A dull sky can be a landscape photographer's worst enemy. But when you encounter a really great sky, how do you make the most of it in your photography? Here are five simple tips that will add impact to your photos.
Great landscape photography requires patience, plus a little cooperation from mother nature. Many a good photographer has been frustrated by a good location in bad weather.
All landscape photographers have to deal with the weather in their work. That's fine if you live close to your location and can come back as often as you like. But when you are just passing through, you have to take your chances along with the rest of the tourists. That's why no matter how skilled (or unskilled) a photographer may be, truly unique images usually require a certain element of luck.
When you visit a great location, the last thing you usually want to see is a grey, overcast sky. But believe it or not, a cloudless blue sky can be just as bad. A plain sunny sky, while beautiful to look at, offers very little to a composition, and will often produce photos destined for deletion. Sometimes the best you can do is angle the camera down to eliminate most of the sky, and rely on the foreground to provide the interest.
On the other hand, an interesting sky offers so much more potential for a great photo. Even better is the fact that no two cloud formations are ever quite the same, so you have the chance of capturing a truly unique image - no matter how often that location has been photographed before you.
So, when you encounter a great sky, how do you make the most of it in your photograph? Here are a few pointers.
Tip #1. Firstly, it never hurts to keep a polarising filter handy. The polariser is like a pair of sunglasses; it reduces glare and reflection. It can also increase the contrast between the sky and the clouds, adding even more impact to a good cloud formation.
Most polarising filters can be adusted while on the lens so you can control the level of polarisation. Try to use good judgement when using a polariser; it is easy to go too far and produce skies that are way too dark and unnatural. With experience, you will be able to use your polariser to add extra 'punch' to your skies while maintaining a natural look.
Tip #2. Experiment with your horizon. If you have a truly impressive sky, it can be effective to let the sky fill the frame as much as possible. You may choose to completely ignore the rule of thirds and position your horizon close to the bottom of the frame. When your foreground subject is dwarfed by a great sky, the impact of the sky is even more impressive.
Tip #3. Use the shapes in the clouds. Clouds are not just fluffy lumps in the sky; they contain shapes, lines and patterns which you can use to create the visual flow of your composition.
Try to recognise the way the lines or shapes in the clouds lead the eye. You may start to notice a definite pattern leading strongly to the left, to the right, or even up and down. This pattern should help you to shape a more effective composition. For example, if you have a good subject in the foreground (let's say it's a tree) and all the shapes in the sky are pointing to the left, you might consider positioning your tree to the left of the frame. That way the leading effect of the sky will draw the eye to the subject; the sky will be doing all the hard work of the composition for you!
Tip #4. Be patient. The clouds are always moving, sometimes fast and sometimes very slowly. There will be times when the formation is not right for your composition, but if you are patient the right moment will come when everything falls into place. One of the main disciplines of a good landscape photographer is patience.
Tip #5. Choose the most attractive light. It is a well known rule that the best light for landscape photography is usually early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This is not just beneficial for objects on the ground. The softer, more colourful light creates much more attractive conditions in the sky. If taking your photos in the afternoon, take the extra trouble to wait around for sunset, when your sky may literally turn to gold.
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