I'd meter for the subject 1st, then if sky still too strong and got time, i'd bracket on a tripod, else, use RAW in times like these, then easier to pull back the highlights.

at least that's how i shot this anyway



normally, i'd use soft light, it blends better than overlay. overlay a bit too strong for my taste

meaning, left side of the graph is shadows, right side is highlights, the entire range of the graph is what your camera can capture, anything outside of it is clipped (which shows as 0,0,0 for total black, or 256, 256, 256 for total white) which in this case, there is no data recorded, no matter how good your post processing skills are, will not be able to retrieve anything.

so always keep the graph well within the middle of range. (different if you are looking for high-key / low-key shots) it is also worth reading about "exposing to the right" on google.

taking your shot as example, the graph is bunched up to the left, which is where the shadows are, which show in your image as the black area of leaves and branches. little or no details will be found there.

the 3rd quarter of the graph is not clipped = the sky in your image. there are plenty of image data there.

i always use this function when im shooting under the bright sun when i cant judge the image's luminosity on the LCD screen. the histogram will tell me all i need to know whether my image is properly exposed or not.

O_O wahhhhh 3rd pic

i wouldnt say that more highlight = more details, just as long as the data falls within the range, then all details will be there. to "expose right" is because noise tend to linger more in the shadows, taking 2 images of the same subject which all data is properly recorded within the dynamic range for example, one is dark, another is bright, to brighten up a dark picture will introduce more noise than to darken a bright picture. that's the logic behind it.

and yes, shooting in RAW will retain more details, but by paying the price of post processing time and a larger file size. by shooting in RAW, the dynamic range effectively broadens up by 1-2 stops on each end.

teybeng, great capture! nice smoke trails

defuser: mind if i share some of my thoughts?

1st pic is a bit overdone on the clouds.. i believe you're using photomatix?

2nd pic looks the best among the 3, i love the cobblestone texture in it, very natural. i personally prefer more natural looking HDR images than that of those like they came out from a surreal comic book. this pic would look better if those branches isnt sticking out from the top of the pic. if it frames the image, then its a different story, but it isnt in this case.

3rd pic really doesnt cut it. its tilted and the PP has given it a nasty halo around the edges, plus, all textures on the masonry are all 'smudged'.

This post has been edited by lwliam: Apr 6 2010, 10:48 PM

swt... but seriously? you bring that toy out wherever you go and take pics of it? i have no words to describe...

holy cr@p~!!! does that thing sit on the shoulder and talk to him while slicing off enemy's head when threatening danger is near? guest18, dun marah ya, just kidding. u can do whatever you want to your toy as long you're happy. FYI, i take my Pepper Pots wherever i go too...

maybe... just maybe, if you leave the toy at home, you might get a real life girl friend soon enough. my 2 cents

This post has been edited by lwliam: Apr 14 2010, 06:50 PM

respect you for that

those were the times...

military style yo!

NICE... awesome work.. makes a great wall art.

kelvin... SEXAYYYY

Camera Model - Sony Alpha A700
Lens - Sigma 24-70 @ 60mm
Exposure - 1/25 s, f/2.8 @ 1600 ISO



Camera Model - Sony Alpha A700
Lens - Sigma 24-70 @ 50mm
Exposure - 1/8 s, f/3.2 @ 800 ISO

nice green eyes

so there IS a fire clan~!!!



This post has been edited by lwliam: Apr 28 2010, 10:21 PM

wow super fat lens... ROFL.. how wide is wide?

Those who frequent model events and PC fair should be able to recognize these girls

Camera: Sony DSLR-A700
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 1250
Lens: Sigma 24-70 f/2.8



Camera: Sony DSLR-A700
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 24 mm
ISO Speed: 1000
Lens: Sigma 24-70 f/2.8



Camera: Sony DSLR-A700
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 60 mm
ISO Speed: 1250
Lens: Sigma 24-70 f/2.8

tak caya... not coz the eye, but the cross processing