Cloudy days are nature's softbox.
Cloudy days can present many opportunities for great
photographs. In fact, once you discover how easy it is to get
great results, you'll look forward to a cloudy day as much, if
not more, than a sunny day.
The studio photographer's arsenal includes a number of tools to
soften and redistribute light to the best advantage of the
subject. Among these tools is the Softbox which provides soft,
even lighting by using a diffuser in front of the light.
In outdoor photography, cloud cover diffuses the light of the
sun much like a photographer's softbox, producing a soft even
light that results in softer contrasts. While high contrast can
be quite dramatic, the softer contrast allows for more detail in
both the light and the dark areas of your photograph. The softer
light is also more flattering for portraits or candid shots of
people.
On your first few cloudy day adventures, consider taking your
digital camera. In spite of the differences in the cameras, what
you learn about how the lighting changes your compositions and
setup will be equally useful with your film camera. And with the
digital, you'll feel free to experiment without the added cost
of film on your mind.
Some difficult subjects which benefit from the diffused light
include waterfalls in shadowy forested areas, sea life caught in
a tide pool and wildlife hiding in the shadows, as well as close
ups of flowers and people.
Diffused lighting is not as bright as direct light, indoors or
out, and you will need to compensate with a slower shutter
speed. Or widen the aperture and adjust the depth of field. You
should count on needing your tripod for wide or long shots. The
picture can be blurred by even slight camera movement with
really slow shutter speeds, so use your remote if you have
one.
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