Dark scenery ..

[Peisqo]

hey guys .. i juz wanna know how do i take this type of scenery photo ? It's really hard ... like the sky is too bright and the bottom part is too dark .. any accesories i need? ND filter ? =/ I juz can't get this right with my nude D40 + kitlens ...

I post here to get advice on both while taking the photo and also PS tricks to fix ... thanks sifus !

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5070/dsc0610ra1.jpg

[ShaolinTiger]

Bro....last time you use HDR when you don't need it and get flat photo, now you have perfect opportunity and you don't use HDR!

Or tell me...you did a HDR version too?

This is the kind of situation I was talking about that is IDEAL for HDR because the camera can't possible expose correctly for both the foreground and the background. The latitude of the dynamic range is too great.

You can solve the problem with a ND grad in some situations, a 2-3 stop ND grad should do the trick in this situation.

Or if you are shooting RAW, develop 2 versions, one for the top (highlights) and one for the bottom (shadows) then use a gradient mask to overlay the correct part of each.

But seriously, perfect situation for HDR.

[knytan]

hey guys .. i juz wanna know how do i take this type of scenery photo ? It's really hard ... like the sky is too bright and the bottom part is too dark .. any accesories i need? ND filter ? =/ I juz can't get this right with my nude D40 + kitlens ...

I post here to get advice on both while taking the photo and also PS tricks to fix ... thanks sifus !

Hi Peisqo,

Yes an ND filter might help or you can try with a cir-pol filter as well. For PS I think masking both the sky and foreground and then using a combination of multiply and screen layers might do the trick. However sometimes it can look rather odd if not done properly. :P

[bcteh]

I thought this is more to metering problem ..

If I'm not wrong, single-dot metering the dark area, lock it up, and then move point your desire location.

[Peisqo]

Bro....last time you use HDR when you don't need it and get flat photo, now you have perfect opportunity and you don't use HDR!

Or tell me...you did a HDR version too?

This is the kind of situation I was talking about that is IDEAL for HDR because the camera can't possible expose correctly for both the foreground and the background. The latitude of the dynamic range is too great.

You can solve the problem with a ND grad in some situations, a 2-3 stop ND grad should do the trick in this situation.

Or if you are shooting RAW, develop 2 versions, one for the top (highlights) and one for the bottom (shadows) then use a gradient mask to overlay the correct part of each.

But seriously, perfect situation for HDR.

How dumb was i omgggggg ... but i didn't hav a tripod at tat time too =/ anyways yea i was dumb .. dang ...

Hi Peisqo,

Yes an ND filter might help or you can try with a cir-pol filter as well. For PS I think masking both the sky and foreground and then using a combination of multiply and screen layers might do the trick. However sometimes it can look rather odd if not done properly. :P

Yea probably ND filter =/

I thought this is more to metering problem ..

If I'm not wrong, single-dot metering the dark area, lock it up, and then move point your desire location.

Is metering the same as focusing ? I actually tried focusing the moutnains .. then recompose ... the sky looks fugly =.=" like super ultra overexposed

[Peisqo]

like this

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/1192/dsc0611iw8.jpg

[ShaolinTiger]

I thought this is more to metering problem ..

If I'm not wrong, single-dot metering the dark area, lock it up, and then move point your desire location.

If you do that the sky will be horribly overexposed, this is a problem with too much dynamic range.

How dumb was i omgggggg ... but i didn't hav a tripod at tat time too =/ anyways yea i was dumb .. dang ...

Haha, it's not dumb man, it's just experience. We all have a lot to learn!

Metering won't help, and a ND filter or CPL won't help, you specifically need a ND grad (Neutral Density - Graduated).

[Crazymalaysian]

No dont get an ND filter, it will just make the whole scene darker.

Get a graduated ND filter, ie an ND grad, not a normal ND filter. Those have a gradient, gradually allowing less and less light at the bottom (or at the top depending on how it's oriented).

In this case you'd flip it so the darker side is at the top, so less light from the top half of the frame would reach the sensor.

Edit - ST already posted lol.

[qqmeng]

like tht can ka?

my 1 minute work :D

4333

[bcteh]

[QUOTE=qqmeng;24470]like tht can ka?

my 1 minute work :D

QUOTE]

1 minute ....not so bad ,,,quick result :D

[Peisqo]

If you do that the sky will be horribly overexposed, this is a problem with too much dynamic range.



Haha, it's not dumb man, it's just experience. We all have a lot to learn!

Metering won't help, and a ND filter or CPL won't help, you specifically need a ND grad (Neutral Density - Graduated).

ND is pure grey ar ? I was trying to mean that gradual ND haha .. didn't know it has another name ... coz i went on outing with my photography club members ma .. 1 of the dude got the gradual ND thing .. should have pinjam and use haha .. but i new there .. very shy dun dare to talk to anyone haha