Help with whites
- Dave McCormick
- Posts: 2388
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
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Help with whites
What is the best way of taking a photo of a white butterfly, like a GV White or a Orange Tip, so they don't appear too bright? Found that problem today when taking photos of a GV white, you not see the dark markings on upperside well, just too bright white. Want to get my skills right this time, had a few good photos in past of whites, but most of these have been with my compact camera or darker marked individuals, more yellowish like second generations etc...
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
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Re: Help with whites
Underexpose by between 1/3 and 2/3 of a stop. The resulting image will look dark, but will retain the detail. Then use software to bring the levels back up.
Works for me every time - I haven't ever had a burned out white since I started doing this.
Cheers,
- Pete
Works for me every time - I haven't ever had a burned out white since I started doing this.
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
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- Jack Harrison
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- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
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Re: Help with whites
I agree with Pete.
This subject was really tricky. In this instance, I biased by a full -1. But inevitably when making such a big correction, the background is liable to be underexposed so when brightened afterwards with software, it might show a lot of noise.
I also adjust the shooting setting to give minimum contrast, ie, to give greatest “dynamic range” from shadows to highlights. More sophisticated cameras, eg some DSLRs can apparently do a superb job of preserving highlights and shadows.
Jack
This subject was really tricky. In this instance, I biased by a full -1. But inevitably when making such a big correction, the background is liable to be underexposed so when brightened afterwards with software, it might show a lot of noise.
I also adjust the shooting setting to give minimum contrast, ie, to give greatest “dynamic range” from shadows to highlights. More sophisticated cameras, eg some DSLRs can apparently do a superb job of preserving highlights and shadows.
Jack
- Dave McCormick
- Posts: 2388
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 pm
- Location: Co Down, Northern Ireland
- Contact:
Re: Help with whites
Thanks for the info. I was thinking along the same lines myself, but have only started seeing whites and wanted to get at least a good shot of one, going looking tomorrow as weather is supposed to stay good and warm.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
Re: Help with whites
If your camera can do it, shooting raw instead of jpegs will give you at least an f-stop extra dynamic range which could make or break a shot.
- Jack Harrison
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Re: Help with whites
Sounds good. I can add a hack (well, computer-literate son can) to use my A650 in raw.
"Miles, can you come here please! Job for you" Mind you, he hates doing anything connected with computers even though he is very, very good.
Jack
"Miles, can you come here please! Job for you" Mind you, he hates doing anything connected with computers even though he is very, very good.
Jack
Re: Help with whites
Spot metering off the white can work too!
But I tend to just stick with my regular centre weightd and dail in -0.7 to -1ev
But I tend to just stick with my regular centre weightd and dail in -0.7 to -1ev
Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: Help with whites
Woudln't work with a card >4 Gb. Mine are 8.I can add a hack
Jack