9 replies to this topic

[ally]

Last Saturday was a perfect day for being out but not for taking pics on the water.  The glare was really bad.  What can I do to improve pics like this one?  This was taken at a waterfowl refuge where there was a great opportunity for lots of pics but none of them turned out well.

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[thekiwi]

ally:

Last Saturday was a perfect day for being out but not for taking pics on the water.  The glare was really bad.  What can I do to improve pics like this one?  This was taken at a waterfowl refuge where there was a great opportunity for lots of pics but none of them turned out well.

Ally a simple application of shadows/highlights filter in photoshop will correct that to look like this. A few weeks ago I wrote a thread called exposure zones if you read that it will help you understand and to make exposure settings based on conditions. When I wrote is some turkey said We don't want to know about exposure zones when we see a bird we just want to take a photo well he is so very wrong and he knows who he is!! please read it if you don't understand it I will try to explain it better for you you will find it here  http://www.whatbird....read/81624.aspx .

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[ally]

Thanks Kiwi, I figured you would have a suggestion.  This was such a good chance for pics but the glare was soooo bad.  I couldn't even make out much thru my binocs.  I'll check out your thread.

[thekiwi]

ally:

Thanks Kiwi, I figured you would have a suggestion.  This was such a good chance for pics but the glare was soooo bad.  I couldn't even make out much thru my binocs.  I'll check out your thread.

 Ally have you heard about the golden hour ? if you have and know what it is try to get out and your photos then. If you don't know what it is it the the hour of just before sunrise and sunrise and then the hour of sunset and just after  mind you we can't always get out and about to get our photos at those times but do try to avoid mid day when the sun is over head that does produce some really harsh lighting

[randimal]

I'm not much of a camera person yet, but I have had polarized sunglasses, and they are great for glare off water.  Is there any simple kind of polarized filter to use?

[thekiwi]

randimal:

I'm not much of a camera person yet, but I have had polarized sunglasses, and they are great for glare off water.  Is there any simple kind of polarized filter to use?

yes there polarizing filters that you can buy you have to get one that will fit the tread on the end of your lens  ie 52mm  68mm 72mm etc.

if your lens rotates as it focuses you have to remember this !!! when you use a polarizing lens it isn't as simple as putting on a pair of sunglasses you have to rotate the filter (not note the lens) in order to line up the correct polarizing effect so you may line it up correct then the lens refocuses and rotates a little you will have to readjust the filter again. They range in price from cheap (nasty) to very expensive again it is a case of you get is the quality that you get.I brought 2 set's (different filter thread sizes) the sets consisted of polarizing,UV and one for florescent lighting conditions but I got mine direct from Japan it was cheaper to get from the makers.

[lyceel]

I'm a big fan of the golden hour (the later one, not the morning)!

If you do decide to get a polarizer, don't go cheap!  You'll more than likely find that your camera won't focus properly with it on.  The best one to get is known as a "Super Multi-coated" filter.  I recently bought some UV filters from Hoya and have been pretty happy with them.  Hoya tends to be in the middle of the price ranges.  Their polarizers go for about $80, if I remember correctly.

I recommend reading up on the use of polarizers, too.  There are a lot of subtleties to using them well.

[luv2bird]

I've bought two Promaster brands that come double threaded so I cn also extend another filter if needed. I bought them from a local camera repair shop I frequent. He sells them for between $30 to $75. I bought a Promaster UV filter from Ritz for $45.

[Rarepony]

I have a "Tiffen" polarized lens for my camera. Works GREAT for glare. Runs about $30 to $40.

[birdseye]

KIWI says:"Ally have you heard about the golden hour ? if you have and know what it is try to get out and your photos then. If you don't know what it is it the the hour of just before sunrise and sunrise and then the hour of sunset and just after  mind you we can't always get out and about to get our photos at those times but do try to avoid mid day when the sun is over head that does produce some really harsh lighting"

the golden hour  is prefered for the color of the light.. the adds warmth to the skin tones, and boosts the red and contrasts in the photo.( this was devised,  preached and practiced by all of ansel adams crew.) .however, if you are in a wooded area, the available light is filtered too much by the amount of brush and branches it passes through horizontally.. the shadows are too dense.  2 -4 pm ,I think ,is a much better time for bird shooting in the woods.as the the sun is above and to the side,, casting shorter shadows.. try it..you might find another favorite time to shoot birds., like long lunch hours??  .