How To Know If You Have The Right Light
We have all had moments of frustration in photography when we have the perfect photo in the viewfinder; however, upon review, the photo is under or overexposed. These tips can help.
One basic method to find the appropriate lighting is to utilize your camera’s auto exposure bracketing. Your camera will take three shots of the same image with varying degrees of light exposure to ensure you capture the best one. It is also recommended to take your digital camera off auto, and manually adjust the exposure bracketing each time you take a photo for optimal results.I found some more information here.
Avoid taking photographs in the middle of the day, when the sun is brightest, to prevent shadows in your photos. Logic dictates taking photos when it is sunny rather than cloudy makes for a better photo. If clouds persist, use your flash accordingly to enhance your surroundings.
A, slightly more advanced, tip for shooting directly into sun may change your travel photos forever. It is always best to keep the sunlight behind the photographer, and use shade to prevent poor results. This is not always possible. If you must shoot into the sun, use your flash or a Neutral Density filter. These tips should get you started.
