A few tips in taking pictures at high noon

Some would initially dissuade us from taking photos at high noon - the harsh midday sun casting shadows under the eyes, and highlighting facial features like blemishes and wrinkles. But what if it’s your only chance to take a photo outside? Here’s a few tips in today’s blog from photography student Janique Goff Madison who has a deep understanding of outdoor photography.

Backlighting technique

This technique puts subjects with their backs toward the sun. Janique Goff Madison explains that this is done when shade is not possible to block out direct sunlight on the subject’s face. Squinting eyes are the foremost distraction on high noon photo shoot. Additionally, it there are two or more subjects, it is suggested for them to be closer together or slightly inward toward each other to eliminate a dappled effect in which harsh light spots fall on their faces.

Open shade technique

To avoid the sun’s harmful rays, one approach is to find a shaded area for the subject. Shade can be either a tree, or a balcony, or a high wall of the house, or anything that can cast a long-enough shadow on your subject, with some even lighting. Janique Goff Madison however advise to put the subject on the very edge of the shade where they can still be illuminated. Otherwise, a significant amount of light on the subject will be lost.

Using a diffuser

A diffuser panel is another alternative if an open shade cannot be located, or unfavorable site conditions leave you and the subject to be placed under the midday sun. A diffuser can be a translucent white fabric like a blanket or a bedsheet, says Janique Goff Madison. The idea is to let the diffuser absorb the harsh sunlight and reflects it evenly over the subject. Have someone to hold it for you, if the fabric has no way of being attached to a frame or structure.