Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Bad Weather, Good Light: Getting Flexible Along with your Photography

By Amos Navarro


We have all sat, staring out of our window and cursing at the rain pouring down or the flat, grey sky that only happened to cloud over on couple of hours we've managed to reserve within our tight timetable to go out and shoot several photos. But stop worrying for the opportunistic and organized photographer.

Show patience - After many rainfalls or storms, comes an amazing burst of light. Often this light lasts only momentarily, but will be worth waiting around for. But you're not going to catch it if you're still staring from that window. Part of making good photographs is being an opportunist. Weather reports can certainly be accessible online, over the radio, and in newspapers, often with details. You could be able to find out if the cloud cover or storm is about to pass. In any other case, step out anyway. Yes, it may all be in vain and remain gray and unappealing until nightfall and be a total waste, but what happens if it's not? In case you speak with, or read any book written by an excellent landscape photographer, they'll tell you stories about precisely how they visited a location dozens of times and waited for several hours just before getting that certain in a million shot. Have a look at that shot. Could it have been worthy of time? The chances are it absolutely was. Think about the satisfaction gained from someone looking at your photo and letting out a breathless "Wow!" Then you will be the one telling the stories.

Yes, it might all be in vain and remain gray and unappealing until nightfall and be a total waste of time, but what if it's not? In case you talk to, or read any book published by an excellent landscape photographer, they will tell you stories about how they visited a place dozens of times and waited for several hours prior to getting those certain in a million shot. Have a look at that shot. Was it worth the time? Odds are it was. Think about satisfaction gained from someone checking out your photo and letting out a breathless "Wow!" Then you will are the one telling the stories.

Be ready - Have you done any research on your own subject? Have you visited your location right now of day before? Do you have a list, or perhaps a mental outline, of the photos you need? Have you thought about the gear you'll need to use? Answering these questions will take you a long way to being able to seize the moment when it does eventually arrive. Rather than fumbling around attempting to attach lenses, tripods, filters and any other gadgets that may be necessary, (and I do mean "might"), you may simply be capable of step out of your car, or hiding place, gear in hand, and calmly collect the photos you've been imagining. Just a little foresight in looking after these things beforehand lets you focus completely on taking photos once in the field. Just like anything else, if you can concentrate completely, you will probably do a better job.

What's your purpose? - Think about what you actually want to achieve with these pictures. Do you even need blue skies? Many a moody, muted landscape has been created making use of the worst climate conditions. If you have a desire for shooting black and white images, you'll probably be set for a real treat. Many subjects, including outdoor portraits, can also work better in overcast conditions, assisting you to pick up the lines in someone's face and add character towards portrait while not having to be concerned about your subject squinting their eyes from the sun or dark shadows appearing over half of their face.

What's your goal? - Take into consideration what you actually want to achieve with your pictures. Will you even need blue skies? Many a moody, muted landscape has been given making use of the worst varying weather conditions. For those who have an interest in shooting black and white images, you'll probably be in for a real treat. Numerous subjects, such as outdoor portraits, can work better in overcast conditions, making it possible to get the lines in someone's face and add character to the portrait while not having to worry about your subject squinting their eyes from the sun or dark shadows appearing over half of their face. Best photography, like everything else, arises from having a clear goal and using the steps important to do it. It also comes from dealing with the elements and planning various possibilities. Open yourself up to new ideas and you may discover that your photography improves markedly.




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