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Superhero Photo Challenge: Shoot into the sun

021608_600sh.jpg photo by Anna Kuperberg

I am a self-taught photographer and every once in a while I get a little insecure about the fact that I don't know much about F-stops and shutter speeds. I'd love to be able to walk into any situation and instantly know how to set my camera for the perfect exposure. But alas, digital came around just in time! and now I get to simply play and experiment and know just enough to get what I want but not too much to lose my sense of play. And then there's that handy little screen that shows you what you're getting. Thank god for the little screen!

One "rule" someone told me many moons ago and I had never questioned was this: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT shoot directly into the sun!! Your subjects will turn out dark, you might have lens flare, the picture will be terrible and you will look like a total hack. Did any of you out there believe this too? Are you blinding your friends by having them look into the sun like me?

When I fell in love with Anna Kuperberg's photos I noticed how brilliantly she used sunlight. And I want to highlight the word, used... she didn't just tolerate the sun or work around it like I did, she really uses it to her advantage and gets the most extraordinary images shooting straight into the sun. (The photo above is from my maternity portrait session with her)

This week's challenge is in two parts. First, I want to see your best shots shooting right into the sun (or having the subjects head just blocking it) Get some lens flair! Have some fun... I also want to hear your tips for getting great images this way. Do any of you know how to use the sun to your advantage? I would love to hear. (And if you are using flickr, please tag your photo with superhero photo challenge. Your shot will end up on this page.)

Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 by Registered CommenterAndrea Scher in , , , | Comments106 Comments | References1 Reference

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Reader Comments (106)

When I was first taught the manual setting on my camera, I took this shot of the sun.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourcrazylife/1282401599/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAngella
How fun! I love shooting into the sun. I only started taking a few photos last year - complete amateur! haha - so I didn't know you are NOT suppose to shoot into the sun and I actually LOVE doing so!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22680463@N05/sets/72157603919985707/

Happy weekend!

:-)
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterPixieDust
This is something I do a fair amount. I usually accomplish it by partially or barely covering the sun with an object, or having the sun just out of the frame, but streaming into the lens.

Am I allowed to post more than one? I hope so! Here are some that I like:

It is our light
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1409/1253542009_5d9a4ede65_b.jpg

Heavy and Light
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/476679658_44a3273927_b.jpg

Untitled
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/473365452_db04ad0c86_o.jpg
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMolly Merrick
Here's one I took a few weeks ago, it's one of my all time favorites!

http://monkeymemories.blogspot.com/2008/02/shutter-sisters-superhero-challenge.html
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterginny
i often fail at catching the flare. i love it, though.

this is my best shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayaeh/2059836623/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermaya
I've also been told not to shoot directly into the light, but sometimes you just can't help it. Here's one of mine:

http://ijustlovebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/02/look-closely.html
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterDana
Mmmm, I love shooting into the sun. Can't wait for more of it here in Chicago. Oh yes, digital cameras allow for so much experimenting right then and there! I think with this one I filled the frame with my sister's face first to set the exposure:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liza-bean/991872718/in/set-72157594333386137/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterliza
I often take photo's into the sun. I don't know anything about how to set up my camera, but they still turn out alright sometimes.

Like when the sun is setting:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23132596@N07/2268873244/

And today I actually tried playing with the shutter speed a bit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23132596@N07/2268307311/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKaren G
This was taken at my wedding by Everette Gray but it illustrates what you are talking about. Pretty bright but I still really like it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justexpressive/2269214504/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRaven
I have NO CLUE how to shoot into the sun. I just go for it and hope for the best. I'm eagerly awaiting some tips from others on this challenge...

Here's a few.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/strawberrygoldie/2269206534/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/strawberrygoldie/2269195802/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/strawberrygoldie/2268393873/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterHeather
I love it! Here is my link:

http://kristyk.org/2008/02/16/superhero-photo-challenge-shoot-into-the-sun/

My only hint would be to focus on your subject without the sun in the frame to get the shot just right. Turn off the autofocus and move the sun into the picture at the last minute. That way, the camera doesn't try to adjust the focus onto the sun.
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterkristyk
a picture from last year's end of summer fun. leaves just starting to change. probably my favorite time of year here in New England. warm enough to be out and so many colors around in nature...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/1533212092/in/set-72157603780423750/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterkristin

My husband and I went on this trip to San Fran with the purpose of practicing with our cameras. I kept thinking that these shots were going to turn out horrible because I had heard was don't shoot into the sun. I was surprised to see the finished shot when we got home.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23899543@N08/2268473641/

(Great tip Kristy K!)
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJacki
i love not knowing exactly what you will get when you shoot into the sun. i find that unpredicatablity is what i love about it. great post andrea...i'm sure it will spark all sorts of unique images.

here's a recent fav of mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maypapers/2269270750/
i heart sunspots! : )

and hey everyone--if you're using flickr, tag your challenge photos "superhero challenge" kay?
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commentertracey
I shot this one last summer while we were camping. I, like you, was afraid of the sun, but thought that I would just play with my camera and see what I get. I love it!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24563600@N00/1806178032/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commentercj
what a great post idea! and i love that photo, it's beautiful!
i love shooting into the sun, i worry that i'm gonna damage my lens or something! didnt' my mom always tell me not to stare at the sun? :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2261386823/
i try alot of different angles, to get silhouettes or flares or some sun peeking through.
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commentercamerashymomma
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23196640@N03/2255974034/

love the maternity shot, i'm jealous!
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterdanielle
I've recently fallen in love with shooting into the sun. This is going is going to be fun. I'd like to post some of my favorite that I've taken recently.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joyunexpectedcom/2260617125/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joyunexpectedcom/2199320449/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered Commentery
I am continually intrigued by this subject and always experimenting with achieving some flare in my photos. I usually can see it in my lens before I shoot the photo...that's how I can tell. Here's one from an engagement shoot I did:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterhotshots/1397836924/in/set-72157601476719900

February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJen
These are some stunning examples of why "rules" are meant to be broken ;-)

I'm just beginning my journey into photography and learning what my camera can do. We've not had a whole lot of sunshine where I live these days, so I've pulled this week's contribution out of my archives...

http://flickr.com/photos/58783187@N00/2269458892/

Happy Saturday to you!
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKirsten Michelle
I love playing with the sun, especially when the kids are in the shot, something about children and sun rays just seem to go together. I really like the original belly shot, and the one up there posted by Raven is something I will be trying to recreate, it's fantastic!


http://freemotion-kate.blogspot.com/2008/02/super-hero-photo-challenge.html
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKate
Here's one that I took a few days ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23151594@N07/2269608706/

I like this challenge and look forward to trying some more this week.
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMrs. Eaves
What a beautiful portrait! Love the way the sun was used, and I've always ignored the "don't shoot into the sun" rule. Some of my favorites have been blatant rule-breakers:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyapoole/1355146769/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyapoole/2150085161/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyapoole/1355995208/
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTonya
I took this one two years ago at the DC Cherry Blossom Festival, after reading an article in Macworld (of all places) on how to use the sun as backlight:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79884747@N00/143341937/in/photostream/

I'm just trying to get into the picture-a-day habit, but I'll try to keep this challenge in mind as I go!
February 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKristen
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