Sky's Blown Out - Any Help Appreciated

[LaaLaa]

Hi

I'm new to the MP and am experimenting but can't seem to get the sky to calm down without editing. Is it simply ND filters? ND4 isn't doing the job.
Surprised this can't be resolved in software - or maybe it can.
Thanks in advance.

 

[gavcuk]

What white balance setting is being used?

 

[Rnl]

I use 8 or 16 most times, really sunny 32, I'm not a professional but to me makes big difference in colors.

 

[gavcuk]

Can you select a faster shutter speed?

 

[4wd]

It's a little over-exposed, or rather to save the sky you'd need to underexpose the rest and lift it later with levels or something.
This is something you will get with any camera and bright cloud sort of days are worst.
If you start with RAW file you can make significantly more adjustment before things start to look bad.

 

[Kilrah]

Looks like you've set some positive exposure compensation and thus overexposed.

 

[ecoleman]

First of all, white balance has absolutely nothing to do with exposure so ignore that question.
Unfortunately what you are experiencing is common in video and photography. The camera has a narrow dynamic range and can not correctly expose both the highlights (sky) and the shadows (ground).

In photography we use graduated filters, but this isn't an option with drones. The only thing you can do is dial down the exposure to capture the sky and hopefully you will pull back the shadows in post, or you sacrifice the sky. If you are unable to drop your exposure or need to keep a set shutter speed then you can use an ND filter.

Remember that whilst you may be able to pull back a fair amount of shadow detail (albeit with some noise), once you have blown out details such as in the sky, you will never recover any detail.

 

[LaaLaa]

Thanks for the comments, everything was set to auto whilst I concentrate on the flying side of things, an ND Grad would be great but practicalities stop that.
The video was also too bright so I'll look at EV, perhaps I changed it unintentionally as overflying trees and looking down had the same issue.
Glad flight times are generous as it allows time to make amendments in the air.
Great forum, this is my first proper post as a lot of stuff I was looking for can be found by searching.

 

[Kilrah]

It's easy to turn the exposure compensation dial by mistake.

 

[LaaLaa]

It's easy to turn the exposure compensation dial by mistake.

You know what - I might have done that as I've had a play with settings and am a bit more comfortable with them now, deleted original files so can't check EXIF but can make adjustments whilst in the air. Excellent.
Appreciate the help and comments - got me to the right area and no RTFM comments!
Reminds me of the time I tried to remove a blemish with Photoshop when the mark was on the screen.
Cheers

 

[Dale Rodgers]

Do you have the histogram turned on and know what to do with it?

I used to have a tendency to over expose and blow the sky as I'd adjust to what looked good on my phone screen. On a bright day I'd turn up the dial so I could see the screen and mess it all up.

The over exposure warning zebra stripes are a quick indicator as well.

 

[LaaLaa]

Do you have the histogram turned on and know what to do with it?

I used to have a tendency to over expose and blow the sky as I'd adjust to what looked good on my phone screen. On a bright day I'd turn up the dial so I could see the screen and mess it all up.

The over exposure warning zebra stripes are a quick indicator as well.

I tend to go by what I see rather than the histogram and need to have a go with the camera settings...

I did turn the iphone brightness right up as it was a sunny day so all these things conspired against a good shot.
Thanks