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overcast beach
Any suggestions or pointers to taking great beach shots on an overcast, grey sunless day? I'll be using a 20D, 28-70 f/2.8 and I picked up a circular polarizing filter... Thanks anyone for their input or tips. Dan Aug 04 08 03:15 am Link I think it depends on what you want to achieve... I personally dislike when it is cloudy but there are many who like it so it is a style choice. If I do go to the beach and it becomes overcast I will shoot with some flash but unless you have a portable strobe it is hard to shoot with on camera flash like that. I normally stop shooting because I want that sun to pop with the images and it isn't popping with clouds  Aug 04 08 03:20 am Link you can get some cool shots even on a cruddy day with some flash. read through http://www.lighting-essentials.com/ for some cool ideas and tips Aug 04 08 03:22 am Link Thanks for replying... the looked I am trying to get.. or avoid... is the flat one dimensional look. I have one flash that attaches to the camera, but thats it, and I can't bring the studio light to the beach. Any secret recipe for instant "Wow!" overcast beach photos? Aug 04 08 03:35 am Link Dan741 wrote: Post-processing Aug 04 08 03:38 am Link well, I don't have any tips but I love to leave bits of encouragment to motivate all! : ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxxPLDZnqwA Aug 04 08 03:39 am Link Dan741 wrote: Instead of the usual beach problem--too much contrast--you're likely to have too little contrast. So, instead of using flash to fill shadows, use one to create shadows: use the flash as your main light and let the ambient be your fill. Aug 04 08 03:42 am Link As has been mentioned already... some people like clouds, as they say its like working under huge softbox. I personally hate it, and would prefer to rather postpone the shoot, or move location, but on the odd occasion when I HAVE to shoot there, I too try use as much fill flash as possible, or layout a shot, so that I can shoot under some sort of cover, with the beach as a background of sorts. Aug 04 08 04:00 am Link my avtar was done on a clod summer day along san gregorio beach on the san mateo coast. no fill flash just shot wide open at f1.2 with the canon 85 mm f1.2 and my 5D. The iso was highish and shot with a fast shutter. so as others have said, it depends on what you want to achieve. Aug 04 08 04:06 am Link Try a big silver reflector or two and don't bother with the polarizing filter as it will probably just make the colours look more muddy and flat on a sunless day. And overexpose a bit too - maybe half to one stop above what the meter tells you as long as you don't blow the highlights (if you have any in that light - lol!). As Kevin said also, if you can figure a way to use your flash off camera - maybe bouncing it off a reflector, that might help too. Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano Aug 04 08 04:15 am Link in your situation i would shoot at 2.8... no flash. maybe a white reflector to fill in shadows as much as possible. polarizers are useless without any sun. Aug 04 08 04:27 am Link Dan741 wrote: Keep the polarizer at home, since it is not helpful in situations where light will be diffuse. Keep the flash at home too and take advantage of the wonderful conditions that an overcast day can provide. Effectively, you have the largest softbox over your head - use it! Aug 04 08 04:37 am Link |
