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[Mike McCarty]

Patricia,

I think this would be difficult. As you surmised, there is too little variation of light and shadow.

If you must photograph outdoors move your subject under, next to, or adjacent to some structure that has a darker less reflective aspect to it. It's like you are recreating all that is good about a room with a window, namely: a lower ambient shadow light combined with the higher key window light. Your building here is giving off a lot of reflected light and defeating the shadowed side. Notice how the boys darker shirt is beginning to provide this desired shadow to his forearm. Also, be mindful of the position of where the shadow may fall. In your example, the pose would not take advantage of the shadows created by this darker component.

I hope you don't mind me giving an example here of what I mean.

Also, I think you could get more information out of his eyes if you were to bring him either indoors, or, in a better outdoor location. I've heard it said that if you must be in the bright outdoors you should have your subject close their eyes for a few moments, then take the picture immediately upon their opening. The eyes will be wider and less squinting, at least for a short time.