Help with metering and sunset pics

themask70

themask70

themask70

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18 Feb 2006
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Saffron Walden, Essex
Hi all, i have been recently trying to take some pictures of my local sunsets (as i live in the middle of nowhere) but i can never seem to capture them. I always seem to be able to either adjust the exposure for the ground or for the actual sun!! I would love it if anyone could tell me how i could get it so it captures both the ground and the sun?? I had heard about something called 'metering modes' and wondered if that has any thing to do with it?

i hope you can help.

i have a Canon EOS 350D camera with the 18-55mm f:3.5-36 kit lens on it.

cheers,

David.
 
The camera does not have the dynamic range to capture detail on the ground and the bright sky in one shot.
You can combine the two shots together to create what you need.
 
thanks, but the problem i have is that i am taking them over long empty planes of land so there isnt relly much of a foreground, maybe a few trees, so i get the whole sun in!

i might try combinding two of the shots, thats sounds ok. i just thought that i would be able to do it with my camera because i got some *** ones in the same place with my old Canon 3.1 MegaPixels (not an SLR).

thanks,

david.
 
The boards don't like txtmsg-speak!

If you are going to combine two images, you will find it a lot easier if you use a tripod/nearby natural support.
 
right with the 350d you have a few options:

1) the first is to try to average the required exposures needed to get an 'average' for both the sky and the foreground ground. the risk with any averaging is that you are creating a compromise between accurate expose of the sky and the ground - ie neither will be perfect.

Ideally to do so you really need spot metering. but a cheap mans alternative, whci isnt as accurate but does work ok is to do the following:
a) set the camera to 'Av' or aperature priority mode.
b) dial in the aperature you want, somethink like F7 > F11 for a typical landscape works well. say in this example we choose F11
c) fully zoom out the lens, and point up at the sky. take a note of the recceomended shutter that the camera suggests in the viewfinder. say in this case it reccomends 1/500
d) now repeat step c but point at the ground. it gives you say 1/160.
e) take an mid point of the two, say 1/320 (not sure what the steps are on the 350D) and set over to Manual mode (M). dial in F11 and 1/320.
f) compose and take the shot


2) the second option is exposure bracketing. Best bet is to read the manual. what this does is fires off 3 shots on eafter another (so use a tripod). each shot is bracketed so based on the average metering value that the camera recceomend you will get an -0.3, 0 and +0.3 exposure value. so say you were in Av, set F11 it may take 3 shots. one at 1/60 one at 1/160 and one at 1/320 or similar.
you then need to combine the 3 images using a HDR (high dynamic range) technique or image merge in photoshop this will give you a single shot with a large range of shadows to highlights.

best thing to do is have a play, use the histogram (very important). Another thing you may like to try is using a spot of fill flash for the foreground to average the scene more effectively...it all depends on the shot.

let us know how you get on and good luck!
 
morgan said:
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Click to expand...

I haven't been takiing pictures for that long and metering has been one of the things that lets me down.

Your explanation above is brilliant - I will have a play! :)

Do you know of any websites or books even that give good tips and techniques for metering?
 
no problem.

I was also confused about what it is exactly when I first started. If you think of it as the way that the camera predicts how much light it will let into the scene. There are many modes, matrix, centre weighted average, spot etc but they all are attempting to get one thing right...correct exposure.

My advice would be to have a play with Av mode, take note of the shutter speeds the camera recommends and after a while you will get familiar with the gear.

The next step after that is to start to get more familiar with the shiutter speeds - especially useful/more common speeds (if there is such a thing!) such as 1/30, 1/60, 1/125 etc. You will know what shutterspeeds do to a scene and at what speeds you can hand-hold etc.

As for books, I would say your best bet is to go to a library or boot fair and find a cheap old book that goes through the basic elements of photgraphy. I think the book I learnt most from costed me 20p and was printed in the early 80's. After all the physics and theories of photography have remained mostly unchanged for decades - we just have more toys to play with now!
 
David,

I don't know if you have seen this before, I found it a good help at the start. Recommended reading for any 350d novice and I include myself in that bracket. There is not much about landscape but I'd saftely say you will learn something....

Go here....

http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/


on the lower left hand side select "EOS Digitial Rebel"

Then select

"EOS Digitial Rebel XT Tutorials"

Then

"Click here to learn more"

You should now have a choice of lessons with Rick Sammon. All excellent stuff !! Lesson 3 is Exposure metering

Kieran
 
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Awesome said:
David,

I don't know if you have seen this before, I found it a good help at the start. Recommended reading for any 350d novice and I include myself in that bracket. There is not much about landscape but I'd saftely say you will learn something....

Go here....

http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/


on the lower left hand side select "EOS Digitial Rebel"

Then select

"EOS Digitial Rebel XT Tutorials"

Then

"Click here to learn more"

You should now have a choice of lessons with Rick Sammon. All excellent stuff !! Lesson 3 is Exposure metering

Kieran
Click to expand...

that website is great, thanks.
 
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