Tip #4673 - Making the Most of Bad Weather
Printer Friendly Version | E-Mail This Tip
Making
the Most of Bad Weather
When it rains,
when lightning strikes and when it snows, you would rather stay indoors
than go outside. Yes, we all love to be in our comfy little homes
when the weather is bad, but that’s a big mistake if you're
trying to get some unique picture shots. In hindsight, you have a
better chance of making your pictures speak "more than a thousand
words" than when you shoot in perfectly normal weather. Here
are a few ways you can use bad weather to your advantage. Let's check
it out!
Play
With Light and Shadow
Two dimensional
and three dimensional scenarios, brightness and contrast and light
and shadow are all things that add special effects to photos taken
in bad weather. Why do I say that? Well, different climatic conditions
add different effects to your images. For example, when the sky is
covered with clouds, the sunlight gets diffused and what you get is
even lighting all around, which is great for landscapes. Then there’s
the condition of the sun peeping out of the clouds. That gives intermittent
light that creates somewhat of a spotlight effect. Similarly, incessant
rain droplets can create reflections, which are great for macro or
close-up photos. On the other hand, shadows do exactly the opposite.
They isolate the subject and create visually interesting layers to
your image by forming diagonal and vertical lines and framing your
subject.
You could play
with contrast using sunlight as well. Bands of clouds in the sky can
be used to highlight or isolate your subject, while foggy conditions
can reduce contrast and create a surreal, dreamy scene. Varying brightness
also helps you play with exposure times. Bad weather provides an opportunity
to highlight motion with long exposures, while artificial lighting
will help you mark out areas of your subject you want to feature with
greater emphasis. In addition, natural elements, such as clouds, fog,
rain droplets, sun rays, river banks, backwaters, branches and trees
help you create depth of field and give a 3D effect to your images.
Research the Weather
If you're on vacation
or stepping out for a "photo walk," it pays to check out
the weather beforehand. One way of doing this is to study the weather
report on TV and in the newspaper. Now, all weather conditions offer
numerous photo opportunities. So, once you know exactly what you'll
encounter on your photo shoot, you'll be able to better prepare yourself
for it.
Become a Photojournalist
Photo journalists
are photographers who go to any place to take a photo, come rain,
sunshine, hail or storm. That’s precisely what they need to
capture devastation, scene of crime, news as it happens and candid
photos. By going out into that kind of weather, you're giving yourself
an opportunity to capture the moods of a person, place or thing in
unusual circumstances, which is something few photographers have accomplished.
Choose the Right Place
Sometimes it’s
also about choosing the right place to set the mood in your photography.
It could be the tiled pavement in front of a store front, the fountain
in the city square or the skyscraper in front of a garden or lake.
What’s even more important is being well aware of the place
and what beauty it holds for you. It then becomes easier for you to
photograph what is out of the ordinary, because you're already quite
familiar with everyday photography at that location.
Set the Mood
India’s
Taj Mahal is considered one of the wonders of the modern world. But
did you know it looks different at various times throughout the day?
Be it sunrise, sunset, afternoon, evening or when it rains, it always
looks different. So, just because you’ve taken pictures of the
Taj Mahal at one point in the day shouldn’t stop you from taking
some more when it rains or when it’s cloudy. The mood is different
and your photos will capture just that.
Get Your Attitude Right
After it's all
said and done, your attitude toward your photography is all that counts.
If you're the kind who will do anything for a rare shot, you will
step out in your pajamas so that you don’t miss the sunset even
when it’s raining cats and dogs outside. That should be the
spirit of your adventure! Once you have that kind of attitude, bad
weather becomes your best antidote to uninspired photography. That
also means that your camera equipment should always be ready, along
with your umbrella, tripod, cell phone and whatever else you need
for your photo shoot. Being prepared is half the work. Have fun!
~ Zahid H. Javali
Want To Comment On This Tip? Click Here! We'd love to hear from you :-)
Like These Tips? Get 'Em Free In Your E-mail
