Tips to Shoot in the Sun

Taking photos in direct sunlight is often a challenge, right? For a lot of beginners, and even advanced photographers, direct sunlight is a no-no when taking photographs and they often avoid it. That is to say that if you can avoid taking pictures during times when the sun is at its brightest, then maybe you should. There are usually the problems that crop up when you take pictures under the direct light or rays of the sun.

- Mrinmoy Choudhury

There are times, though, when it is just unavoidable and you would need to shoot under bright, beaming daylight. Perhaps an assignment where you need to shoot at the beach in the middle of the day. How will you do it?

Here are some tips on taking great photographs in direct sunlight

1 MAKE SOME SHADE

If you are shooting somewhere where there is no shade at all, create some shade to put your subject into the shade. You can use an umbrella, a big flat cardboard, a translucent cloth to filter the sun’s light or to create a mild shadow. The shade will allow you to even your exposure for the subject rather than being an all bright image with strong contrast.

2 MOVE TO A CONVENIENT PLACE 

If you find that you and your subject are in the direct sun and there is no other way you can cut the amount of light, you try to move around to a place with mild shadows and less sun. When it is not possible for your subject to move, you have to move and change positions to suit the best angle for that amount of light.

3 HAVE SOME PATIENCE

Sometimes, just waiting for the sun to come down a little will do wonders for your shots. This is why photographs taken at sunset or sunrise are great. Not only will you get to avoid the sunlight coming from directly overhead, you can get amazing colours as well. If there are clouds overhead, you might want to wait until these clouds cover the sun a little bit more. You would have to shoot fast or hope that the clouds stay there for a very long time.

4 USE FLASH