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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 118 - Light >> Challenge 118 - Eligible > In the sun *
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12-OCT-2006 sueanne

In the sun *

Canon EOS 350D
1/200s f/8.0 at 62.0mm iso400 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time12-Oct-2006 15:52:00
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length62 mm
Exposure Time1/200 sec
Aperturef/8
ISO Equivalent400
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programshutter priority (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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ctfchallenge24-Oct-2006 01:27
With such a capture of a special and hard to catch moment the technicals take a 2nd seat here. I can vouch that it ain't easy to get a good shot of kittens at play( they're all over the place) and the exposure conditions here with the bright and spots in the shadow, that's a toughy. Even 1/200 wasn't enough to freeze action these kittens. Overall this is a good shot :)

btw, if you did any contrast/brightness corrections in a photo editor than can blow the BHL ;) out of any overexposed area that still has salvagable detail in the original shot. Trick is to make a copy of the original in a new layer, adjust the contrast and then erase the areas that become too bright and without detail. So the detail will be kept and you got some pop.

-Techo
sven23-Oct-2006 01:32
Thank you Jano :)
janewigginsphotography20-Oct-2006 02:10
This is really cute Sueanne - I like the lighting, even though the left is blown. I know it is hard to take pics of these little critters but nevertheless it is a good shot. I know nothing about lenses so am not in a position to say wot or not. I just wish the left was not so blown, but the cuddling you caught is what catches my eye. good work jano
Rod 17-Oct-2006 10:04
That does surprise me that the lenses alter the quality of the exposures Sue Anne I wonder if it's the contrast in them that's different It seems much the same to me with my two, the kit lens (poor quality rating) & my 55-200 (good quality rating) But they are the same brand which may account for that.
As quick as you're learning Sue Anne I'm forgetting:-)
sven16-Oct-2006 11:17
Yes I could do bracketing, but keep in mind, I have a split second to take this picture as kittens are worse than kids. (not in place long) -

Yes Rod, lenses are part of the trick besides shooting for the right light and metering. I notice differences between kit lens and my sigma lens.

Am learning so I will try your advice Rod for shooting. :)))
Guest 15-Oct-2006 18:28
The G6 it takes 3 rapid fire shots with varying with only one press of the shutter exposures if AE bracketing is turned on. I can't speak for the Canon SLRs, but I might soon find out as I think it is time to upgrade my G6 to the 400 when I look at all the great shots people are getting with the SLRs.
Rod 15-Oct-2006 06:40
That's a good idea too Neo, the only problem wiv that is you have to make sure you click the shutter 3 times or set the camera on rapid fire. If you only click once it only takes the one shot so when you go to another shot the exposure will be out. I think if you're on top of everything & don't mind going into the menus your suggestion would work best of all, as we can bracket up to two Fstops which should cover most situations.
Guest 15-Oct-2006 06:00
Cute!
Another trick for getting the exposure right (particularly in fluid situations like this one) would be to use exposure bracketing. The G6 will take three shots using a range of exposure compensation in rapid succession with this turned on and I believe the 350 has this feature as well.
Rod 15-Oct-2006 00:45
The exposure hasen't much to do wiv lenses Sue Anne, it's just you & the light meter doing battle wiv the eliments:-)
Aammmm that’s why I don't play wiv the EC & just point me lens to set the exposure, I would forget to keep changing it. I did a shoot this morning in nice early morning light & when I got home & viewed me picys they had a funny colour. The WB was still on fluorescent from me silly set up shot from yesterday:-)
sven14-Oct-2006 20:19
Thank you Christina and Rod :)

You know, Aam, I first put my XT to EC -1 and noticed what you said, under exposed (which I could fix in CS2) but lately have been putting EC to 0 and found my exposure was good then. (which for my Pro1 and A80, EC to -1/3 works great)

So thank you Aam for your advice, EC with the XT is tricky ;)
Am learning alot about lighting in this challenge. Thank (and I do believe alot has to do with the lenses)
ctfchallenge14-Oct-2006 13:10
Sueanne, If you ever try EC make sure you re-set it to zero (the middle) after you finish. Case in point, just took many pics for this challenge and for some reason they were waaay under expose. Yup, Forgot the EC on -1...-1!! :(

aam1234
Rod 13-Oct-2006 22:53
I think the trick is that when you see sun & a majority of shade together assume that the sunlit parts will be blown:-) It's all trail & error, in my case mostly error:-)
Squared C13-Oct-2006 22:53
Awesomely cute shot! Who doesn't love kittens! And yeah, great suggestions Rod. Since I don't have an exposure lock button on the S1 I just do what you suggested in finding the overall setting and then going to manual and stopping down. Tough with scurrying kitties, but it works to avoid BHs! Excellent lighting work on the fur Sueanne. The sun really makes them furry!
sven13-Oct-2006 21:49
Wow Rod,

I saved this lesson and will try it - so key is to use the (*) and know when to do all this really quickly for acitve subjects.
(I usually can do this for the Pro1 but with the 350D, its different seeing since there is no live preview or LCD reading)

Thanks for the tip and I will go try it out, when the sun is out :)
Rod 13-Oct-2006 20:57
In a situation like this the quickest way is to just aim the camera more to the left sunlight & half click which will set the exposure more for the sun, keeping your finger on the half click you then recompose & shoot. The focus should be ok if you just swing the camera to the left & don't lift it up or down to half click. The slightly slower way is to aim your camera towards the brightest part of the shot then half click & then press the exposure lock button, you can then focus on your subject & shoot. Wot I've bin doing lately is to get an exposure reading of the brightest part of the shot & note the settings, say it's 200th sec at F8 I then set the camera on manual at 200th sec at F8 & just shoot away at the same subject. The brain will always accept no detail in the shadows (very black) but it won't accept blown highlights (pure white wiv no detail). As always in photography there's never a never, as there has been some great looking shots wiv deliberate blown highlights as a feature.
If I'm shooting a flower that has sunlight & shade on it I just aim me camera at the sunlit grass & lock the exposure (or set it to manual wiv the same setting) then go back to the flower & shoot.
Grass is the one of closest things to the 18% reflectance grey that all exposure meters are set up for. On a sunny day just pick some subject that is in sunlight & shade & have a go at playing wiv the exposures & see wot works for you:-)
aam1234 13-Oct-2006 12:38
Looks like a post card. Well done.

Sueanne, you can use EC (exposure compensation). You could've dialed -1/3 or -2/3 here. This is the quickest way.
sven13-Oct-2006 12:29
Thank you Armi, CJ and Rod.....

When I saw the late afternoon sun hitting the kittens, I was thinking, get the eyes sharp and then worry about the rest. It does look BH on the kittens fur and it was a direct sunlit hit. :(

Now Rod, how would I shoot for some exposures in between the light & dark extremes? Bracket? Now these are quick subjects, not still ones, so its shoot before they move. I didn't use EC -1/3 like I usually do so that didn't help I guess.
Rod 13-Oct-2006 09:44
Yes some exposures in between the light & dark extremes would have yielded the special shot.
Nicely done Sue Anne:-)
ctfchallenge12-Oct-2006 20:49
Cute kittens Sue Anne and don't forget to expose for the bright areas to avoid blown highlights. Very cute! CJ
arminb12-Oct-2006 20:41
:-DDD