topic Re: Sunrise photo! in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 03:36:13 GMT

Hello evryone,

I am using Canon 5D mark 3 for Photography I just started shooting. What is the best setting for sunrise and Sunset?

Thank you,

Mu.

Re: Sunrise photo!

RobertTheFat — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 04:07:18 GMT

There's nothing tricky about the settings, because you're usually focused on infinity and exposing for daylight.. With sunsets, start when it's still fairly bright and keep shooting until it gets so dark that everything is dull. Sunrises are just the reverse, but the problem with them is that while sunsets often get better as time passes, sunrises always get worse. So you have to start before the sun comes up, which means that you have to know where it's going to be.

Some may tell you that you need a tripod for sunsets. You don't. I've gotten several good sunset pictures, and I'm pretty sure all were hand-held. If you have to use a slow shutter speed on a sunset, it means you waited too long.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 04:11:39 GMT

Bob,

I appreciate your input. I just check a youtube vedio about using the mode "P" underexposure I am just discovering now what is the option before i start shooting.

Thank you,

Mu.

Re: Sunrise photo!

kvbarkley — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 16:23:54 GMT

In P mode, you need to lower the exposure compensation by a stop or so, to keep the darker feel of the sunset.

Re: Sunrise photo!

Waddizzle — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:51:31 GMT

@cleansensor wrote:
Bob,

I appreciate your input. I just check a youtube vedio about using the mode "P" underexposure I am just discovering now what is the option before i start shooting.

Thank you,
Mu.

I would suggest using Av mode, with a fixed ISO. You would need to pre-focus, and then switch your lens to MF. Having a remote shutter would be great. Be ready for it.

There is a several stop difference in light between the pre-dawn, first light, and full sunrise. The moment of first light will last only about a second, and you can get an exposure with the same settings as before the sun appeared. After that, the light intensity climbs rapidly, and it is best to have sun filters on your camera.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:54:13 GMT

I appreciate your input. I am planning to try all of them from +3 to -3.

Re: Sunrise photo!

Waddizzle — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:57:51 GMT

@cleansensor wrote:

I appreciate your input. I am planning to try all of them from +3 to -3.

You will not have time for that. First light come and gone in less than a second.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:58:04 GMT

Hello there,

What is your suggestion to ISO? you mean use Autofocus and then switch to MF?

I have 3 fliters I did not use them yet. is there specific one for this matter?

Many thanks,

Mu.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:59:22 GMT

what is your suggestion from +3 to -3?

Re: Sunrise photo!

Waddizzle — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 23:02:06 GMT

@cleansensor wrote:

Hello there,

What is your suggestion to ISO? you mean use Autofocus and then switch to MF?

I have 3 fliters I did not use them yet. is there specific one for this matter?

Many thanks,
Mu.

I cannot tell you what exposure settings to use. It can vary widely depending upon the lens and shooting conditions. I would suggest shooting in fully manual mode, though.

As for your filters, the same advice applies. I don’t know enough about your gear [lenses] and your shooting conditions.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 23:11:36 GMT

Thank you!!

Re: Sunrise photo!

Waddizzle — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 01:15:37 GMT

@cleansensor wrote:

Thank you!!

Use manual exposure, because the light conditions will coerce the camera into over exposing the shots.. Get there early, so you can take a number of exposure.

Every sunrise is different. The above shot is first light. A second later the exposure settings were a good 3-4 stops too high.

Re: Sunrise photo!

Mitsubishiman — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 02:31:55 GMT

One thing that will help is the smartphone app TPE
The Photographers Edge, it allows you to plan for sunrise - sunset times based on your location, also has moon locations and phases, utilizes GPS and has orientation lines

Re: Sunrise photo!

ebiggs1 — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 14:44:08 GMT

Of course the correct answer is 'bracket'. Bracketing is your friend. Your camera can do 3 or 5 bracked exposuers in fractions of a second.

Re: Sunrise photo!

RobertTheFat — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 05:07:22 GMT

Once you get comfortable with sunset photography, you might want to try your hand at Alpenglühen (the last vestige of the setting sun reflected off of a mountaintop or cloud) and Gegendämmerung (the reflection of a sunset, usually after the sun has set). Those phenomena are pretty hard to find, but I got lucky one evening down at the New Jersey shore:

In both of these pictures, the sun was behind me.

I admit that these pictures are technically rather crappy. But in my defense I'll point out that it was ten years ago, and my skills (I hope) and my equipment (for sure) have improved a lot in the meantime. But another opportunity hasn't come along. Anyway, either phenomenon is interesting to look for and a bit of a coup if you can catch it.

Re: Sunrise photo!

Waddizzle — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 22:38:58 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Of course the correct answer is 'bracket'. Bracketing is your friend. Your camera can do 3 or 5 bracked exposuers in fractions of a second.

Negative. I would not bracket a shot of first light at sunrise.

Bracketing will alter your exposure settings. I captured first light with the camera in continuous shooting mode, and the settings were fixed in Manual shooting mode. The scene bracketed itself.

You do not need to alter exposure settings to capture first light, just fast reflexes and a remote shutter cable. In fact, I had dialed in -2 Ev exposure compensation.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:04:12 GMT

Thank you.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:05:25 GMT

Thank you so much!!

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:06:03 GMT

Thank you.

Re: Sunrise photo!

cleansensor — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:07:36 GMT

Thank you Bob.