If you’ve played with lighting before in your photography, you know that time of day is one way to control the temperature of your lighting. There’s something soft and flattering about the later light of the day right before dusk. It’s golden, which is really a great way to capture your subjects.
The middle of the day is typically the worst time of the day to take photos. The light is harsh, creating hard shadows, squinty eyes, and light photos. If your camera is on auto mode, you may not have the control you want under these conditions.
But you can’t always take outdoor photos just at dawn or at dusk. Your child’s soccer game is at 11:00 regardless of the lighting. Or you find that the park is the least crowded around 2:00 and it’s your family’s favorite time to venture out.
If you find the urge to take photos during the harsher hours of the day, try a few of these tips to get the best possible photos:
* Make sure the sun is behind you. I think most people know this one, but it’s still worth repeating. When the sun is behind you, you don’t get silhouettes and dark faces that are unrecognizable. (Although sometimes taking one of these shots can be a fun alternative)
* Play with your exposure. Try taking your photo at several different exposures (lighter and darker), then later you can choose which one is the best for your purposes.
* Try to find some shade. Sometimes this suggestion can save a photo. Not so much if your child’s scoring the winning goal and you’re still in your seat on the sidelines, but when you can control the action. Say you’re trying to take a group shot mid-day. If you can find a shady spot you may find a way to avoid the harsh lighting. Just make sure it’s not spotty shade (which just puts random shadows on your subjects’ faces). But full shade is great.
* Take off any hats. Baseball caps are great for outdoors, but not so great for photos. You’ll especially find the shadows noticeable if your subject is wearing a cap. Have them take the cap off (and shake out the hat hair) to eliminate or minimize the harsh shadows.