Shown below are two shots that were taken from an (nearly) identical viewpoint with different apertures. You can see how color is lost and the image looks severely overexposed with the example on the left. It might as well be shot in black and white. This is also a good illustration of how a large (small numbered) aperture affects the depth of field. The trash can is razor sharp in the photo on the left, while the monument in the back is quite blurry and out of focus. This is because the trash can was used as the focal point.
However, if you are focusing off an object in the background your photo may have objects in your foreground which lack definition. The photo to the right is a good example of this. Although the difference in definition between the trash can and the monument isn't as exaggerated, as example to the left, it can still be seen when taking a closer look at the trash can in the photo on the right. A way to correct, if not solve, this problem would be to set the focus off of the trash can and use a very small aperture (F18-32). By doing this the objects in the far back may be only slightly less defined. As long as there are objects in the foreground and background it may be quite difficult, if not impossible, to have the entire scene properly focused.
You could also stand farther back from the trash can, and focus on the monument. This would alleviate much of the blurriness with the trash can. Later you would also be able to crop the image and reframe your scene.
So shooting in color during the harsh daylight sun just doesn't look all that pleasing. This problem was compounded by the fact that I was shooting towards the sun. This is one of the worst things that you can do, and it will be impossible to reach a decent looking, even exposure. Also, you will notice a shadow that has formed at the base of the monument that is cast in my direction. Without flash, or shooting in the shade, you will have mid-day shadows that occur. In this case the sun was directly behind the pillar, and was rather low in the sky, which is evidenced by the whitish sky. Shooting with a polarizer is a good way to lessen the harshness of the mid-day sky.
Truthfully, I don't care for either one of these, but they serve as a good example of techniques that may be used to offset the adverse effects of the harshness of the sun during the mid-day hours.
Canon 5D Mark II Canon 5D Mark II
Focal Length 24 Focal Length 24
Aperture 4 Aperture 10
Shutter 1/640 Shutter 1/200
ISO 100 ISO 100
Venice Beach
California, United States
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