Blown Out Windows

[KyleProhaska]

How would you shoot a shot of someone with a window somewhere behind them? I can't think of a way to expose the window properly without keeping everything else way dark inside the house. Yea I can light the person to high heaven but then my DOF is lost because I stopped the Iris down. How would you solve that?

I remember my old GS400 having an exposure setting, I have an A1 now and I don't think it has anything like that...it should but am I just missing it?

- Kyle

 

[Luis Caffesse]

You can either put ND on the windows - or light the subject to match the exposure outside.
If you choose to light the subject, just use ND on your camera to allow you to open the iris to retain the DOF you want in the shot.

OR - shoot it really early in the morning or really late in the afternoon when the light level is more managable.

 

[GND]

I've covered window's with clear (thin/white) tissue paper....make sure you do a good job stretching it out against the window so theres no wrinkles in it and use clear tape blended into the window frame.

It was the same tactic used on the film Amadeus. (well...they said thats what they did on the directors commentary...I tried it in my house for a short film scene and sure enough it worked great...)

the only problem is the window isn't clear anymore, but if you have a shallow DOF and the window would be somewhat (or totally) out of focus anyway, it's fine.

oh and if it's too bright, just add more layers of tissue paper.