Shooting and PP for sunset/sun landscapes

mtracerz

mtracerz

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Rikki
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Ok,
Does anyone have any useful links or advice when it comes to shooting bright orangy sunsets with a landscape.

Both for shooting them, and then taking them into photoshop.

Im aware it is better to take 2 shots, an exposure for both the sun and the land below. So a tutorial for combining these in photoshop would be good.

However, what if I dont have a tripod handy, how could I achieve a result (with out an ND grad filter preferably)

Il post an example of the kind of shots iv been trying to take.
This is without any PP also, so is very dark.

sunsetatdeercenter.jpg
 
Hi Rikki

Firstly, getting the sun in frame makes it a bit challenging at best and if you don't want to loose detail then you will need to make multiple exposures. Quite tricky without a tripod, but possible.

Your camera has an auto exposure bracketing function - in most cases this will fire off three frames in quick sucession but with a different exposure for each. Use this in conjunction with some form of support (beanbag + fencepost works well...)

If you cannot do this shoot in raw, then process multiple raw files form the same shot just with exposure compensation dialed in on each raw - these can then be combined in photoshop. You don't retain as much detail as shooting three seperate frames but it does work.

Hope this helps, happy to expand if needed.
 
nice one ramyad, thats the sort of thing I needed too.
 
I found this tutorial excellent form David Clapp excellent. Clicky

It made me delay my decision in buying ND Grads until I feel I need them.
 
Cheers Simon,
that tutorial looks really good.
Like yourself dont want to be buying filters just yet, priorities lie elsewhere just now.
Thats just the kind of info im after!
 
tbh I think that exposure is pretty good, the scene is blurred though which is what kills the photo

I also would have lost the irritating twig and wall (I think) in the foreground
 
Thanks for the David Clapp tutorial link Simon. Found it very easy to follow and learnt some more keyboard shortcuts too
:)
 
I really like David Clapp's whole approach to his work. His website is really good, non-cluttered really lovely images of landscapes, seascapes and architecture made me sit up and take notice.

Some of his shots were featured in a low light article in Practical Photography recently (Dec or Jan i think) and l was blown away by his night time long exposure shots that look like they have been taken during the day (sort of).

The example he gives comparing the use of ND grads and his exposure blending method was enough for me to hold off buying grads.

Marcin Bera is also worth checking out Clicky... Amazing landscape stuff if that is your thing.
 
Thanks for that Simon, top man

So mtracerz have you had a go with your photo?
 
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