Looking into the sun

On January 26, 2011January 26, 2011 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography

I remember reading the manual for the Canon PowerShot S5 (and later for the Canon EOS Rebel T1i) and one of the things they say NOT to do was to point the camera directly at the sun.

Well, I couldn’t help it, I did it numerous times with the S5 and I certainly didn’t stop when I got the T1i, although doing it with the T1i hurts more since I am looking through the viewfinder and not using a LCD screen 🙂

One of the dangers of taking a photograph pointing into the sun is losing most of the correct colour in the scene, but since I was planning a BW with this one back in September of last year, I don’t think that consideration mattered too much.

This is the bandstand at the Kingston seawall, with the Pegasus Hotel seen behind it, and the sun behind them 🙂

14 thoughts on “Looking into the sun”

Nikhil Ramkarran

If I ever become dictator, I will dictate that all light poles and electricity wires be outlawed 🙂 Oh, and looking into the sun with the optical viewfinder is as bad as looking at the sun with your naked eye (yes, I know I do it all the time too).

January 26, 2011 at 3:55 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  They could at least place the lamps in aesthetically pleasing positions 🙂 and run the wires underground
  
  January 26, 2011 at 4:08 pm Reply
2. James
  
  Worse than naked eye, if you have a zoom lens fitted! But at least you tend to look into the sun later in the day, rather than pointing the camera straight up at the sun at midday!
  
  January 29, 2011 at 5:52 am Reply
  1. themichaellamcollection
    
    Yes James 🙂 ahem, about that mid-day sun… I did that for a perihelion… twice. Once with the PowerShot S5, and then again with the SLR…
    http://www.TheMichaelLamCollection.com/oddsandends/e8e92de8
    Not something to do too often 🙂
    
    January 29, 2011 at 8:28 am
Rose

It is amazing how the light from the sun seem to hurt your eyes even looking at this picture. Good sho

January 26, 2011 at 4:09 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks A Rose, I hope it doesn’t dazzle you 🙂
  
  January 26, 2011 at 4:34 pm Reply
photosbymartina

Neat view, too bad the lamp post was there. Can you remove it?

January 26, 2011 at 11:51 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Martina, I could either go chop it down and re-take the shot, or spend some time cloning it out 🙂
  
  January 27, 2011 at 8:55 am Reply
David Williams

Lol, now there’s a picture waiting to happen…chopping down a lamp post that is! Nice shot.

January 27, 2011 at 10:12 am Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks David, well, this particular area is right outside the police barracks, so I won’t be trying it 🙂
  
  January 27, 2011 at 10:16 am Reply
sasi (my3rdi.org)

I think lamppost plays it’s part in this composition – although aesthetically it doesn’t look good 😉

January 27, 2011 at 11:04 pm Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  Thanks Sasi, I know what you mean 🙂
  
  January 28, 2011 at 9:06 am Reply
Journey Photographic

Gotta say, the rule about never pointing your camera at the sun is one rule I ignore with abandon!

January 28, 2011 at 10:05 am Reply
1. themichaellamcollection
  
  JP, I’m not sure its a rule, but a camera manufacturer warning 🙂 but its still something to ignore and come away with interesting images 🙂
  
  January 28, 2011 at 10:31 am Reply