Shooting a sunset

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a lex

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Alex
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Right then, as no doubt a lot of people will be im going to go and attempt to get a few sunset pictures later on in the hope this volcanic mess makes for a decent picture!

However, ive never bothered with a sunset before... anyone got any pointers with regards to camera settings? I know im going to need to use the tripod but what else? What sort of ISO, aperture etc should I be looking at?

Unfortunately my ND set I ordered last night has not arrived so I wont have any filters to use.

Thanks!
 
a lex said:
Right then, as no doubt a lot of people will be im going to go and attempt to get a few sunset pictures later on in the hope this volcanic mess makes for a decent picture!

However, ive never bothered with a sunset before... anyone got any pointers with regards to camera settings? I know im going to need to use the tripod but what else? What sort of ISO, aperture etc should I be looking at?

Unfortunately my ND set I ordered last night has not arrived so I wont have any filters to use.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I'm just going to experiment with as low a ISO as I can get away with! :help::nuts::bonk:
 
The thing with sunsets is the light changes really quickly so that perfect shot situation may only last for 30 seconds, so you need to be set up to work fast.
 
if you haven't got any filters you could maybe try turning up the saturation in your settings ;)

i got a good one last weekend handholding at ISO200 using P mode
i just took loads of pics during the changing light trying different zoom lengths & framing etc & picked a winner once i got home :thumbs:
shoulda worked a bit harder for it but i was swapping between 2 cameras at the time & was a bit rushed :bonk:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=219692
 
Aperture priority, with a small aperture like like f18 and ISO 200 or works for me. I took this last night whilst chasing the sunset and trying to find a decent spot. The sunset is really quick so it helps to be prepared and be in a good location.
 
Use a long lens, aperture priority, no filters, bracket under, start around -1.5
and keep adjusting down until you get a rich colour in the sky and the sun
doesnt flare out.

it does work

3451516803_1753d91566_o.jpg
 
So what focal lengths should we all be looking at Rob? I would have thought a wider lens would do it more justice? I can go anywhere between 18mm and 400mm so I should have most eventualities covered :lol:
 
hi and sorry if I'm hijacking your thread:)

This is a sunset I took the other night, as its the first one I've tried some comments would be good.
firstsunset.jpg


thanks Ben.
 
That was with a 70-300mm, using a wide angle for me doesnt work
because the sun just ends up a dot, although you may get a really
spectacular sky.

I just like zooming in on the sun and getting the clouds in front
of it and rich colours. But that what i like in sunset pics
 
Rob_W said:
Use a long lens, aperture priority, no filters, bracket under, start around -1.5
and keep adjusting down until you get a rich colour in the sky and the sun
doesnt flare out.

it does work

3451516803_1753d91566_o.jpg
Click to expand...

Wow Rob that pic just blows me away. Did you do much editing?
 
Rob_W said:
Use a long lens, aperture priority, no filters, bracket under, start around -1.5
and keep adjusting down until you get a rich colour in the sky and the sun
doesnt flare out.

it does work

3451516803_1753d91566_o.jpg
Click to expand...

How did you take that without frazzling your eyes?
 
I usually use T or A and meter off a brighter part of the sky. This usually fools the meter in to under exposing which prevents a blown out sky and good colours.
 
Warming up the WB a little helps too (although shoot RAW and you can do this afterwards anyway).
 
bopins said:
hi and sorry if I'm hijacking your thread:)

This is a sunset I took the other night, as its the first one I've tried some comments would be good.
firstsunset.jpg


thanks Ben.
Click to expand...

Well, have a google for 'rule of thirds' and also, last time I looked, the sea horizon was horizontal :)

Probably, for your shot I'd have zoomed in to get the composition right and also it looks as though you're 10 minutes too late.
 
kimaldis said:
rules are made to be broken. :-) A better rule is, 'make it look right'. I think it looks fine.
Click to expand...

t'is true, t'is true, but in this case observing it would have cut out the boring stuff at the top and bottom of the pic.

With respect to the rule of thirds I find that 95% of the time it is wise to observe, the other 5% it is obvious why it hasn't :)
 
No filters. Do you have Ps or an editing program that allows layers? i shoot sunsets at iso100, in aperture priority usually at f9.

If you have no filters you can try shooting 3 exposures using autobracketing (-2ev, 0ev, +2ev). This way you have 2 options. One is you can create an HDR with the 3 bracketed shots or you can layer the 0ev (sky) over the +2 (foreground) and use a layer mask to reveal either.

This was my last sunset shot, it is an HDR, not everyones cuppa tea but a good alternative if you have no filters yet...

​
4517908309_730701c935.jpg


Hope this helps.

Scott
 
Try a different view point - shooting from ground level can be effective. Both wide angle and telephoto have their places. Unless your camera has a really good "sunset" setting, don't use it. Tried the setting on my FZ28 - absolutely awful.

Lets hope the Iceland volcano gives us some good sunsets.

As you have a tripod, try bracketing exposures and have go at some HDR

Dave
 
I set to manual and take lots of differant exposures then choose the ones I think will work for what Im after then manualy blend 3 or 4 exposures in layers in PS. I set the app to F8, I think my 10-20 sigma seems to be at its best at this setting.

I have tried grad filters but I just cant get the same affect as blending exposures.

Im a big fan of HDR but haven't got decent suset or surise as yet.

These are sunrises but same method applys but I use an ND110 filter to blur the water....

Paignton UK, Easter Sunday.
4494010047_1f6fee70a7.jpg


Hurgharda, Egypt.
3858525223_cdae4b44e6.jpg
 
Nawty said:
t'is true, t'is true, but in this case observing it would have cut out the boring stuff at the top and bottom of the pic.
Click to expand...

In which case you'd be doing it in order to get the best shot. Once again, frame for the best shot, not because someone once wrote something down telling you to do it a particular way. if you follow the rules all you get to know is the rules. If you try stuff out, you get to find out what works. Be your own (wo)man.

:-)
 
Using a tripod, I'll either shoot in Ap or M. Keep the ISO low at around 100 or 200. I use LiveView to sort the focus out so the silhouettes remain sharp. Shoot RAW so you can worry about WB and contrast later.

Here are a couple of examples:

4524259154_830a1f9601.jpg


4524252276_1ed3485062.jpg


4412583336_1518f835ab.jpg


3532173156_c76951b5b0.jpg


3532176648_4b431e06b5.jpg
 
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