Exposure question

[BIGEYE]

Trying to take a pic of my daughter on a cold grey day (norm in Scotland). In the far background there is an old building. I shoot for the correct exposure to her face, but the sky is blown. I adjust exposure for more detail in sky, then daughters face is too dark. Is this when I should use a flash, or how do I get the right balance?

 

[Phil V]

You can't expect that to work, your choices are:
Fill flash
Graduated ND filter
Blending exposures / pulling the sky detail in PP.
Living with a blown sky
shooting so that the sky isn't prominent.

 

[BIGEYE]

Yeah, fill flash or changing the position would be the most workable.

 

[ams99]

I would expose for the general scene which means your daughter is underexposed and then simply light her up with flash.

 

[russellsnr]

Hi, have a look at
http://www.sekonic.com/classroom/we...nt-light-for-beautiful-outdoor-portraits.aspx
OR
http://www.sekonic.com/classroom/webinars/location-environmental-portrait-photography.aspx