We have recently been fortunate to enjoy a prolonged spell of hot weather with plenty of sunny periods. The fact that it continued into the Bank Holiday weekend was very much welcomed by most people. For those who are interested in photography, seeing so much of the sun throughout the day can lead to certain challenges when attempting to obtain the best possible shots. This is where having tips and knowledge about the best ways to take photos when it’s sunny can be beneficial.
How to take photographs when it’s sunny
When taking photographs of people, when it’s sunny, one of the things that can happen is that when you look at the photo, you can see that they were squinting when the shot was taken. The bright sunlight can easily lead to people squinting for obvious reasons, and this is especially so if they have been asked to pose for a photo. Some might argue that this adds to the natural vibe that they were trying to create, which, of course, is fine. Most people will look at the photo and see that it’s not really what they had in mind and will then want to retake it. In this scenario, the best way to avoid the person having to squint again is by simply asking them to sit or stand in a position where the sun is behind them rather than directly in their eyes, helping them relax and look more comfortable.
Another negative that can occur when taking photographs when the sun is shining is that harsh shadows can appear on people’s faces or objects. To avoid this from happening and ruining your shot, it is a simple case of moving the subject into open shade or using a reflector/diffuser to soften the sunlight and create more even lighting.
When sunlight shines directly into the camera lens, it can create haze, coloured spots, or reduce overall sharpness and contrast. This is therefore another issue when taking photos when it’s sunny. To counteract this, to avoid it being a problem, you could use a lens hood to block stray light from entering the lens. As an alternative, changing the position of where you are standing or sitting to take the photograph, sometimes by only a few metres, can negate the problem by dramatically reducing the flare. Changing the angle at which you take the photograph can also be of benefit.
When you take photographs on a day when there is plenty of strong sunlight, it can lead to deep shadows and extremely bright highlights, making it difficult for cameras to capture detail in both areas at the same time. The simple solution to this is to avoid taking the photos when the sun is at its harshest, which is usually midday. It is advisable to take them at what is often referred to as “the golden hour”, shortly after sunrise or before sunset, when the light is softer and warmer. As an alternative or even as an addition to taking photos during the golden hour, using reflectors, fill flash, or HDR techniques can balance the exposure and bring more detail into shadow areas.