Avoiding the Glare

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The spring sun is on its way (and summer, too!)—prepare for warm, breezy afternoons and loads of great photo opportunities. But before you grab your camera and get snap happy, keep in mind that the sun can add a bit of a challenge for photo taking. Here are a few quick tips to get you ready:

Be an early bird or a late riser
Take most of your photos in the mid morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky. Avoid the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead—this causes shadows around the subject's face. The lower the sun, the fewer shadows you’ll have to worry about.

Let the sun warm your back
Instead of taking photos with the sun behind your subjects, take photos with the sun behind your back. This way you’ll avoid the glare and shadows cast on your subjects.

Add an angle
Shooting at an angle is also great for keeping your subjects looking good. Without the sun directly behind them or in front of them, causing major squinting, you can get a well lit photo free of ugly shadows.

Use your camera’s special features
Many digital cameras have a variety of modes available for owners to use. If your camera has a “cloudy” setting, use it in bright light. This setting typically offers a warming of color that tones down brightness.

Also, if your camera gives you the option of adjusting the ISO setting, use the lowest setting your camera has. The ISO setting is the measure of how sensitive the camera or image is to light. The lower the ISO setting, the less noise or pixilation will occur on your image. Cameras without the setting will most likely adjust this automatically, but refer to your manual more information.

Tip: Don’t be bummed if the sun isn’t shining brightly—overcast skies are actually the best light for taking outdoor photos!