Don't worry, I am with you

[light50]

With these type of shots there is no time for bracketing. How can I avoid in the future losing details due to "heavy light"?(See horse on the left) I have used f/8, 1/100s, Iso 200 The RAW file has no details either. It happened with other pictures too...wondering if this is a camera issue?

[Lovin]

I don't think it's a camera issue.
In this case maybe was the time of the day when you took the photo, like if it was 1 or 2:00pm than the light is harsh and hard to avoid it.

[light50]

I don't think it's a camera issue.
In this case maybe was the time of the day when you took the photo, like if it was 1 or 2:00pm than the light is harsh and hard to avoid it.

Thanks Lovin. It happened around 10 am.

[Iguanasan]

As much as we would wish it was otherwise, our cameras just can't capture the full dynamic range that our eyes can see. By 10am on a bright sunny day the light reflecting off something white can blow the highlights terribly.

It's hard to say 100% if there was no avoiding this or not but likely you had no choice.

[Richard]

Like Iguanasan said, that might just be a limitation of your camera's dynamic range, which is pretty similar across most makes and models. You only options with moving thing are:

1. shoot in the shade.
2. shoot earlier or later in the day.
3. Try a single RAW shoot HDR
4. Add artificial light to control the dynamic range.


If you get time to review a shot on the camera have a look at the histogram and look for the dreaded blinkies in the highlights, you can always go full manual and exposure your shot darker.

I had a very quick go at cloning out your blown highlights (5. Try and fix in post production.)

In terms of the shot, love this one, you have caught a beautiful moment with the two horses rubbing noses.

[light50]

Like Iguanasan said, that might just be a limitation of your camera's dynamic range, which is pretty similar across most makes and models. You only options with moving thing are:

1. shoot in the shade.
2. shoot earlier or later in the day.
3. Try a single RAW shoot HDR
4. Add artificial light to control the dynamic range.


If you get time to review a shot on the camera have a look at the histogram and look for the dreaded blinkies in the highlights, you can always go full manual and exposure your shot darker.

I had a very quick go at cloning out your blown highlights (5. Try and fix in post production.)

In terms of the shot, love this one, you have caught a beautiful moment with the two horses rubbing noses.

Thank you Richard for your detailed feedback. You have improved the image a lot. Initially I thought that the horse is blindsided, therefore there was some "oohh" factor in this picture, and is being "helped and encouraged" by the other horse. But shortly after I have posted the picture I read that actually is wearing a fly mask, so the drama is gone.

[Mad Aussie]

I can't add to the great advice you've received. I can only say that in that situation I would shoot darker and lift the dark areas in PS later on.

It's a very cool moment you captured there. I think it still has it's "oooh" factor

[light50]

Thank you Iguanasan and MA for your advice.

[light50]

I can't add to the great advice you've received. I can only say that in that situation I would shoot darker and lift the dark areas in PS later on.

It's a very cool moment you captured there. I think it still has it's "oooh" factor

The way they approached each other made me sure that there is a certain communication going on between the two...and I was ready in the next moment to catch the intimacy(well except the ev)...
I have followed Richard's and your advice, just to convince myself that it is possible...and I got this shot(11 am, full sun, -2ev, some pp)...I know I have a long way to go, but it was a whiiiiiiii moment for me...

[Marko]

This is a really nice catch!

EXCELLENT advice here.

If this were my shot and I had a chance to shoot a second frame, then I would have looked at the histogram (or on my screen where I have have a setting so that clipped highlights blink, so i don't even have to look at the histogram) and realized that the rump was clipped.

I then would have then underexposed the next image by a good 1-2 stops. The rump would then look good and I'd try to bring the rest of the image out in PP as MA suggests.

If I still had time I probably would have shot a third frame with fill flash set to about minus 2 to add extra light to the horses' faces.

Richard's quick cloning shows the potential to fix this image.

Hope that helps - Marko