20 tips for creating fantastic images in bad weather

If you looked out the window in the morning, and then the rain, do not cancel plans to spend the day with the camera: rain will be a great help in learning the intricacies of the new photography.

If you come to the place of shooting and found that it is shrouded in a dense fog, consider yourself lucky!

If the path to where you have long planned to take pictures, you notice that the sky is tightened by clouds, think about the possibilities, presented by these weather changes.

If you can tune in a positive way, your landscape photos will become more interesting and sophisticated. Photographer, who complains that the weather was not on his side, just missed his chance. Weather determines the mood of the landscape. Therefore, the unusual weather conditions, the more spectacular images are obtained.

Remove the storm landscape

Employing weather in landscape photography, you will be able to transfer more mood. This is especially true of a stormy sky: it is always suggestive.

William Turner (William Turner), known for his seascapes, argued that the creation of the painting "The last flight of the ship" Valiant "" He tied himself to the mast of the ship right in the midst of the storm. We do not propose to take such extreme measures, but the willingness to experience the power of the elements can give you a better idea of ​​the photographed scenery.

How are storms

Storms formed when the low pressure area is an area surrounded by the high pressure, causing the condensed clouds. Earth's surface temperature rises by heating, in turn, is directly over the air. He rises, and cool air comes down from the top. It started the process of convection. The warmer the air, the higher it rises, forming a magnificent cumulonimbus clouds.

What subjects to choose for a stormy sky

All the landscapes are beautiful in their own way, but some are better than others. If the image of the clouds are especially impressive, make them the central subject of the shooting, and the fore let him play second fiddle. To do this, the horizon below.

Often the landscape looks great with a clear horizon. If you want to include an object in the composition, make sure that it looks quite small in relation to the sky.

If there is wind, use it to enhance the effect: long hair or loose clothing waving in the wind, always add drama.

1. Away from the spray

If you're shooting on the coast in stormy weather, take measures to protect the camera from splashes. Especially take care of it the back side - using his own body as a shield.

2. Gray or colored clouds

In stormy weather, you have different options. If you shoot in the middle of the day, clouds will appear gray. Therefore, to obtain a complete picture, make sure the foreground has a similar limited palette. But at dusk or dawn, you can, on the contrary, to get amazing colorful skies.

3. Protection from the elements

Remember: dust can also cause serious damage to the equipment. Protect your camera not only against splashes, but also from wind gusts.

4. The balance of bright sky

Use a neutral density filter. It will allow you to balance the exposure of foreground at a much lighter air. If the sun is at a right angle, the exposure may be nonuniform along the sky. Then place the ND-filter horizontally.

5. Choosing the landscape

One of the most important aspects when photographing weather in the landscape is to choose a successful combination of sky and foreground.

Take pictures in cloudy weather

The gray sky is usually associated with negativity. Many complain of the days when there is no sunlight. It is easy to get depressed if constantly overcast. But there is a positive side in this weather.

The first thing to note: the term "gray skies" encompasses a variety of weather conditions - from thick clouds of impenetrable to tender scattered cloud layers in the blue sky. Each case gives you a unique chance.

What are the pros cloudy weather

Cloud layers can help reduce contrast. Modern SLR camera, with all its advantages, tend to be one disadvantage: the resulting images are often too contrasty, especially in bright sunlight. In cloudy weather, no such problem.

Experienced photographers often refer to the cloudy weather as "heavenly soft box." If you want to stay in a portrait or a figure in the doorway, the result will be much more attractive than it was under the gray sky.

Gray sky creates a mood of landscape photographs. While all of us impressive scenic landscape, with the experience of a desire to do something less ordinary, for example to get the look that would express the pathos and sadness. Such scenes are best complemented by dark skies.

Landscapes made on a cloudy day, often look great in b / w. In the absence of color tones are emphasized, and the mood of the landscape becomes much more obvious. To keep the overall quality of the image, shoot in color and then convert to black and white. Or you can save the color of the image, but purposefully reduce saturation - these pictures may look stunning.

6. The correct white balance

When shooting the gray sky important is that it is free from colors. To ensure this, you must select the correct white balance. Option AWB sufficiently reliable. But to be sure to obtain the desired result, select Cloudy mode, the color temperature of which - 6000 degrees Kelvin and corresponds to the sky on a cloudy day.

7. accented tone

In light of the gloomy picture the emphasis should be on the colors. Are you going to keep his image in color or have decided to convert it to black and white, that tone will transmit the mood. To achieve this when bright sunlight is definitely harder.

8. Shooting into the sun

Gray sky provides a unique opportunity to turn the sun directly into the picture without underexposure. While the sun is slightly clouded, it can become quite an interesting feature of the composition, which does not reach a sunny day.

9. Showing hidden parts

Many small details of nature will look much brighter with a very pale gray sky in the background. This is contrary to many of the rules of landscape photography. But you will see that the modest beauty of the leaves or reflections will be more apparent on a cloudy day.

10. expressive sky

It is not always necessary to remove the sky to create landscapes. the image can often look very much better without him. Flat and featureless sky is hardly a lot to add to your photo.

We shoot in the rain

As well as the gray sky, the rain can be very diverse - from light drizzle to a full flood, and each offers unique opportunities for photography.

However, it should firstly not to get wet, and secondly, not wet his camera. It's hard to be enthusiastic when you are wet. Similarly, your camera will be vulnerable to rain, if it is not properly protected.

The easiest rain - drizzle. It can even sometimes be confused with fog. The earth is slightly damp and short drizzle dries fairly quickly.

Much more intense storms. And although during the storm difficult to work with, while there are excellent opportunities to create original photo. Partly just because most photographers do not dare to shoot in such difficult conditions.

Thunderstorms occur in the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and are often accompanied by thunder and lightning. They happen at any time of year, but most often in the late spring and summer, especially in the late afternoon.

The most difficult work in the rain, accompanied by strong winds, especially if the wind direction changes all the time. It should turn back to him, as a new impulse again slap in the face. But if you are ready for such difficulties, you can introduce a great event.

But during the long rains are easier to work in all - excellent results are usually obtained. The secret is to pay more attention to the ground. At such times, it is more intense in color and full of interesting reflections. In the absence of wind you can work quite comfortable, if will take the following precautions.

11. Raincoat

Most cameras (if not all) can withstand accidental drops of rain, but little which can survive prolonged downpour. Buy special plastic raincoats for the camera and lens.

12. berths

Berths - ideal for shooting objects in the rain. Wet wood floors perfectly reflect. Plus such places is usually deserted during the rain time. If you are able to shoot in low light conditions or at night, boring at the usual time the piers could be stunning on your photos.

13. Night light

The city also has incredible stories appear in the rain, especially at night. You do not need a torrential downpour. It is quite enough and light rain to get the reflection of bright neon lights.

14. river

If you are in the countryside, do not forget about the possibility to photograph running water. Cascades and waterfalls are often the most photogenic, just when the rain comes. Moving water best photographing using low shutter speed: between ¼ and 8 seconds to achieve a smooth effect.

15. Rainbow

Remember that once the rainbow may appear after a rain. Think in advance where you want to place the end of the rainbow. From the viewpoint of compositional rainbow it can be used as the lead line. Look for a tree or a building that can be used as a focus point.

16. A bit of clarity

Some images shot in the rain, can not miss the contrast, especially in the midtones. If you are using Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom or Photoshop, it can easily be corrected by increasing the clarity (Clarity) your RAW-images. Slide it to the right to revive a semitone.

Take pictures in fog

Considered an easy fog or bad weather haze is not entirely correct. Even newcomers to the challenge of dense fog. It shows the nuances that are not available in any other circumstances.

Usually, the mist significantly reduces the color saturation. In this case, much greater emphasis on colors. Such images can be successfully transformed into black and white.

In the fog of tonal perspective makes distant objects is significantly lighter than those that are closer to the camera. This is particularly noticeable in the forest.

Shooting night mist or haze provides a very atmospheric image. Artificial lights are calmer, creating unearthly effects. A light beams slightly distorted when the mist swirls around - are rather fairy tales. If the ground is wet, it is possible to capture subtle reflections.

Urban landscape may look particularly interesting in the fog: cork, dipped headlights, silent plain street, creating a mysterious subjects. The buildings stretching into the distance, seems unusually strange. Think very expressive films of the 40s and 50s, to evaluate the potential of this proposal.

Look for subtle images. Mist has the ability to simplify the shape and texture to weaken, therefore, objects, even those that are relatively close to you, just outlined silhouette. From a visual point of view of the scene, covered by fog, is simplified.

17. fog Fleetings

Haze and fog, as is known, are short-lived. Often there is only a moment to find the right place, until the fog disappeared. Find places even before the onset of fog. Emphasize the mood with warm and cold Photoshop filters.

18. perspective

Moisture in the air creates the illusion that the objects of the lighter, the farther they are from the camera. This visual phenomenon is particularly noticeable when using a telephoto lens. However, if the low lighting, you will need a tripod.

19. Increase exposure

The problem that you are sure to encounter, - underexposure. Metering System in the cell is programmed to 18% gray, meaning that your shots in the fog will be underexposed. The easiest solution is to select a manual mode and a wider aperture.

20. along the hills

If you are close to the hilly or mountainous terrain, it is worth considering that the fog can be raised or lowered depending on the environment. Try to find isolated objects in the foreground (eg, wood) and use them as a focus point. Do not be afraid to shoot wide, showing how little wood in comparison with fog.

Of course, comfortable photographing in fine days, when it's warm and sunny. However, it should also use the great opportunities that appear with less favorable weather. Difficulties encountered during the shooting at this time, to help the photographer to develop a broader outlook. The main thing here - the right mood.