Pictures of people facing into the sun, how to?

[nictry]

This is aprobably a basic question but I lost some great 'family' pictures due to photographing into bright sunlight and of course my subjects came out very dark (none were even usable :( ) I am sure there is a simple solution to 'light' the subject using the functionality of my D50 but cnanot work it out, can anyone help (P.S these were in bright sunlight so no flash etc, in play)

All help appreciated?

[Woz]

It's known as Contre-jour and the problem you have is how your meter copes with it. In the case of the photos you've taken, the camera has metered for the whole scene, registered the bright sunlight and adjusted down accordingly. What you need to do is get the camera to meter off the people's faces. I don't really know Nikons and can't tell you if your camera has a spot metering capability, but if it does, switch it on and meter from just the face of the subject. Alternatively, you probably have a partial metering option - you could use that, get in close to the subject and meter, then move away having set the meter reading when close.
Note that this technique will result in the background being blown out.

Edit - you could also use fill flash to front light the subject. You can probably achieve this by just popping up the flash on the camera. I personally don't like it because it looks a bit unnatural.

[puddleduck]

The D50 has 1/500 flash sync so its quite good for fill flash even in fairly strong light - stop down until your shutter is around 1/500.

Alternatively, use Center Weighted metering - lock exposure on a face, use the AE-L button to lock your exposure, and re-compose.

[John C]

Edit - you could also use fill flash to front light the subject. You can probably achieve this by just popping up the flash on the camera. I personally don't like it because it looks a bit unnatural.

That's why you have flash exposure compensation though :) Tone it down/up 'til you get the look you want, I say.

[nictry]

Excellent and thanks, will have a play (assuming we get any more sunshine this year!!) and see how I do

[raymondlin]

Are you facing the sun ?

If you are at the back to the sun then it's not too hard, normal evaluative does it.

If you are facing the sun, then either use a flash, or just let the back blow out totally.

[Woz]

That's why you have flash exposure compensation though :) Tone it down/up 'til you get the look you want, I say.

It's funny - flash is normally 'just one of those things you use' in photography, but since getting my 580ex I've found that doing it right (manual) is hard. Really hard. I've found it harder to 'get' conceptually than things like meter readings, apature and depth of field.

[John C]

It's funny - flash is normally 'just one of those things you use' in photography, but since getting my 580ex I've found that doing it right (manual) is hard. Really hard. I've found it harder to 'get' conceptually than things like meter readings, apature and depth of field.

I think it's because you don't "see" flash as such (esp. not fill flash) because your eye is way better than the sensor (film or digital) at interpreting the scene.

The rule of thumb for Nikon fill someone told me once was start at minus 1.7 stops, and go from there (this on a fully manual flash assuming +/-0 EV is full power). I tend to do fill on the D70's popup flash by starting at -1 stop, and adjusting.

[Highlander]

I also regularly use -1.0 FEC for fill flash, on my 20D using the popup flash.