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How the hell do you shoot outdoors?
My New Years resolution- figure out how to shoot outdoors. I've been strictly a studio photographer for a number of years, I love strobes, I love backdrops, I love everything about the studio. But it's time for a change. It's not for lack of trying, though. Since I moved to Florida a few years ago, I try to do some outdoor shots at every shoot for more variety. Even the models agree I should stay in the studio. I hate that I can't see my monitor in the sun, I hate relying on the weather, but I love a lot of shots done outside with natural light. I use an Olympus FL-40 flash, with a bunch of different diffusers, but nothing leaves me satisfied. Give me some hints, please! Should I just set up my strobes outside? Jan 02 13 03:44 pm Link I'm the opposite. I would much rather just get outside and shoot with nothing but a person and a camera and a good location. I despise having to set up lights and backdrops and whatnot. I guess it comes from being a landscape photographer, I dunno. My advice to you is this: Just do it. If you've been in the studio for so long, you have certain habits and "ways of doing things" that give you a paradigm. I think the only way to break free of that is to hit it head-on. Get a model, grab your camera and no more than 2 lenses, and hit a beach. Take NOTHING ELSE. See what happens. Jan 02 13 03:50 pm Link Learn how to meter, and you won't have to chimp...  Jan 02 13 03:50 pm Link ... Have you tried not using the flashes/etc and just rely on natural light (and maybe a reflector for fill)? Jan 02 13 03:51 pm Link Well one thing I know I can do is shoot outdoors!...I started that way and have done that for years. Get a polarizing filter, a reflector and a off camera flash with an umbrella. I lived in Florida for 14yrs, and the best time to shoot is sunrise or sunset. You can shoot in the middle of the afternoon (raccoon eye time) but will need a fill flash or reflector to kill the shadows on the face. Hope that helps!..... Jan 02 13 03:52 pm Link PhillipM wrote: I remember light meters! I may still have one, somewhere..... Jan 02 13 03:53 pm Link SitronStudio wrote: but your profile says "very experienced"... Jan 02 13 03:53 pm Link Really depends on what look you are going for. Are you using reflectors of any sort? Large foamcore to put your subject in shade? More flash power to over power the sun? Check YouTube for great tutorials. Jan 02 13 03:53 pm Link http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/ligh … otography/ Illuminate wrote: so does mine! and so does yours! we're all...like...brothers! Jan 02 13 03:56 pm Link Marin Photography wrote: Oooh, that sounds like it might work, an off camera flash w/ umbrella. Unfortunately most of my shoots are in the middle of the day (I have a hard enough time getting a model to show up, most have to drive a couple of hours, suggesting an inconvenient time isn't gonna work). Jan 02 13 03:56 pm Link but your profile says "very experienced"... I'm "very experienced"... at shooting in the studio. Jan 02 13 03:57 pm Link BC Photo wrote: Great idea! Jeez, I use youTube to figure out how to fix my leaky faucet, you'd think I would have looked up lighting tutorials. Jan 02 13 04:00 pm Link SitronStudio wrote: ignore the trolls. its easier that way (part of being experienced on here). Jan 02 13 04:01 pm Link I have a studio with strobes and backgrounds, etc, and I much prefer shooting outdoors using natural light. Figure out what time of day gives the best light/direction , at this time of year, 2 -4 pm works good; as long as it isn't raining I don't worry about the weather. I have a city shoot tomorrow with 8 inches of 3 day old snow on the ground. Also, learn how to meter, and don't rely on chimping. practice, practice, practice Jan 02 13 04:01 pm Link Worlds in Digital wrote: Same, although I love taking flash on location. PhillipM wrote: SitronStudio wrote: Since I started shooting film again last year, I've found myself using it more and more with digital on location too. Jan 02 13 04:04 pm Link KLBobbitt Photography wrote: I don't know what "chimping" means! Is that a photography term? Jan 02 13 04:09 pm Link Get an eye cup for the screen. hang it around your neck and use it when you want to view. I got one that i can attach magnetically to the camera for video Jan 02 13 04:10 pm Link Get outside. The light is great, and it's warm. Models love it. This is outside, natural light, with a black backdrop. 18+ https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/29011612 Jan 02 13 04:11 pm Link I don't know. I just do it! Jan 02 13 04:11 pm Link Take your studio strobes you are comfortable with outside. I do. Start with one and figure you have a two light set up, the sun being the other light. To get your feet wet maybe keep the sun as a back light and the subject in shade for a few shots till you start to get the hang of it. As for chimping, I chimp now and I chimped (using Polaroids) back in the film day. A "proper" exposure may not give the effect you want. It would be stupid in my opinion not to look at your LCD till you are satisfied with the look. Then just concentrate on getting the shot you want..wait..models move and blink..more chimping huh? If you don't want to take you strobes out then try a reflector with the same idea, sun is the back light and the reflector the key. Off camera lighting outside is what most will tell you is the best. much of my portfolio was shot with a ring light or a Nikon SB800 in the hotshoe with a diffuser over it. BOTH direct on camera light. Hard to master but once you do it's quick and easy. Food for thought... Best of luck! Jan 02 13 04:12 pm Link SB Glamour Photos wrote: Great idea! I've got a nice yard and pool, so I've been trying to shoot there, and I have to keep running into the studio to see the monitor. Jan 02 13 04:13 pm Link Illuminate wrote: he is very experienced in the studio. i see nothing wrong with that. Jan 02 13 04:13 pm Link Shooting in natural light has it's own special appeal, though you are subject to the variations of weather and cloud cover. Reflectors are a big help, and I use an app that shows me the relative position of the sun at various times of the day, so I can plan ahead. Portable flash rigs can be used, though I go old school. I have 2 Vivitar 285's with wireless triggers and small diffusers that can do a remarkable job in simulating studio light in the outdoors. In this instance, a good light/flash meter is your friend. Jan 02 13 04:14 pm Link Jay White Photo wrote: Here is a photo that I took of her in Arizona. Jan 02 13 04:14 pm Link 1) Adjust your camera to give you an ambient light look that you enjoy (stay under sync speed.) 2) Turn on your flash. 3) Turn up your flash until your model is lit how you want.     Jan 02 13 04:18 pm Link R Michael Walker wrote: Okay, you just sent me to wikipedia. I've never heard the term "chimping", and you guys keep using it. I figured it was british slang. Turns out it means checking the monitor after every shot. Wow. Jan 02 13 04:20 pm Link -JAY- wrote: Okay, those are just beautiful. Jan 02 13 04:21 pm Link -JAY- wrote: That's pretty much it. Jan 02 13 04:21 pm Link You're all putting me to shame. I hate to admit, I just put the flash on Auto. I guess I'll have to figure out how it works. I'll be the first to admit I've gotten lazy in the studio. But I feel in control there. Outside is scary! My early career was as an abstract painter, so I'm used to spending long hours in the studio. Jan 02 13 04:25 pm Link You really dont need a flash if you got even light where you can better expose for the subject without sacrificing too much detail in the background.. My avatar is one example and somehow later I became paranoid with the whole fill light thing which in turn you have to worry about the deep shadows. Jan 02 13 04:30 pm Link Yes shooting studio for so long will definitely put you in a rut... For outdoors...go back to the basics of lighting and photography 101. The sunny16 rule is a good place to start. Jan 02 13 04:31 pm Link get one of these for the sunshine: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … &A=details for a change of pace try to work with available light and maybe a reflector and/or diffuser. lindsay adler has a good course at kelbytraining about shooting in a big park at high noon. learn to hunt the light. cliff mautner has a course at kelby on just that. beach photography has its own unique vibe. i think gold reflectors are sometimes used. and consider shooting early or late to catch the golden hours. my 5D MK II has a highlight priority mode which helps knock down the contrast a bit in bright scenes. Jan 02 13 04:31 pm Link All I do is shoot outdoors. I try not to use a flash or reflector. Then again, I am not trying for a commercial look. I like to find a plain, single color surface to shoot against. And you want indirect sunlight. I know that's beginners 101, but been doing portraits for a year with just those elements and it just gets more interesting to me. (Also, haven't done it much, but late afternoon light really is Magical.) Jan 02 13 04:33 pm Link I took this last month in Arizona.  Jan 02 13 04:33 pm Link I do mostly outdoors shoots. I use natural and strobes. Jan 02 13 04:40 pm Link If you're trying to fill against the sun you're going to need some decent strobes. Think of the sunlight as a light weather it be a fill, highlight, kicker or key. Use it for something then use artificial light so fill in the voids for your shot. If you can shoot well indoors you can work this out pretty quickly Also remember that you can use scrims to diffuse the sun and use it for a giant high powered softbox. The possibilities are endless. -JAY- wrote: This really is the bottom line Jan 02 13 04:48 pm Link Modstudios wrote: I like a combination as well. Natural for the feel. Strobe for the desired finished product. Jan 02 13 04:59 pm Link Jerry Nemeth wrote: She is, indeed, a great natural beauty! Jan 02 13 05:02 pm Link For me, you have to learn to stop trusting your camera. I know that sounds odd, but I find that I'm best off shooting manually. Consequently, that means you have to really know your camera. 99% of my portfolio was shot with only available light. I never use reflectors, and there are maybe two photos where I used a flash. I like my method because I can easily move around. I have had models ask me a few times if I needed help carrying gear, only to sling my camera bag over a shoulder and to tell them I was all set. You actually point out why I love shooting outside. You are fully dependent on the weather and it creates and artistic challenge to adapt to it. Good luck. Jan 02 13 05:05 pm Link Indoors or out , composition is the same, same for exposure. The things that are different are that: You cannot move the main light The backgrounds are 3D and real You always have a foreground You do not have to worry about the size of your studio. Helps to check the weather report and sunrise/sunset/tide tables. Light control is different, but still doable. Pick your Background first and watch for distraction in the BG. My recomendation is to get a couple of good models you have worked with and set up some time for outdoor shoots in different locations and apply what you know to the new settings. Take your time to think it out and have specific goals for what you want from each shoot, i.e. Exposure, lighting, use of the area etc. Make your weakness your strength. Jan 02 13 05:07 pm Link |
