Shooting In Harsh Sunlight

Shooting into sunlight, especially in harsh conditions, is often considered a big no-no in landscape photography. The risks are real! Direct sunlight can damage your camera's sensor and lead to overexposed images that lack detail. This rule is one of the basics that most landscape photographers strictly follow.

However, as with many rules, there are times when bending them can lead to something truly special. Understanding the risks and challenges allows you to approach these situations with caution and creativity. In the image above, I decided to break the rule and shoot directly into the sunlight. To manage the extreme contrast, I took three different exposures: one underexposed by 2 stops, one overexposed by 2 stops, and one at the standard exposure. Later, I carefully blended these exposures in Photoshop, bringing out the best details in both the highlights and shadows.

While I wouldn’t recommend making this a habit, I had a clear idea in my head of how I wanted the final photo to look. By taking multiple exposures, I captured the dynamic range needed to bring my vision to life. This image is a testament to the idea that knowing the rules gives you the confidence to occasionally break them.