Comments on: Three Ways to Fix Dark Backlit People Photos

By: Alan-James Hendry

Alan-James Hendry — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 14:31:00 +0000

In reply to Jeremy Ferguson. Hi Jerry off camera fill flash would have been the best answer for that kind of shot, which would make the subject pop out instead of blending with the background.

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 22:53:00 +0000

In reply to Terry. I think I've fixed it now, thanks

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 17:30:00 +0000

In reply to Terry. ah thanks!

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 17:29:00 +0000

While I agree the bright sun in the background does draw the eye, shooting at f/22 isn’t likely going to solve the issue. Then you will need a LOT of flash power to even out the light to make the exposure on her equal f/22. Most flashes will recycle really slowing at full power, if you can even get f/22. Shooting from low down – watch out for that, not the most flattering camera angle for any subject.

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 17:26:00 +0000

I would have to disagree. A field of flowers to me is just fake, I prefer to use the natural background of what’s there. If this were a person’s home I’d never bring a flower background into their home – just not appropriate or meaningful for them.

By: David Corito

David Corito — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 01:01:00 +0000

Good tips but like you I opt for a different background or side lighting. If there are no options I move on and forget the shot.

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:30:00 +0000

In reply to Darlene Hildebrandt.

Sorry I wasn’t more clear, Darlene. In Section #2… the text just above the photo says “In this case I set my exposure to f/5.6 at 1/60th to match the exposure on the background on the first image. The flash was set to fire with enough power to correctly expose the subject at f/5.6”

I believe that it should say “1/160th” so that it jives with the captions under the original and the one at the end of Section #2.

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 20:55:00 +0000

In reply to Terry.

sorry not sure where you’re looking – the original is f/5.6 at 1/60th. The flash one is the same – no they are correct. Where does it say 1/60th?

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 20:49:00 +0000

In reply to ColininOz. yes that can work

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 20:49:00 +0000

In reply to Terry. sorry I'm in Nicaragua right now on a photo tour but will check which is correct when I can

By: Darlene Hildebrandt

Darlene Hildebrandt — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 20:48:00 +0000

In reply to Jeremy Ferguson. yes one of the toughest scenes to work with

By: ColininOz

ColininOz — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 22:30:00 +0000

Excellent article Darlene. For those of us not able to afford, or not yet having decided to buy, an off camera remote flash, umbrellas to soften its out put, and remote controls to work it I find a ‘deflector’ made from the already- angled base edge of a white plastic ice cream container ,cut judiciously to shape with scissors, and fixed on the barrel of the lens with an elastic band just forward of the lens mount will send the on camera flash up to the must-be-white ceiling to reflect as bounce fill from above . Or sideways to a similarly white wall to give side fill . It may be necessary to warm and bend the plastic a little for correct angling . If you have already covered this on another post, forgive me.

By: Terry

Terry — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:50:00 +0000

Good tips, thanks. The original shot lists 1/160th shutter speed, as does the one with a single Speedlite. But the text says 1/60-sec. Just a typo I think…

By: Jeremy Ferguson

Jeremy Ferguson — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:23:00 +0000

Hi Darlene,

some good tips in your article and I do tend to try and avoid backlit scenes where I can. As with every rule though there are exceptions:-

One example being when shooting a sunset with my lovely wife also in the frame.

Not sure if you would agree that a change in my position (to my left) so that the frame is more evenly lit, loses a bit of the impact of the shot.

The on-camera flash was fired on both shots.

Cheers,
Jerry.