maybe try something outside of your normal comfort zone.
Thanks for this. Great post. I must admit that in less than optimal conditions I fall back to black and white to focus on texture, or light and shade.
Greg
Thanks Greg! I agree that what you said might be the best option, hopefully I planted a seed for other options for you and some other readers!
Good points Pepper and I agree with you that light limitations can be creatively positive and force you to think out side the frame. By the way,I liked the term you coined: “cromposition”.
Hi PZ,
Thank you so much for picking that out, I’ve been holding onto that term for awhile and happy that someone noticed!
Good points Pepper and I agree with you that light limitations can be creatively positive and force you to think out side the frame. By the way,I liked the term you coined: “cromposition”.
Hi PZ,
Thank you so much for picking that out, I’ve been holding onto that term for awhile and happy that someone noticed!
Thanks for this. Great post. I must admit that in less than optimal conditions I fall back to black and white to focus on texture, or light and shade.
Greg
Thanks Greg! I agree that what you said might be the best option, hopefully I planted a seed for other options for you and some other readers!
Great suggestions!