Aug 09 2011 4:13 pm
Video and Images: by Nick Carter. (an award winning wedding and portrait photographer in NYC area)
Article by Sasha Gitin
Watch this photography tutorial video to learn how to photograph a sunset.
Sunset photography
Camera allows us to intensify the visual experience. Photographically speaking shooting the sun is the same as photographing the light source itself.
Analyzing the source of light:
Sun is a continuous light source. Continuous light source is the easiest source to control. All of the camera settings that influence the exposure will influence the intensity of the sunlight and it's reflection. The beauty about being able to control the exposure of the continuous light-source with all the controls which are: f-stop, shutter speed and ISO. Is that each one of these controls will influence the exposure individually.
Exposure tips for sunset photography:
- Set your Camera to the manual mode. (M)
- Start with setting desired ISO. The lower the ISO the lower the noise/ grain in your image. If you desire smooth look set your camera to ISO 100. And if you are going for grainy look set to 800 or 1600
- Set your f-stop. When photographing a sunset use your aperture to control the depth of field. For Example: F11-22 will ensure the focus edge to edge. While f5.6 to f2.8 will allow you to have selective focus. When using the sunset as a backdrop for your subject you might like to have the subject (person, silhouette, rock, boat etc..) in focus and let the sky go blurry. Once you have made a conscious decision about ISO and the f-stop it's time to control the intensity of the sun.
- Shutter speed. As nick pointed out in the video above, increasing Shutter speed with decrease the intensity of the light and will increase vividness of the sunset. Try overriding your light meter by a full stop or two and experiment until you get desired exposure. As the only control you use is the shutter speed this with be quick task.
Advanced: When photographing on the beach try using a neutral density filter (or polarizing filter as it will knock off a stop) and lower your shutter speed to 1/15 sec. So the waves will produce a dreamy water effect
This video and images were created by Nick Carter. Nick is an award winning wedding and portrait photographer. His comprehensive portfolio can be viewed @ nickcarterweddings.com Connect with Nick on his blog or on FacebookArticle was written by Sasha Gitin
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Challenge: “Glorious Sunset”
Photograph a setting sun. Intensify sunset by controlling exposure. Post your shot below. Using “Share your shot” feature in comments. Please click on orange question mark in "share your shot" box for posting instructions. This challenge in on-going the new results will be announced the first week of the each month.