In November, we had more than three weeks of high fog/overcast skies that blocked out the sun.
The sun has, for the most part, returned and so sunshine is the subject of the latest Readers Photo Challenge.
The most obvious way to photograph sunshine is to take a picture that includes the sun itself. This usually requires a high shutter speed and/or small lens aperture because of the sun’s brightness.
Sunrises and sunsets are great subjects for photos of the sun. They can imbue scenes with warm and rich red, yellow, orange and purple hues. Because of the large difference between the amount of light in the sky and one the ground, your main subjects will more than likely be silhouetted. This can make for a graphically bold image. Try not to overlap silhouetted subjects lest they blend into each other.
Where you have sunlight, you also have shadows that it makes. Like silhouettes, shadows can create some great visual patterns. They create outlines on the ground of top against a wall.
Anytime the sun is out so are people. Adding people or a single person as a main or even secondary subject can give your image some visual spice.
You can have them silhouetted or they could be out enjoying the sunshine. They can be walking, jogging, biking or just out basking in the sun.
While there can be a lot of light when the sun is out, sometimes it can use a little help.
A well-named technique called fill-flash (or flash fill) you can use a flash to fill in the shadows. This helps to ease some of the harshness that can occur when the sun is directly overhead or when it’s behind your subject.
In the old days before automation calculating fill-flash exposures could be difficult, but with today’s advanced technology, all you are to do is set your flash on its auto mode and shoot away.
If the day is foggy or cloudy try to be patient. Fog often lifts later in the day or thins enough to let the sun peek through.
Clouds rarely blot out the sun completely. Wait for gaps in the cloud cover to find your photo of sunshine.
The sun doesn’t always have to be in the frame or or directly shining on your subject. It can also be indirect. Light reflecting off of a window or water can make for great images. The indirect sunlight that comes in through a window is usually nice and soft and is great for portraits.
At this time of year, even on a sunny day, outdoor temperatures can be a bit cold so dress accordingly. Try not to look at the sun directly as it can damage your eyes.
Go out, find your place in the sun and catch some rays.
How to enter the Readers Photo Challenge
1. Photos have to be taken between Jan. 20 and Feb. 3.
2. Include your name (first and last), hometown, the kind of device you used and where it was taken (eg.: John Doe of Stockton, Canon 5D Mk IV, McKinley Park , Stockton).
3. If there is a recognizable person or persons in the photo please identify them (name, age, hometown) and describe what is going on in the photo. Please indicate if and how they are related to you (friend, mother, father, daughter, son, etc). For example: “My 8-year-old daughter Janie Doe plays in the sunshine at McKinley Park in Stockton.”
4. Please feel free to include any interesting anecdotes or stories on how or where you took the picture.
5. The number of photos is limited to 10.
6. Entries can be emailed to coto@recordnet.com. The preferred format is jpeg. Type “Sunshine” in the subject line.
7. The deadline for submission is Feb. 3. Top picks will be published in the Feb. 10 Record. An online gallery of all the photos on the same day at recordnet.com.
8. First, second and third top picks will receive 16×20, 11×14 and 8×10 prints, respectively, by UlmerPhoto in Stockton. Additionally, first place will receive a $25 gift card to a local restaurant.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Sunshine on your shoulders: New photo challenge tasks readers with sunny delight
Reporting by Clifford Oto, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
