Sunshine – the photographers friend ?

Sunny Day Portrait

I have lost count of the times people have said ‘Great day for photography’  when they see a blue sky and sunshine, I usually acknowledge that it looks like a beautiful day, then maybe say, it would be better if it was cloudy!

Yes, photography needs light, it is the whole essence of what it is about, capturing the energy of light that hits a piece of film or a sensor, but it is about the quality of the light that matters and after that the subject matter.

As most of my work involves photographing people, I have more challenges on Sunny days than most.

Top light that is direct creates harsh shadows, and can create images that are unattractive, especially portraits, unless the light is modified by many means.

The first fundamental issue is having the sun shine on the subject straight into the face, the experience is painful for the subject as the bright light makes  you want to shut your eyes, sunglasses can be worn but that can be a barrier to seeing the expression and the subject’s communication with the camera and therefore the audience.

If you have to photograph someone in hard sunlight, ideally have the sun behind the subject, better still have the subject in the shade.

This causes other issues, but it is usually much better than hard shadows and squinting eyes!

A pure blue sky also has the added issue of ‘colour temperature’ that is the quality of the light is very cool, ie Blue.  Cameras on auto setting such as iPhones, will usually adapt and make the subject neutral, but it is often with luck can you get a great shot.

As the algorithms improve and apps make things work, it is ok, but a  portrait of someone will vastly improve when the subject is comfortable, and not having to squint.

Top tips for photographing in the bright sun.

Get the people under the shade, a light coloured parasol would be fantastic, or the shade of a building, that way they do not have shadows or squint.

If there is no shade, as the location is in the open away from any shelter, get the sun behind them or to the side. This put the faces in shade of their head and hair and although the shot may turn out like they have a halo with overexposed hair, the face shall be ok.

Professionals use flash, portable shade, diffuser and reflectors!

If you have to shoot people in the bright sunlight, there are many ways you can help avoid shadows  that you find hiding the eyes and help subjects  who are squinting with a few tips here.

Fill in Flash

This is when you use a flash of light that fills in the shadows, it can work, but it often looks false however with careful balancing of the lights power, it can look OK, but you need to have the light go through a softening modifier like a soft-box or umbrella. Portable flash speed lights (the ones that fit on your hot shoe can work, but the look is often ‘brash’; it is certainly a look that the Magnum photographer Martin Parr used to great effect.

The method I often employ is with a large reflector, usually on the white side, as the silverside is too harsh. This is positioned at the same height as the subject and used with a larger portable flash put through an Octagon diffuser. The round light source has qualities similar to sunlight, and the catch light (the highlight seen in the subject’s eye) looks natural.

If I am able with a crew to help, I shall use a large diffuser or even a combination of a large reflector that shades the subject and another reflecting the sun back to the subject, but on a white board, the larger the better, as it looks more natural.

I try to make the subject as comfortable as possible but use the lighting to make them look appropriately good, ie not using beauty style lights on a male subject who is serious and needs to look natural.

I shoot video using this technique, often the presenter/ subject has to be in front of a location to explain, context, but the strong daylight is a challenge both aesthetically and just painful for the person who has enough to consider just remembering their lines .

Shade the person, then fill the shadow you have created with a beautiful light that is reflected on a white board or reflector. This is a simple and effective way to get around the harsh sunlight

The reflector has to be from an appropriate angle, sometimes if the light comes from below, the subject looks like a Zombie from a horror movie. It sounds like common sense, but the angle of light has to look appropriate.

That is what a photographer is doing, making an image to communicate, its not about making pretty pictures if you are a serious professional photographer, you are ensuring that the images and video you are creating serve the objective.

Ideally, the images are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but the client or the purpose of producing professional photography is to deliver a service to a client.

In these content saturated times, to stand out with content and be seen, the images have to work, along with the concept behind them.

So as I have to remember, shooting in the sunshine is something that can be great fun but challenging.

One super tip I can give that again is just obvious, but often ignored.

Shoot early or late.

Shoot when the sun is low in the sky and the evening or morning light looks so beautiful.

If you are in control of a production, the time you work is so important, just imagine that you won’t need expensive lighting, assistants and lots of rigs, just a simple shoot in the ‘Golden Hour’ will look like a million dollar production and it is Authentic, the buzz word at the moment.

Reqqe

It is a part of the photography process and certainly that of filming and that is a Reqqe is best practice.

Research a location you are going to photograph, so you can solve issues before they appear, plan angles and understand when and where the best light shall be.

With Google Earth, a lot can be done before a shoot, but in my opinion, after 40 years of doing it, do a reqqe.

When there were budgets, it was an essential part of a shoot: visiting the location, ideally a few days before, even checking out basics like access to the location, where the nearest coffee house is, and, very important, Toilets!

If you have any clients, subjects, or models, ensure the basics are available or know where they are, and set up a room at a local Pub or hotel as a base. If you have a location van or truck, that’s great, but even for a simple corporate shoot , ensure you have prior knowledge of a location.

The Sun is the photographers best friend, but like any relationship, it is important to respect and treat that friend well and it shall look after you.

( Image of Darren Downes at the  Welcombe Hotel – venue for Speare Academy . Shot in direct sunshine, with reflector and fill in High Sync Flash, having the sun behind the subject by choice and using the location that was known so set up was set up so subject could get on set and be back to work in five minutes- a ‘typical’ environmental portrait?)