Sunsets

[Skyedriver]

Taking photographs of the setting sun, cloud, glow on the sea etc., the orange never looks quite as intense on the photograph compared to the reality.
What are the secrets?

[southerndriver]

Underexposure. Either use manual settings (best approach, if you can learn it) or suitable exposure compensation

[Skyedriver]

Started on Auto, focussing on the brightest part, then aperture fixed and then speed fixed but guess it was still taking a reading for "normal". Next time I'll try setting a the aperture or speed down a notch. Thanks
Didn't mess with ISO setting.

[Whoozit]

Underexpose 2 or even 3 stops until it looks right. Some of the dark areas can be recovered with processing, how much depends on your camera.

Worth watching a youtube video or two on using the histogram. Maybe search for exposing for the highlights.

[C n C]

If using a tripod, try bracketing, then combining 2 or more shots in post-processing to get better exposure in different areas of the shot.

Although taking a single shot exposed for the highlights and then bringing up the shadows in post is certainly far more feasible with a lot of modern cameras, the darker areas will still tend to have more noise than using the bracketing approach.

[Skyedriver]

Thanks, waiting for the next sunset - raining this evening

[Pitre]

Photoshop

[Simpo Two]

Might be exposure, white balance or both. Histogram for the first, RAW for the second.

[Tony1963]

I took this on Wednesday morning. It’s pretty much as it came off the camera, and has -0.7 exposure compensation applied. Thankfully my camera shows on the screen what the image will look like ‘live’ as adjustments are made.

[Simpo Two]

Tony1963 said:

I took this on Wednesday morning. It’s pretty much as it came off the camera, and has -0.7 exposure compensation applied. Thankfully my camera shows on the screen what the image will look like ‘live’ as adjustments are made.

That will work most of the time but the apparent brightness of the screen will vary depending on the ambient light. In the dark it will look brighter; in sunlight it will look darker - so mistakes can be made. By contrast a histogram allows you see the exposure graphically, and adjust it if necessary, in any lighting conditions. I use that, or 'zebra' which is quicker, all the time.

[Tony1963]

Simpo Two said:

The only snag with that is that the apparent brightness of the screen will vary depending on the ambient light. In the dark it will look brighter; in sunlight it will look darker. By contrast a histogram allows you see the exposure, and adjust it if necessary, in any lighting conditions. I use that, or 'zebra' which is quicker, all the time.

I was viewing it as I usually do, through the viewfinder. The EVF is pretty good.

Histogram use is a good skill to master, but it’s not the be all and end all.

[Craikeybaby]

I find that the colours are best on the photo, way after it looks better with your eyes.

This was a couple of weeks ago, it was almost dark.


Saltburn Pier by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

[Skyedriver]

Thanks for all the suggestions, was out a couple of days ago and things were improving, for me and my son, who has the better camera.

ps, he's had quite a few photos on the BBC Weatherwatch page over the last few years

Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 15th September 08:04