blown sky in portrait shots

[lexie]

what's the general consensus with regards to blown highlights in the sky when shooting portraits?

i was taking a few shots of my cousin and her daughter a couple of days ago beside a window with bright sunlight providing backlighting. using spot metering i took a reading from my cousins face which gave an accurate enough exposure but in turn resulted in the sky becoming completely blown.

are blown skies accepted as par for the course when using sunlight to provide backlighting whilst indoors? or would the use of a reflector or fill-flash be a more effective technique to use?

at the time these were off the cuff, unstaged shots so all im was using was a 50mm 1.8 and my new(to me) 30d. most of the shots being around the f/2.8 mark if it makes any difference.

i'll upload a pic when i get onto my other laptop tomorrow hopefully

 

[lensflair]

what's the general consensus with regards to blown highlights in the sky when shooting portraits?

i was taking a few shots of my cousin and her daughter a couple of days ago beside a window with bright sunlight providing backlighting. using spot metering i took a reading from my cousins face which gave an accurate enough exposure but in turn resulted in the sky becoming completely blown.

are blown skies accepted as par for the course when using sunlight to provide backlighting whilst indoors? or would the use of a reflector or fill-flash be a more effective technique to use?

at the time these were off the cuff, unstaged shots so all im was using was a 50mm 1.8 and my new(to me) 30d. most of the shots being around the f/2.8 mark if it makes any difference.

i'll upload a pic when i get onto my other laptop tomorrow hopefully

It's up to you. I wouldn't blow the sky in a landscape shot usually, but for people photography I sometimes do. I could use fill flash or a reflector to avoid it but sometimes its the look I'm going for. Some people will try and say I don't know what I'm doing if I blow parts of the image, but I know exactly what I'm doing and its done intentionally. Shooting someone against window light and metering for the face creates wrap around light that has a kind of glow to it. Useful for bridal shots etc.

It's up to you, do what you like and if that includes blowing partaking of the image so be it.

 

[TCR4x4]

If its good enough for them, its good enough for me!

The subject is the people, so if the background has to blow to get them exposed correctly, then so be it.

Photograph by Mario Testino... Not me, obviously.

 

[Adam_K]

If its good enough for them, its good enough for me!

The subject is the people, so if the background has to blow to get them exposed correctly, then so be it.

+1

 

[unclened]

I agree with the advice given here. But also I would advise against getting stuck in a mindset that forces you to always 'properly' expose the persons face. Sometimes a less blown sky but a darker exposure on the persons face adds to the drama of the image. In my eyes the holy grail isn't to have the persons face exposed at the equivalent of a grey card being 18%. Blow highlight, go darken shadows... its all good!

 

[dubcat]

I agree with the above unless there is something interesting in the background in which case I use fill flash and balance the flash with ambient light. Of course I am a noob so this advice may be wholly incorrect.

 

[lexie]

thanks for the input guys

 

[awp]

I agree with the advice but I would avoid illustrating it with someone else's copyright picture!