Positioning the sun (22)

Requirement

3/4 images

Purpose

Show how to shoot into the sun whilst keeping an acceptable level of detail in the rest of image.

Technical learning

Keeping some detail in a scene backlit by the sun can be achieved by:

• Using a barrier, such as foliage, to shield the impact of the sun (adjusting viewpoint, up or down, side to side) to reduce its darkening effect on the rest of the image, and 
• Placing the sun towards the edge of the frame with the area of greatest foreground interest on the other side.

Exercise instructions

• Use a wide angle lens
• Keep the sun to one side of the frame with the scene on the other side
• Move the camera up and down and side to side to adjust the brightness of the sun
• Take 3/4 shots with the sun obscured by different amounts

Images and review

Back garden on a sunny evening, September 2012

Well defined star
Fish eye lens (15mm), smallest aperture (f22)

Poorly defined star
Fish eye lens (15mm), widest aperture (f2.8)

Best defined sun star
Wide angle (28mm), smallest aperture (f22)

Poorly defined star
Wide angle lens (28mm), widest aperture (f3.5)

The larger size of the sun in the wide angle lens creates the more impressive star compared to the fish eye.




A view near Benahavis in Southern Spain, September 2010

More sunlight, darker foreground

More foreground detail

Best balance of 3 images: sun star
effect still maintained, minimal flare
(could easily be removed in PS) and
more detail in foreground.

The course emphasis on sun star effects seems overdone. Useful to know the technique. Yet I have limited interest in using it.