How can I take a decent tourist portrait in harsh sunlight without flash or a reflector?
Asked 10/31/2013
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I often shoot simple travel portraits of a companion in front of scenery or buildings, but I may not have a flash or proper reflector with me. In strong sunlight, if the sun hits their face they squint, and if I turn them away from the sun their face can go very dark. What are some simple ways to get an acceptable result with just available light?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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A reflector is not necessarily an item specifically made for the purpose, but can be any surface that reflects light.
Place your subjects right next to a light-colored or white surface that is lit by the sunlight. This will act as your reflector. Direct your subjects to look away from the sun, so that the light on their faces is the reflected light from that surface.
^^ In this self-portrait I'm standing right next to a white .. uh, I don't know an English word for it, but you can see similar structures further down in the picture. The white whatsit reflects light very efficiently.
^^ Here a friend of mine is standing three meters away from a very large blueish grey wall surface. The sunlight in this photo is not so harsh, but as an example of a photo where the main light is the reflected light coming from left side, while sun is shining from the right. He was standing in partial shadow of a tree.
Originally by user17441. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user17441
12y ago
0
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Yes—there are a few simple tricks.
- Put the person in open shade if possible: near a building, tree, or anything that blocks direct sun. This avoids squinting and harsh shadows. Watch that the bright background doesn’t overexpose.
- Use nearby surfaces as improvised reflectors. A sunlit white or light-colored wall, pavement, car, sign, bag, or other bright object can bounce light back onto the face. Place your subject close to it and have them look away from the sun.
- Reposition relative to the sun. Often it helps to shoot with the sun to the side or slightly behind the subject rather than straight into their face. You can sometimes hide the sun just behind them or near the edge of the frame.
- Meter for the face if you want facial detail. Spot metering on the face can help; slight underexposure may preserve highlights for later adjustment.
- Or embrace a silhouette. If the background matters more than facial detail, meter for the scenery and let the person go dark.
In short: seek shade first, then use any bright nearby surface as fill, and adjust your angle to the sun.
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