Happy summer everyone! I’m Thomas J. Story, Sunset’s staff photographer for going on 25 years now. Throughout my time at the magazine, I have tried to pick up techniques that help me make more impactful images. I hope to share a few of those ideas with you here, especially as we are in peak summer-travel season.
Being in the throes of summer, we know that the sun can be strong and harsh. I try to plan out my day based on early-morning and late-afternoon shooting, and fill the middle of the day with interiors, food shots, and other subjects located where the light is a little more easily controlled. That said, there are times when you are where you are, and have to deal with that mid-day light. Here are my top eight tips for getting the shot in the summertime.
1. Believe in Bracketing
A lot of cameras have an auto bracket mode that allows you to shoot multiple exposures quickly, which you can composite later in post-production to expand the dynamic range. This basically means you are finding and recovering the detail in shadows and highlights. You have exposures for shadow detail, and exposures for highlights, and blend them together.
Thomas J. Story
2. Bet on Black and White
Engage those shadows and highlights by visualizing the image in monochrome. This can be highly effective in intense light, and gives a great vintage look.
3. Lean into the Shadows
Hard light can also be incredibly beautiful, so embrace it. Instead of trying to light your way out of shadows, know that strong graphic contrasts and saturated colors are a look!
Thomas J. Story
4. Don’t Miss the Moment
Timing is everything in photography, and in life. I had a shoot in Monument Valley where my assistant and I were up at 4:30 a.m. to make sure we were in place, tripods were set up, and that images got composed before the sun came up. If there’s an image you really want to get, you’ve got to prepare. Use an app like Sun Seeker that will show you the position of the sun in the sky at any time of day to know exactly where you need to be to get the shot.
Thomas J. Story
5. Invest in Tools of the Trade
Some items I always have with me are lens shades for all my lenses to help reduce flare, a blower for sensor cleaning, spare batteries, and SD cards.
6. Tag It Up
I also keep Apple AirTags in all my camera and laptop bags so I know exactly where they are at any point in time.
Thomas J. Story
7. Change Your Perspective
Not all images need to be made from eye level. Stand on a wall, lay down on the sidewalk, play around, and change up your point of view.
8. Stay Hydrated
Don’t forget that when you’re shooting, you’re carrying lots of gear and moving around. Especially in the heat, it’s important to get plenty of water in your system.
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