Get Professional Shots in Harsh Light - Here's the Secret...

In this video, I visit Milner Public Gardens on Vancouver Island and challenge myself to make images in less-than-ideal light. If you want to learn some tips on photographing in harsh light, look no further.
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[@BretLittle]

The last shot is the money shot!

[@Loopsrainforest]

I actually listened to an interview with you talking about your medium format garden photography before you started your KZbin channel & I was stoked when I realized the connection.

[@marcuswagar7246]

The umbrella is a good idea.

[@maggiemae1969]

Love the lily pad image!!

[@randomphotoadventure]

Great video, Adam, and lovely images. Even under challenging conditions. I always appreciate your flower / garden photography, you're obviously very skilled given your past career. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us each week!

[@tomfriend24081959]

Harsch light is allways challenging. Great Pins anyway!

[@dontait8866]

Thanks!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks very much!👍🏼

[@arieldevillers4244]

Beautiful pictures!

[@DARBHERB]

Thank you for the video!! This help a lot, most of my time I’m with my kids and is difficult to go out early in the morning or before sunset light!

[@warrenlloyd7532]

Good video Adam, and encouraging to see that even the best can struggle under tricky conditions! I particularly liked the tones and textures in the shots of the cedar trees

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@denniswiemer72]

Thank you for another lesson.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

My pleasure!

[@steveconnors3233]

Very educational and inspiring video Adam Thankyou very much 😊

[@QuietLightPhoto]

My pleasure!

[@ricknicholson5894]

Who knew, turns out we're almost neighbours. I live in Eaglecrest in QB. I have done some shooting in Milner Gardens. Chuck and Di stayed there at the quaint house you are familiar with when they helped open Expo 86. I know you have photographed at Cathedral Grove and now Milner Gardens but I will suggest Heritage park if you haven't shot there (right beside Crown Mansion - the large white building, also beside the public QB golf course). If you see someone lumbering about with a tripod and much too heavy Canon camera there, that will be me. Also there is a large "off leash" dog walking area I like to tell newbies who have just fled Vancouver, it's kind of like walking your dog in Stanley Park. I have photographed in there, but it is the least photogenic of all the other locations mentioned, but fun nonetheless. If you go to the QB civic center and go to the left of it into a large parking lot, you will see a wooden stand which is the entrance to the dog park area (I'm not talking about the fenced in dog park you will also see).

[@alanscott-fs6ff]

Thanks Marra

[@ponderingnugget]

Mr. Gibbs, your work is always so inspiring to me. Thank you for another useful video on how to create art in far from ideal conditions. Your artistic sensibilities are bloody brilliant in my opinion. Cheers!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@hilleviupmanis8687]

Thank you!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

You bet!

[@DarrenJSpoonley]

The weather has sucked here also for what seems like an age !! It’s broke now for a short time but clear skies are coming back !! You did well in those conditions buddy 💪

[@georgefrench1907]

You clearly have not lost your garden-photography chops. The tree shots were excellent as well. Thanks, Adam.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@EdwardKilner]

For me, a very timely video. I will be attempting some photos in likely harsh light this coming Father’s Day weekend. Saturday brings my granddaughter’s graduation from my alma mater, U of Waterloo’s engineering school. At least I know the harsh lighting conditions well, but it will be a challenge. Sunday brings a visit to Mississauga’s Riverwood Conservancy with my daughter and perhaps my granddaughter. This will be likely a dead-on replica of the conditions you encountered. Don’t have scrims and such, do have a macro lens and some flash equipment, plus a variable neutral density filter. Still, I’m expecting challenges. Thanks for this video.

[@oakspringphotos]

Sign of a really good photographer Adam, being able to create some great images, even in challenging light/conditions👍

[@shannonsnow8298]

Absolutely gorgeous! Love the colours 💛

[@DonybrookandBray]

Had similar challenges at Inverewe Gardens in Wester Ross last week. Beautiful Gardens but harsh light all morning with intermittent cloud in the afternoon which kinda saved the day. Great video with harsh light and post mitigating tips. Enjoyed as always.

[@cmeluzzi]

Thank you for the video, Adam. Here in Brazil we have harsh light all year round, so this kind of challenge is business as usual here. This shading technique is quitr useful for small subjects. For the woods or landscape, maybe underexposing as you did with the trees is the best that we can do. Many thanks, very inspirational work!

[@roobarb7989]

Great to see you return to your roots!! Like some of your techniques to create shade. My day job is also photographing gardens here on the island (I gave you passes to come visit). Totally relate to the harsh, hot weather we are experiencing this past month and it's challenges. Cheers - Terry.

[@nicknichols4249]

When out taking closeups, especially on a bright sunny days I'll bring with a small collapsible round reflector and just use the white diffuser, makes life easier for me. Thanks for always providing great content Adam!

[@stevechilvers1322]

Great video as always Adam. LOVE the last shot.

[@DavesEpicPhoneShots]

Great pro tips! Thanks Adam.

[@jaypage8823]

A good video Adam, both entertaining and educational. You managed to find a few good captures despite the conditions, the experienced eye knows what to look for. We have had the same conditions in the BC interior this year too, difficult to get inspired.

[@AliasJimWirth]

I enjoyed this video's content. Thank you, Adam.

[@erkko69]

Stunning video again👍😀🇫🇮🦜🌷🐘🌴🌲!!! Cant wait to see your trip in Madeira! Thank you! ♥️

[@wolfw6695]

Love your KZbin channel. Always learn something... I try to shoot flowers etc. in perfect light...When not possible I use my gold reflector and diffuser at the same time. I hold the gold reflector in my hand and I use my Wimberly Plamp to hold the diffuser. Always on a tripod of course...Works well..

[@599miata]

Great flower photos Adam.

[@bonniehoskin9212]

Thank you for sharing! As always, your videos are a source of inspiration.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Glad you like them!

[@jsimes1]

Oh that is a brilliant idea I might try and hit the local botanical gardens down in Portsmouth. I'll need to plan it around the tourists though! I have a hard enough time with landscape photography when I'm in the middle of the woods all by myself. The yellow iris photos at the end were stunning.

[@ammadoux]

thanks so much, those are stunning shot.

[@davidhall6327]

Cheers Adam, Very informative as always. Amazing what you can eek out of harsh light conditions.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mickeystine3100]

Very nice shots 👍👍👍

[@patmcshane8976]

Adam I really enjoyed this video. I especially liked the images for the cedars which I thought were very graphic ...loved the detail of the bark, the colors and the varying vertical lines...really really nice!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks so much!

[@user-kc2hc6rx4j]

umbrela trick was extremly useful tip thanks

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Great tips for the season. I’d like to see your editing process for the yellow iris. Getting decent definition in a yellow plant is a bear in any kind of bright light.

[@OntarioHikingTrails]

Thanks for the video Adam. I have been struggling lately here in Ontario even with filtered light from the wildfires I just cant get into it and then my tripod blew over with a 70-200 attached to it and on the end of that a Nikon D810. Snapped the mount in 2 places but I think the lens is OK. I just ordered another one from Adorama for $900 US.

[@iank1638]

Love these photos, 16:53 is my favourite. Thanks for the video

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@frankwachter.]

Great Pictures 👍🍺

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks 👍

[@billkipper3264]

Excellent photos Adam. Especially with the conditions. While it's sunny and hot there it's been cool and wet here in Colorado. Hope you get some of the same soon.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Many thanks!

[@jean-guyhuot7869]

Very interesting tips thanks. Hope you're not too much affected by the fires in your area.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Not at all

[@paulmoore721]

Adam, we could have a talk long and compare notes over an adult beverage about photographing gardens for magazines. I have worked with several of the ones you mentioned in the past, back when print was king. I have some funny, and not-so-funny experiences while on assignment that I know you could relate to.

[@tompetersphotography]

Lovely job buddy, loved how you worked the light

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks 👍

[@thomasphillips5850]

Thanks for the great video Adam, just a simple question have you considered doing a book on your travels in Africa. I think that would be winner. Great images today as usual, especially the focus stacked shots . Thanks again for taking us along.

[@SD_Alias]

What works quite well in situations like in 3:50 is not such an in my opinion too opaque umbrella but a silkscreen. I used a foldable oval reflector with aluminum foil and threw away the foil and put in a sheet of white silk. that produces a much softer light but the scene has still some light and shadows but not so much contrast as direct sunlight.

[@jarsok245]

Bardzo dobry przekaz :-) pozdrawiam z Polski Jarek

[@hartreflectionsphotography1111]

❤

[@WilsonPhotography1]

Have you ever tried a white shoot through umbrella? I find that they allow a nice soft light to fall on the subject.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Yes good tip

[@duncansteward4331]

fine vlog --- shows you dont need loads of expensive gear; just work arounds.

[@albertzhager7852]

I would still overlay images in Photoshop with different transparency and take a couple of frames using a reflector, in the worst case, an umbrella for reflection, but it would be better to use a flash in my hand, after shading everything with an umbrella.

[@mikepenney5726]

My top secret light controller is a white plastic trash bag. Diffuser or reflector. Inflate it for a third method. Sit on it if the log is wet.

[@EdwardKilner]

Great idea, thank you!

[@thinkvlog_4life503]

Nice Video And Awesome Shots Adam.... So When It's Super Sunny.. Its Best To Go Deep In The Woods?... Or Just Wait For Blue Hour Or Golden Hour?.... Or Sun Rise And Sun Sets ?... Sorry I Am Still Learning Photography

[@QuietLightPhoto]

All of the above

[@fototripper]

I wonder how your 100s will perform against this Hassy. Perhaps a comparison video is in order. We might be heading somewhat West this summer. Perhaps a meet-up?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Right now not very well as it's getting repaired again.

[@Ed-davies]

Beautiful shots as always Adam. Forgot to ask on last weeks video, I notice you’re using the gfx100 rather than the gfx100s, have you had issues with the 100s?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Yes I am!

[@kenharnish5778]

As always I enjoyed your video and images. I have a couple of questions. Why did you use a 5.6 appature? Why not f/16? And will you ever do a viewer submitted critique again? Again great video and love your approach to videos and photos. Keep em coming!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Im not sure what image you're referring to but at 5.6 I perhaps needed a shallower depth of field

[@JosephTMyers]

on the one cedar tree shot (13:45-13:53) i noticed you took out the orange ish hues of light and the result was to darken the tree a bit kinda brown and gray...i really liked the orange hues, was that from direct sunlight making it look like that?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Wasn’t as orange as depicted in the raw file. I prefer more neutral

[@blivieriphoto]

Absolutely love your flower/garden photos, harsh light or not. Great tips. 😊

[@Xo1ot1]

Last photo has to look good on a wall: white stone, wooden frame and this 16:50.

[@horstschoninger1265]

🎯 ... You put a lot of work into your video. Always like your videos. Wish I you would be my neighbor. Haha... Thanks again!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Thanks 👍

[@idoncov00]

Hi Adam. Sorry to bother you again. On the iris shot you used the 1.4 teleconverter on the 100-200 to bring it up to 202. Why not just zoom to 200 and forget the tele? Was it something about the extension tube that forced you to use the tele?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

The tele just gave me a bit more working distance from the subject. The 100-200 may have worked from that distance with a tube, I didn’t bother to try

[@Ericbjohnston5150]

Use off camera strobe to control light using high speed sync.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Awesome idea thanks for the tips never thought of that.🙄

[@Ericbjohnston5150]

@@QuietLightPhoto wasn't really meant for you Adam, for those who are learning bright light photography.

[@capriciouspixels65]

*Not* unprecedented. Otherwise very informative video, cheers!

[@QuietLightPhoto]

How so?

[@grosema]

I see your rocking the Old GFX 100 are you just giving the 100s a Break ... I only have the GFX 100 and its still Working Great

[@QuietLightPhoto]

100s is in for repair

[@grosema]

@@QuietLightPhoto Yes I guess I should have Known ...God Old Reliable 100... good thing you did not sell it !!

[@andreyshabalin2079]

@@QuietLightPhoto Greetings Adam! What really happened to your 100s? I plan to buy a gfx100, not the s. Didn't you have that kind of problem with gfx100?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

No it was the 100s stuck front dial. Same issue again this time around

[@andreyshabalin2079]

@@QuietLightPhoto So, this did not happen with a regular 100?

[@L.Spencer]

Why don't you own a flash? Are they not used much in this type of photography?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

I never really had the need to use one to be honest

[@seoulrydr]

first!

[@thedarkslide]

Why not brutally under expose, expose for the highlights and fill the shadows with flash?

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

He doesn't own a flash.

[@ateliercunha2876]

Why back to GFX100 (not GFX100s)? Thanks.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

GFX 100 is in for repair

[@ateliercunha2876]

@@QuietLightPhoto Hi Adam, thanks for your reply. I hope it's not a costly and complicated repair. I didn't know you still had the GFX100, but in some of your recent videos I have noticed that the weather there is a bit altered and you have to deal with stronger sun, more contrasted light and all that makes it difficult to use a screen as well as the scenes themselves. I am used to a lot of sun and so I remembered that I might have resorted to the GFX100 with a rotating EVF, for bright sunny situations. I use the GFX50R and I wish I had the GFX100 with the rotating EVF to compose with good vision, under strong sun and in the various positions that an EVF allows. Cheers.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

How to shoot nature in harsh light: (1) Make the light less harsh

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Pretty much sums it up😂🤘🏼

[@ddavis196311]

So you did ask for a comment, why do you need to jerryrig your lense to get a closeup shot when you have a million pixel camera. ever tried cropping? other than that very educational.

[@QuietLightPhoto]

102mp, to be exact. Why? For the same reason that anyone would with any other camera. Why crop when I can get closer with an extension tube? Why spend $20000 on a 600mm lens for wildlife when you can crop the same frame out of a $1200 300mm? Why spend $200 000 on a car when you can still get from A to B in a much cheaper vehicle? No difference.

[@ddavis196311]

@@QuietLightPhoto well your probably right. you never know when you might need a billboard size picture of a flower

[@josdenis3684]

I wonder: what is a professional shot???

[@QuietLightPhoto]

The only differences between a professional and amateur that I know of is one makes a living from photography. The other is consistency. If you can consistently deliver results regardless of the conditions then that also would be regarded as professional.

[@josdenis3684]

@Adam Gibbs yes, but a great photo can come from an amateur or a professional. That's why I don't understand "a professional shot". Is that a shot for which one is payed?

[@QuietLightPhoto]

@@josdenis3684 yes, isn’t that what I just wrote above? You’re right great shots come from both amateur and professionals, and in many cases amateurs are better than the pros. If you’re referring to my title then all I can say is that for anyone to be a professional you need to deliver consistently what the client wants. Professionals overall will go out on a limb to get the image needed for the client hence “get professional shots in harsh light” sells the video a bit better than “get amateur shots in harsh light”

[@FlatWaterFilms]

Where I go, one wouldn't be carrying all that gear, nor being dressed like that. 🙂 Just sayin'

[@QuietLightPhoto]

Yeah they don’t allow gimp suits at the gardens so I had to make do😘

[@FlatWaterFilms]

@@QuietLightPhoto lol - was in harsh conditions yesterday. Water poof boots, hiking poles, fjallraven pants, tilly hat, gloves and lot's of bug spray. All handheld with only one lens. 3 hours later I was ready for some coffee and banana bread. 🙂

[@felicityrostron9406]

❤