Need suggestions for capturing sunsets/sunrise

GeekSikhGeekSikh Registered Users Posts: 6 Beginner grinner
edited January 2, 2012 in Technique
So far whatever pictures I have taken of sunsets in P mode shooting RAW on Canon Rebel XSi with 18-200/f3.5 lens have turned out to be drab. I would love to get some suggestions on how to capture the dynamic range of colors and not afraid to shoot in Manual mode.

Thanks

Comments

  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited January 1, 2012
    Shoot in Manual mode, you will never get a great sunrise in P mode. Shoot RAW, and use your histogram in its three channel RGB mode, so that you can avoid frying the red channel. Explore graduated neutral density filters, and HDR as well. You are using a tripod and a cable release, right?

    Pray for overcast skies with a clear space on the horizon the sun can rise into before disappearing in the clouds.

    Is this what you have in mind?

    11-frme-African-sunrise-pano-XL.jpg


    Or this?

    676161347_p6eof-XL.jpg

    Or this?

    723776805_sjKL6-XL.jpg

    Being lucky helps, as does persistence.

    These images are also multi frame panos, but could have been captured with a single wide angle frame also.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • MarkRMarkR Registered Users Posts: 2,099 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2012
    Might go without saying, but meter a section of the sky without the sun in the frame. Then use your exposure lock (or shoot manual) and recompose. You might still have to fiddle a bit with exposure, but you'll be at a much better starting point.
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