PhotoPlus_Issue_128_July_2017

Summer landscapes
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The Sunny 16 rule
The Sunny 16 rule is a way to meter for a
correct exposure during the middle of the day
without using your Canon’s light meter. The
basic idea is that, in daylight at an aperture of
f/16, the correct exposure can be achieved with
a reciprocal shutter speed to the ISO speed
you’re using. For example, ISO200 would
require 1/200 sec. As the conditions change,
you simply alter the aperture. Use this table as
a guide and try it out on your next shoot. Even
the most sophisticated camera meters can be
fooled in certain conditions, so this is a handy
concept to keep at the back of your mind.
Aperture
Light
Francesco Richardo
f/16
Sunny
At midday
Be patient. A passing cloud
can be enough to soften the
light hitting the landscape
On a lovely sunny day, shooting at noon can be a photographer’s worst
nightmare. It’s the time when the sun is highest in the sky, and this generates
high contrast between the foreground and the sky. If you meter for the land,
you’ll usually find the sky is completely blown out, whereas exposing for the sky
leaves the land too dark. If you have to shoot at midday, try ditching the wideangle
lens and zoom in on the scene with a telephoto lens. This way, you’ll
eliminate the large amount of contrast that’s evident in broader shots, meter
more effectively, and give the viewer’s eye something to focus on.
f/11
f/8
Slightly Overcast
Overcast
Use shade
If the midday sun is too high for your
DSLR to handle, move to a spot of shade.
This could be under a palm tree (if you’re
lucky!) or building. Try not to worry
about how ridiculous you might look
crouching down in bushes. Shaded light is
softer, shadows are weaker and the
contrast is lower. If you’re completely in the
open and can’t get around it, make use of your
lens hood to avoid flare and glare.
f/5.6
f/4
Heavily Overcast
Open Shade/
Sunset
Your ISO and shutter speed should be
reciprocal for the correct exposure
The Canon Magazine 33