Here comes the sun: Take amazing photos even with harsh sunlight

There are times when a photographer would have to work under the harsh sun especially for those in nature or event photography. No matter the situation, these professionals must be able to find a way to make the harsh lighting work. Alan Bohms shares some tips on taking photos in direct sunlight.

Experiment with silhouettes

To go with a different mood for photos, a photographer can use the harsh sunlight to get a silhouette of the subject. To do this, one should adjust the camera's exposure to the brightest part making this the background instead of the subject. In the process, Alan Bohms suggests planning how the subject would look beforehand. For example, when capturing the silhouette of a person, the hair, a flowing skirt, or their hands can make the photo more creative. If they are slouched or too upright, the silhouette effect might not add oomph to the photo. For best shots, take photos of subjects sideways.

Bring equipment that will create shade

Whether it's a simple umbrella, a cloth, or a cardboard, photographers should have these items in their kit. If the sun is too harsh but they have to keep on shooting, it's up to them to create their own shade. Alan Bohms says that the goal is to create shadows and to somewhat control the brightness caused by the sun.

Play with the flare

Sometimes the harsh light when used at the right angle can highlight a moment or a feature in a photo. Alan Bohms says that one should practice this technique to see what more they can do. Removing the lens hood might create a different effect.

Find contrasting colors

Setting the camera to a low ISO with high f-stops will show the contrasting colors in nature sceneries. Going wide will also turn the harsh lighting into something that brings out the rich colors in a photo.