Great nature photography relies on good natural light above
all else. Even a beginner soon learns that for most
landscape photos, the best results are usually early in the
morning and late in the afternoon, when the sun is low, and
the light is soft and colourful. This is a terrific rule to
follow in most situations, but busy lifestyles do not
always allow us to choose the perfect conditions for our
nature photography.
Have you ever planned and set aside a day to get out and
practice your nature photography, only to wake up to grey,
cloudy skies? You are not alone, this happens to us all;
professional and beginner alike. And of course when you are
traveling, you often only have one chance to take your
photos before moving on, so you have to make the best of
the situation as you find it.
Photographers, don't despair. There are many situations
that suit cloudy skies just fine; in fact, some subjects
need overcast weather to create great photos. Here are just
a few situations that you could explore when cloudy weather
threatens to derail your photography outing.
#1. Rainforest Photography. When the sun shines through the
trees in the forest, it creates a patchwork of light and
shade that makes correct exposure almost impossible. You
simply can't manage the contrast in these conditions.
Cloudy weather is actually the best way to take good
rainforest photos. Some would say the cloudier the better,
because if your rainforest is high enough to be in the
clouds, you can capture some very atmospheric misty effects
in the forest.
I live in South East Queensland, so I am close to both the
beach and some fabulous rainforest. My rule is: If it's
sunny, go to the beach. If it's cloudy, take your camera to
the rainforest.
#2. Wildlife Photography (Pets and People Too). Bright
sunlight can be a problem when shooting wildlife. In the
middle part of the day, the sun can create heavy shadows
which make exposure difficult, and rob your photo of
essential colour and detail that gives the subject its
character. Worst of all, sunlight can create shadows on the
face of your subject. As you know, the most important
element of a good wildlife photo is the eyes. If the eyes
in your photo are lost in shadow, the personal connection
with the subject is lost.
Animals do not like looking into the sun any more than you
do, so even early in the morning and late in the afternoon,
when the light is softer, photography can be difficult.
More often than not, you will probably find your subject
turning away from the light.
If you take your photo on a cloudy day, you can capture
your wildlife subject in soft, even light that allows
perfect exposure without ugly shadows. There will also be
less glare reflecting off shiny surfaces (a snake's skin, a
bird's feathers etc.) so your picture can actually appear
more colourful.
#3. Sunset Photography. Clouds create a much more
interesting sunset photo than clear skies. All you need is
for the sun to break through the clouds as they cross the
horizon. A good nature photographer learns to read the sky
and try to predict what is coming. Often on a grey, cloudy
day you will notice that the only patch of clear sky is far
away near the horizon. If that is the case, you can go
looking for a good location and set up for your sunset
photo.
With a bit of luck, there will be several breaks in the
clouds before the sun goes down. If so, you may be in place
to capture some majestic sunbeams, one of the truly great
natural effects that every nature photographer treasures.
Like all things in nature photography, all the planning in
the world means nothing without a bit of luck. You may get
your photo all set up, only to see the gap in the clouds
close and your chance of a good photo disappear.
Persistence wins in the end, so keep trying and from time
to time you will end up with some breathtaking sunset
photos.
I hope these tips encourage you to get out and enjoy your
photography, no matter what the weather is like. As your
experience grows, you will find it easier to read the light
and know what sort of photography suits the conditions.
Until then, practice, practice, practice!
----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Goodall has made his living from nature photography
for over 20 years. See his images at
http://www.naturesimage.com.au Andrew's ebooks "Photography
in Plain English" and "Every Picture Tells A Story" have
helped thousands of beginners learn the art and skills of
nature photography. Find them at
http://www.naturesimage.com.au/page/25/default.asp
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