Exercise: Weather and rain

Part 1: Photographing same view in shade and sun

Foliage

f6.3; 1/320; ISO200

 

f7.1; 1/200; ISO200
 





The picture above on the left was taken with the sun behind cloud cover. It was late in the day but because the sun was behind clouds there are few clues within the photo to indicate the time of day. the colours appear dull and listless and despite a wider aperture the photo is not bright relative to the one taken when the sun was out (on the right). The photo on the right was taken about 30 minutes later. Looking at the foliage you can see it is more vibrant and glowing. I had to stop down the aperture and shutter speed setting for the sunlit photo in order to avoid blowing the highlights. Both photos have their merits. it is certainly easier to avoid blowing highlights   (as you will see in the next set) when the light is diffused through the clouds however this does leave the photos feeling dull and lacking in contrast and dynamic range.

 

 

Olive Tree



f6.3; 1/160 ISO 200

f7.1; 1/100; ISO200





This next set is a good example when one can use overcast days to great advantage. The olive tree is growing in a shaded area of the garden (sunlight is only striking the top leaves). The photo on the right's dynamic range  is too much for the camera which cannot compensate for both shadows and highlights. The photo on the left, however, was taken when the sun was behind cloud cover and you can immediately see the difference in the dynamic range... shadows are lighter, whilst highlights are not as bright. the tree is more evenly lit. Again these photos were taken less than 30 minutes apart, yet the presence of cloud cover has produced a completely different and altogether more pleasing photo.

 

Tumbling ruins

f6.3; 1/640; ISO 200

f7.1; 1/320 ISO 200





Again, these two photographs show the difference sunlight has on capturing an image. The one on the right was taken in sunlight which has created harsh shadows but has lit up and brought out the colours in the stone. The one on the left is cooler but it is easier to make out the detail in areas which would be cast into deep shade if the sun were out.

 

 

 

2. Part 2: Overcast days and detail.






Pietralia Sottana: f8; 1/160; ISO100

Hobbit hole: f11; 1/40; ISO100

Etna: f8; 1/500; ISO100

I took all three pictures on the same day. An overcast day which eventually brightened up in the late afternoon. Each in their own right take advantage of shadowless light in different ways:

1. Petralia Sottana: Areas that would ordinarily be cast in deep shadow are clearly visible. Although not identifiable, the sun would have been low on the horizon (winter sun) and to the left of the frame which would have meant that anything that fell to the right of a building would be cast in shadow;
2. Hobbit hole:   The vegetation in this photo is easily distinguishable not only by the colours but also because the diffused light lights up the darker areas and again avoids creating deep shadows, which would otherwise have been present at this time of day;
3. Etna: This photo shows the blue cast that is captured under a cloudy sky, though note the brighter yellow hues from the sun breaking through the clouds and striking Mount Etna.

 

 

3. Rain:

 

f4.0; 1/640; ISO800

Rain! or more precisely a fine misty rain which has produced a photo where visibility is limited to a couple of hundred yards and distant objects blend into each other. The effect has a somewhat ethereal quality.