There is a myth that you can only get great outdoor images either very early or very late in the day. The "sweet hour" is best just before the sun goes down or comes up. Now those are spectacular times to photograph but you can still great images any time of the day. You just have to find that soft light.

It's easy to find, just look for open shade.

Open shade is found anywhere a shadow is cast. It's called Open Shade because of the low contrast and nearly no shadow in the shade.

Open Shade will have a bluish cast, so you will have to adjust your camera's color setting. On the dial it's usually beside the sun symbol, looks like the side of a building with what looks like clouds beside it. This setting will remove the colorcast.

Even at high noon, you can find this light. It could be a sliver of shade under a building's eves overhang, the shadow of a car, or maybe a solid bank of trees. Just be aware that with trees or other foliage, watch out for speckling - this is where the harsh light sneaks through creating a hot spot. Don't let any of that light fall on your subject. It will "burn" them out in your image.

There is deep shade up close to the source, and edge shade which is just before your subject would step into the harsh light. Always put your subject at the shade's edge. The light is softest with some direction still.

By turning your subject different directions you will find the "sweet" part of the shade. You can spot this by the look of the eyes. You will catch lights, bright hot spots in the eyes that give it shape.

If you have a reflector - which can be something as simple as a white sweater or sheet - you can bounce light onto your subject to brighten them up.

Here is a trick for you when shooting in shade: open your exposure up - this means you slightly over-expose the image, or expose for the shadows. This will give their skin tones a wonderful glow. The image overall will be more delicate and pleasing.

You might have to increase your camera's ISO since open shade is darker space to photograph in.

With this trick you should be able to photograph anyone at any time of day and still get amazing images.

Mark Laurie is a Master Photographer, international speaker, author and studio mentor. He teaches extensively in England and Canada. His Revealing Venus Nude & Glamour Photography Workshop is run in Italy. Mark has published 7 books. You can find information on his books, photography, and training at http://www.innerspiritphoto.com/. He is on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/innerspiritphoto

View the original article here