Tips for taking pictures in direct sunlight

How to work with strong direct light in digital photography is our focal point in this write up and we have a few tips for taking pictures in direct sunlight. Some professional photographers are of the opinion that avoiding set times of the day contributes to achieving the best natural lighting condition.  It is key that professional photographers are versatile and vast in knowledge of the best practice in all conditions, including midday sunlight. Even wedding photography in harsh sunlight could be tricky sometimes.

Tips for taking pictures in direct sunlight 1

When the sun is directly high, peering through your viewfinder, you will see bright light and deep shadows. How do you handle this? Follow the tips given below:

  • Try back lighting

For effective execution of the back lighting technique, you position the subject between yourself and the sun especially during outdoor wedding photography in harsh sunlight or when taking group photos in direct sunlight. Set your exposure to suit your subject, then take note of the exquisite, bright outline the sun creates at the backside.

Tips for taking pictures in direct sunlight 2

  • Make use of a reflector

Another alternative, which depends on what kind of tools you have, is to  make use of a white or neutral gray colored reflector.  This is to help light up your subject with a soft diffused light when shooting photos in harsh sunlight. When using this technique, for best results, position your subject in  such a way to be primarily lit by the diffused light in your control and not by that natural direct light. This can also be very helpful when taking group photos in direct sunlight.

  • Make use of a fill- in flash

You can also attempt using your camera’s flash directly on your subject in a bid to reduce contrast and create a desirable balance of tones when shooting photos in harsh sunlight. Moreover, when using these tips for taking pictures in direct sunlight, put into consideration that this leaves you susceptible to a kind of flat and two-dimensional look.  In order to avoid this, ensure that the flash you are making use of is only powerful enough to fill in the details in shady areas within your composition.

If you make use of these tips for taking pictures in direct sunlight, your photography skills will make you extra satisfied.

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