The brilliant, contrasty light of sunny days can be kept under control in many ways:

• A polarizing filter can darken a light blue sky and reduce or eliminate hot spots and reflections.

• Graduated gray filters like the Cokin, are available in 1 and 2 stop ranges and the Tiffen graduated neutral filters available in a range of 1,2, and 3 stops. The Tiffen glass filters fit the Cokin "P" series holders.

• I carry a 4’x4' silver foil-covered canvas reflector to fill shadows. It is rolled on wooden dowels.

• My white rip-stop nylon diffuser casts soft, open shadows. I roll it on wooden dowels and store it with the foil-covered reflector.

• Fill-flash, especially in the balanced matrix exposure modes possible with new cameras like the Nikon 8008, F4, and the N90, can be very subtle and a very effective way to reduce contrast.

• Try using a lower contrast film with pastel-like colors like the new Agfacolor "Portrait" and Fuji’s Astia professional color slide film.

• "Pull" or over-expose and under-develop your E-6 slide film. Shoot your Fujichrome RD100 at ISO 50 and ask your lab to "pull" the film. This shortens the development time and reduces its contrast.

• Use color negative film, especially if you are shooting for prints. It has more exposure latitude.

• Dodging, burning, waterbath developers, etc. are very useful for reducing contrast.

• Try "masking" your slides and negatives before printing them. This is THE most effective way of producing a print that looks exactly like your slide. Kodak’s Pan Masking film is listed in their graphic arts catalog. Check with your lab to see if they can "mask" your slides before printing.

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