How should I handle big exposure changes from passing clouds in a daytime timelapse?
Asked 5/13/2013
0 views
2 answers
0
I’m new to timelapse but experienced in still photography. In a short daytime test, passing clouds caused the scene to swing by roughly two stops between full sun and shade. If I expose for the sunny moments, the cloudy portions look too dark; if I split the difference, neither looks great. I know fully manual exposure is often recommended to avoid flicker, but how do you deal with fast, alternating light changes like this, as opposed to a gradual day-to-night transition? Is it better to keep exposure fixed and correct in post from RAW files, or to adjust exposure during capture, and if so which setting is the safest to change?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
2
The simple answer is change the exposure based on metering if consistent exposure is what you want to accomplish. Most likely, changing the shutter time would be the best bet, though if there was any motion effects in the time lapse (such as running water) then the change in shutter speed might throw it off some. ISO is likely to cause issues with varying noise levels. If things are out past infinity focus, then adjusting the aperture may have the least impact on the sequence.
Otherwise, if you want to keep exposure fixed, then doing what you did with shooting RAW and then adjusting the exposure in post is the best you are going to be able to get as far as I can figure.
Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11392
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
You have two practical options:
-
Adjust exposure during capture if your goal is a more consistent-looking sequence as clouds pass. Based on the answers, shutter speed is usually the best setting to change. Avoid changing ISO if possible, since varying ISO can cause noise differences between frames. If focus is effectively at or beyond infinity, aperture changes may have the least visible impact on the sequence, though aperture changes can also affect rendering.
-
Keep exposure fixed and correct in post if you want to avoid flicker from camera setting changes. In that case, shoot RAW and batch-adjust groups of brighter and darker frames, as you already started doing. That’s the best approach when staying fully manual.
So the tradeoff is simple: automatic/manual exposure changes can smooth brightness shifts but may introduce visual inconsistencies; fixed exposure avoids that but requires post-processing and won’t perfectly handle rapid sun/cloud swings.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI13y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can artificial studio lighting match daylight for digitizing photos and documents?
How do I fix a graduated ND filter color cast and exposure mismatch in post?
What is the striped color pattern on repeating textures in photos, and can software remove it?
How can I photograph a pendulum with a blurred motion path and sharp detail at both extremes?
How do I get smooth exposure changes in a sunrise/sunset timelapse on a Canon 200D?