19. Eclipse the Sun

After several years of using high-speed sync (HSS) to light portraits in full sunlight at a wide aperture, I decided to compare the HSS approach against shooting using a variable neutral-density filter (ND). The setup in Figure 19.1 was the perfect challenge for both techniques: a bright day made brighter by reflections. Before I get into the details of the shoot, though, let’s review how each technique works.

Image

Figure 19.1 The setup. I was shooting during the brightest part of the day, using a combination of a cloudless sky and snow on the ground as a reflector. It was bright.

A Gun at a Knife Fight

HSS allows you to shoot ...

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