How to not by blinded by the sun with an SLR?

[jasondunsmore]

I tried taking a photo of the sun, and the flare completely messed up the photo. So I took a photo with the sun blocked by a tree, then added the sun back in with software. Here is <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/3910276">the result</a>.

 

A more detailed description can be found <a href="http://phototechnic.blogspot.com/2005/11/joshua-tree.html">here</a>.

[mark_chappell]

I don't shoot the sun very often unless it's close to the horizon (and hence much of the

light

has been filtered out by a lot of atmosphere). I share Ilkka's concern about retinal

damage

and I think he's correct that you'll get equal sunlight intensity with an f2.8 lens of any

focal length (or, of course, any other shared maximum aperture). But you'll potentially do

more damage

with, say, a 400/2.8 than with a 10/2.8 simply because the image of the sun will be much

larger with the tele

than with the wideagle, so you'll be subjecting a much greater area of retina to the intense

light of

the sun's image.

 

If anyone wants to try shooting the midday sun, proceed with considerable caution.

[sean de merchant httpw]

An interesting alternative (from another thread).

 

http://www.intro2020.co.uk/pages/zigview.htm

 

Probably not too hot for critical focus, but it would protect your eyes.

 

enjoy,

 

Sean

[cyrus khamak]

Placing a peice of B+W film negayive over the viewfinder while shooting into the sun, I believe is very effective. I've been shooting into the sun using this method for years and I still have very good eyes!

[cyrus khamak]

Meant to attach this image.