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Creative Independence by Nattu

Read “How to Take Great Photos at High Noon - Part One“, just in case you missed it.

When I first started writing about taking photos at noon, I didn’t realize I would discover enough tips for two posts. When I started thinking about different ways to approach the harsh lighting conditions, the list just took off!

I was happy to see some readers post ideas that I hadn’t thought of, too. I may have to put together a part three comprised solely of reader suggestions.

Here are four more tips to put into use when you’re out taking photos in bright sunlight:

“I See a Little Silhouetto of a Man”

Embrace the rays of our mother sun! You can create light halos by getting down low and placing the sun directly behind a model’s head. Choose a subject with sharp, distinctive outline and expose for the sky behind them.

Try to avoid having your model wear baggy clothing, unless you are taking a photo of the Blob. Having your non-Blob wear a more form-fitting outfit will give them a more distinctive silhouette and add impact to the photo.

Filtration Systems

Get creative with your filters and use the light of high noon to achieve interesting effects. Polarizing filters will help give your photo a higher contrast and deeper blue in the skies. That’s not exactly revolutionary, I know, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

Try stacking two neutral density filters together to make long exposures at noon or use a graduated ND filter. Either can help reduce the harshness of he light at that time of day.

Clever Header about Reflected Light

Ran out of ideas on that one, but the point stands. Try to find a location with lots of reflective surfaces, ensuring that your subject has light coverage from different directions. Look for an intersections surrounded by glass skyscrapers. There’s a Flickr group for this style of photography run by the author of Unphotographable called No Flash Corner(s).

The Scarlet Speedster Saves the Day!

If you can’t make the sun darker, you can still make it appear darker by using your flash. Film or digital sensors perceive a much narrower range of light than our eyes do. This means that it doesn’t matter if it’s too bright, as long as everything is brightened to stay in the same tonal range.

Set your flash up at a perpendicular angle or opposite to the sun. Bounce it off an umbrella to illuminate your subject. The more poverty-stricken in the audience can use a large reflector, but it will limit the angles you can work with.

Working at noon is more restrictive and awkward than working at dawn, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to take a good photo. Implementing these suggestions and thinking about the quality of light are the ideas to focus on. Thinking creatively will turn any situation to your advantage and result in photos worth showing off.

Enjoyed reading this article? Subscribe to my RSS Feed to keep up with the latest digital photography tips. Missed the first part? No worries, I kept it warm for you. Read “How to Take Great Photos at High Noon - Part One“.