How can I photograph a shaded creek in bright midday sun without harsh reflections and contrast?
Asked 4/30/2019
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2 answers
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I photographed a creek with dense vegetation on the banks in bright overhead sunlight. In the images, the water looks mirror-like, making it hard to distinguish the creek from the bank, and if I reduce exposure to protect highlights, the shaded areas become too dark.
One example was around f/2.8 at 1/80s, and another at about -1.33 EV, f/3.2, 1/150s. I’m also using a polarizing filter and suspect it may be affecting the reflections.
What techniques work best for this kind of scene? Is it mainly a timing/lighting issue, or are there camera settings or filters that can help?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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There is only so much you can do in the middle of the day when the sun is so bright and the shadows so deep.
Go back just before sunrise and watch the place as the sun comes up, return just before twilight and watch as the lighting changes as the sun sets. You may need to visit it several times as atmospheric conditions can be vastly different form day to day.
Also you may need visit at different times of the year as the direction of the sun may be better in different seasons.
Try to learn how cameras see and record light, they are not nearly as good as your brain so you need to understand that and compensate with Manual adjustments to the settings of the camera.
I can imagine this place with rays of golden sun light piercing the canopy of the trees and tuning it into a magical looking forest glen.
Originally by user50217. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user50217
7y ago
0
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The main issue is the lighting: bright midday sun creates more contrast than your camera can usually record in one frame, especially with dark foliage and reflective water.
Best solution: shoot at a different time. Try early morning or late afternoon/evening, and revisit in different seasons if possible. Lower-angle, softer light will reduce harsh contrast and can make the scene look much closer to what you saw.
Your polarizer can help, but only if rotated for the effect you want. A circular polarizer can reduce glare on the water so you can see into it, or preserve reflections depending on its orientation. Rotate it while looking through the viewfinder/screen and choose the balance you prefer.
If you keep shooting in bright sun, manual exposure adjustments may help you manage the scene, but they won’t fully overcome the dynamic-range limits. A contrast-reducing filter may also help lift shadows in high-contrast outdoor scenes, though results vary.
So in practice: use the polarizer deliberately, expose carefully, but prioritize better light if you want a much stronger image.
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