There is nothing more ‘warming’ to an image than the glow of a sunflare well placed within the shot. It brings another dimension to portraiture and landscape photography and can really bring them to life.



And it’s not hard at all. You just need to get out there with your subject, be it a person, a flower, a tree, wild oats (as above) it could be just about anything. Even a sheep, cows, or a horse. ;O)

It’s all about timing. You can really capture it well in the very last light of the day, when the sun is at its lowest and softest. When the sun is on the horizon the light is at it’s warmest colour and most diffused as it has more atmosphere to travel through.

The trick is not to point the camera straight at the sun as that will overpower the rays of light that you want to see in your pictures. You dont want blown out hot spots (white areas that have no detail). Compose your shot with the sun JUST off to one side of the frame. Meaning you can’t actually see it, but you can see the rays of light that’s coming from it. Have your subject or your point of interest (wild oats in my case) in sharp focus and take your shot.

You may need to use your flash with a person/people in your shot as they may come out as a black silhouette. This is called fill flash (adding light to enhance the subject and reduce shadows.) If you are too close to your subject and using flash, you'll loose that golden look. Flash is white light. So try out a shot and you may need to position yourself further back.



You can compose the shot so that your subject blocks the direct view of the sun. In other words, you are looking at the sun, the subject has their back to the sun and their shape blocks the sun for you. You will NEED flash to capture the details of the subject in this situation, otherwise they will always come out black. Having your subject composed this way creates rim-lighting. (halo of light around a person). Looks fantastic on wispy loose hair (bed hair is amazing in these conditions) as the hair just glows.

For SLR’s use your AV creative setting (aperture setting) and let the camera figure out the shutter speed for you. Be very aware of what’s in the background that can make your shot messy, or alternatively help to diffuse the light more, ie the leaves on a tree. If your background is distracting either use a small f stop number ie f2.8 or f3.2 or f3.5 to blur it as much as you can. And have your subject stand well forward of the background as that will help to blur it even more.

Watch your shutter speed. It must stay above your lens length to prevent a blurred image caused by camera shake. EG. My lens is 24-70mm. My shutter must stay above 1/80th or I’m in trouble. I prefer to stay faster than 1/100 or more if I can. If you need to tripod your camera because the shutter speed has dropped, then go for it. A little bean bag or small plastic bag of rice on a chair, ladder or on the ground will do the trick too. Use your timer switch so you don’t vibrate the camera when pressing the shutter button. This gives the camera time to settle and take a sharper shot.

For Point and Shoot, try your portrait setting or your macro setting. And see what gives you a pleasing result. Same thing with your shutter speed. If your camera tells you those details, don’t let it drop below 1/100. Tripod or support it another way if it does.

And the best tip of all is **** keep at it. You may not crack it first time round, but you will get it pretty quick. It’s a wonderful way to incorporate all that you’ve learnt in the Macro, Portraiture and Landscape tutorials. And getting a handle of Aperture. Pulling on your knowledge will give you creative control and help you master your camera. Not let the camera be the master of you***


YOUR CHALLENGE PEOPLE IS SHOOT Sunflares. Pop it up here on this tutorial thread with what camera settings you used. (right click on your image on your computer/properties/details. scroll down and all the info is there) I would like to know what f stop, what iso, what shutter.

If you ask I will critique the shot and offer suggestions for you.

YOUR COMPETITION PEOPLE IS TO load up your ONE best shot in the August Challenge Gallery folder and you'll be in the running for a Scrap Therapy $25 Voucher which is valid for one month from announcement of the winner. And the winner will be announced with the rest of the August challenge winners on the first Friday of September.

This could be a hard one in Babinda with the lack of Sunshine around here but I am going to give it a good try - thanks Tiff

girls Tiff is away this weekend - if you have questions please leave them here - I am sure she will attend to them when she gets back

look forward to giving this a go!!

This is definitely the sort of thing I'd love to capture!!
fabbo tute Tiff!!!

Awesome tute Tiff

This would work if we had sun!!! I forgot what it looks like!

I was out taking some pics of Missy yesterday afternoon and guess what I caught just by fluke.

Love these two.





This one has a reflection of something in her glasses.



Would love to know what you think Tiff.

wow great Julie

I have no idea how to go about this at all

Thanks Gypsy. I was lucky with these shoots, wasn't even trying to catch it so to speak.

Julie. you have nailed the rim lighting. Well done chick. All that wispy hair all aglow. Well done.

Can't wait to see what you come up with for sunflare.

Gypsy. Just read the tute dear lady. Take it one step at a time. Print it out and take it outside with you in a display book so you have all the info on hand when you need it.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

tiff

Julie, these photos of Missy are gorgeous....luv them all.

Thanks Tiff and Deb.

ok Tiff time to jiggle my phatass and get playing with my camera .....

(after a gulp of truth serum) my slr frightens the crap out of me .... i really really wanted one .... my DH got me one ...and now i take hardly any pics ...compared to when i had my point and shoot digi ... i have even given it to the kids and say get some pics for me today ( i nearly fainted with guilt when myDH asked me am i ready to upgrade again!!!! there is no way i could up grade when i have not got my value out of this, which was brand new)

Time is not waiting for me and i have to jiggle up to the plate and get over my self and take the bull by the horns ..... i am going to pledge .... if i do nothing else .... i am going to commit myself to do as you say with the camera challenges ... i will pledge for the next 6months ....(((shivering in my britches)))

heya chookie.

I pledge to help you evey step of the way.

1. print out the tutorials and add any tips that I've mentioned during that month.
2. put them in a display book for your quick reference and keep it with your camera. (read your manual)
3. Turn your dial to P. It's like Auto but now you can make a few adjustments.
4. Viola. you are off Auto, but go back to it if the shot you are trying to get is just not working for you.
5. get the camera in your hand and shoot a photo once a day for a week. I find if I keep the camera OUT of the bag, I use it a lot more!!!

Small steps chicky, just take small steps.

tiff

I took a photo when we were on the steam train with Cody with the sun but it was before the challenge so I will have to try and get out and take another one