Direct sunlight or even-covered-shade, which do we prefer…and did I get it wrong this time?
I’ve always been taught to shoot in even light. Why? Well, probably because it is generally more evenly lit, and my subject will not have those harsh highlights or dark shadows.
When I was recently out walking in the Australian bush, I came across one of our country’s native birds in all his glory. A kookaburra was sat watching me, perched upon a branch and ready to roost for the evening approaching. With the warm glow of golden hour wrapping itself around his photogenic feathers, I reached for my camera to grab a shot. My experience told me to wait for cloud cover to shoot, but not knowing whether the bird would take flight, I took my shot in the sun regardless. Then the sun went in and I took two more.
In total I had four different shots; two in the light and two in the shade – and I thought I knew which I’d prefer. That was, of course, until I got home and opened the images up in Lightroom…
Check out this video of what I found:
0:33 The raw images
1:02 Edited images in Lightroom
1:35 My choice
The Kookabura’s raw images
In the sun…
In the shade…
My choice
Upon opening the images for editing, I was able to pull back the blown highlights on the white parts of the bird in Lightroom, adding additions of contrast to the eye. Of the complete set of images I now had, I was surprised to see it was now the ‘in sun’ ones that were standing out, despite the uneven light.
Kookabura ‘in sun’
Reasons why I prefer the subject in the sun this time:
- The eyes of the bird are more clearly defined
- The image looks more vibrant with the kiss of golden light
Definition and vibrancy are two key features I always look out for in photography. So where I thought I had the shot nailed using even natural light, post processing the RAW files has actually changed my mind. I would love to know your thoughts on this. Is it down to personal preference, or is the even light image, the more ‘technically favourable’ shot?
Leave your comments below and let me know which you prefer and why!
Cheers,
Brent.
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Hi Brent
I like the Lightroom adjustments on all 4 photos.
I would like to see you Crop (Portrait) so the Head is at the Rule of Thirds top line both LH & RH sides in all 4 photos, as you know this is the subject, but the Tree is very pronounced as it is sharp in focus and fills so much of the shot.
May be in the 2 shadow Photos, Mask the Owl and lighten it a touch, then lighten and sharpen the eye, this may give a little more life to the Owl
I think this would give you what you are looking for
Thanks Gary, I’ll give that a try/ B
As with Bill, I prefer the picture of the bird in the sun. The sun light makes the bird ‘pop’. First time I had ever seen a photograph of a kookaburra. All I knew of them was the song we sang as a child about them eating all of the gumdrops!
I love this bird – they make a huge noise in the early morning, like a bush alarm clock. B
My personal opinion is that the picture of the bird in the sun is preferable to the one in the shade. To my eye the shaded picture lacks character as well as definition. Yes the dark shades can be seen which constitutes a good picture, but a picture must also have some punch to it. The shaded picture does not has any punch, in my humble opinion.
Love your work.
Bill
Yeah that was what I discovered when retouching this image. B
Hi there,
I prefer the bird in the sunlight. As stated there is more contrast and the eye really pops. I do however, like the texture of the feathers in the shaded photo, particularly, the one where the bird has its back to the lens.
Love the work, information and tutorials.
Michael
Thanks Michael. B
Hey Brent, great shot! For me it’s the Sunlit versions that win – I love contrast in images and the warm light really adds to the image with the bird standing out against the background. Terrific stuff!
Thx. B
Well, I actually prefer the one with the bird facing the other direction in the shade because it shows the coloration and patterns of the feathers. Would a fill flash have been able to add a little reflection to the bird’s eye?
Thanks Gerald. Yes, fill flash would work but at that distance maybe not. I’ve seen wildlife photographers with a special flash for long distance fill light. B