Blown Out Sky

[Photosail]

I am looking for an answer to this question.

Over the past week I have been working on project to capture the leaves falling off the trees and their changing colours. The only thing is my sky I very blown out. It does not matter if its sunny or cloudy. Since I am doing this late in the day a Polarizer, will make things difficult in the post production.

The settings I am using are

F8
ISO 200
18MM Lens
Neutral Density Filter

 

[Horoscope Fish]

This is going to be a very difficult balancing act: getting the subject's exposure correct with, what I am assuming, is very strong back-lighting. You could try using fill flash, metering off the sky and bracketing.

If you shoot JPG you could also try using the Active D-Lighting feature, but I find ADL introduces a lot of a noise that I don't care for, particularly in the shadows. Still, this is the sort of situation ADL was designed to handle, so it might be worth experimenting with.

I'd suggest you bracket your shots regardless, actually; and then be prepared to to tweak things in 'post.

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[Photosail]

Thanks I will try it as an experiment. See what I get. I have also underexposed by two stops. If I raise to F11 or higher would that help?

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Thanks I will try it as an experiment. See what I get. I have also underexposed by two stops. If I raise to F11 or higher would that help?

Exposure is the result of the combination of the Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO used to take the shot; adjusting any one leg of that triangle will alter exposure assuming all other factors remain unchanged. So, closing down your f-stop one full stop, from say f/8 to f/11, will cut the amount of light reaching your sensor by one half, assuming ISO and shutter speed remain the same.

Your issue is not exposure, per se, it's the extreme contrast between your background (sky) and your subject in the foreground (leaves). You camera can't compensate for this stark difference like the human eye can, so we have to take what steps we can to mitigate the difference. The best solution would be to apply MORE light to your subject, either with a fill-flash or a reflector. Barring that, bracket several shots, try using ADL and be prepared to tweak in post. As I see it, those are your options.

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[John P]

Expose for the sky. Bring up the shadows in post.

 

[Marcel]

You should try the e exposure bracketing functions of the D90, high speed continuous mode and expose 3 different shots. Then I post processing you can blend the parts you want or, a simpler use of Photomatix will get you what you'r after.

Just make sure you are using "matrix" metering since sometimes spot gets you in trouble for landscape pics. Don't ask me how I know since I recently inadvertently switched my metering mode to spot and was getting weird exposure readings.

 

[bechdan]

neutral density graduated filter is very handy something like Nd4 also called 2 stop or 0.6

 

[Horoscope Fish]

neutral density graduated filter is very handy something like Nd4 also called 2 stop or 0.6

A neutral density filter will simply slow the exposure by reducing the intensity of light reaching the sensor; and this situation isn't about exposure, its about dynamic range.

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[bechdan]

Id agree for a solid ND but a Graduated one will allow you to reduce the amount of light entering part of the sensor but not the rest - so if rotated correctly it can mask the brightest part of the sky. Its not perfect but it does help

 

[FastGlass]

I would do the bracketing approach. Using a ND filter may work on some situations but likely you'll find the separation between sky and treetops will not be a nice straight line.
Plus some of the sky will be poking through the trees.

 

[Photosail]

Thanks for your help
This is an on going problem I have noticed with some of my other pictures. This is why photography is such fun. Trying to figure it out what works. Right now need a sunny day to try and get less blow out in the sky. I did some experimenting this morning and starting to like the results.

 

[Photosail]

I would also like to thank all of you for your suggestions I am going back to the camera and will work and experiment.

The great thing about digital is I can see the changes instantly of what worked and what didn't. It also does not cost anything to experiment.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

HDR is the answer.

 

[ozimac]

The comments you are getting back will help but for total control and a better looking leaf why not shoot the leaf separately and superimpose it on a shot of the sky?

 

[Photosail]

That would be a good idea,
In this case I am taking an over all scene and not being specific. It would be very difficult in this case.
See attached photo.
Thanks for the suggestion

 

[Scott Murray]

The time of day will also impact on your light, try to get the photo in the golden hours and when light is most even. You may need to use a tripod but it will help with correct exposure of the scene.

 

[Photosail]

Thanks I am using a tripod, the hour is due to work conditions, It will become more interesting in time as the sun goes down earlier.