What to Photograph in Any Weather Conditions
Weather plays a critical role in landscape and travel photography, and there’s no such thing as bad weather. Each type of weather offers unique opportunities to capture stunning images. The key is to adjust your approach and choose the right subjects for the current conditions.
In this guide, we’ll discuss what to photograph in specific weather conditions to help spark your own ideas and creativity. Of course, the suggestions here are just the beginning. The are many more possibilities, and you can get even more ideas from this free download. Cover photo by Colin Lloyd.
Sunny Weather
Photo: Jan Huber/Unsplash
Bright, sunny days can be challenging due to harsh light and cloudless skies, which often lead to boring landscape photos. However, sunny weather also offers unique opportunities for creative shots.
One technique to make the most of sunny weather is to focus on shadows. Harsh sunlight creates strong, defined shadows that can add depth and drama to your photos. Look for interesting patterns and contrasts created by shadows from trees, buildings, and other objects (both natural and man-made).
Overcast Weather
Photo: Camera-man/Pixabay
Overcast days offer soft, diffused lighting that eliminates harsh shadows and provides even lighting. This is ideal for photographing forest scenes, where the even lighting allows you to capture the intricate details of leaves, trees, and undergrowth. Overcast conditions prevent bright spots and deep shadows that are common when photographing in the forest on bright sunny days.
Cloudy, overcast days are actually my favorite for photography. You can download these free Photo Starter Cards that are essentially cheat sheets to help you capture beautiful photos in overcast weather.
Rainy Weather
Photo: Marc Andre/Explore.Photography
Rainy weather is perfect for photographing flowing water, such as waterfalls, rivers, and creeks. The overcast sky provides even lighting, reducing harsh reflections and glare on the water’s surface and wet rocks.
Additionally, the flow of water is likely to be stronger during or immediately after rain. A waterfall that normally has a relatively weak flow may come to life in rainy weather.
During light rain, the drops usually aren’t even visible in your landscape and travel photos, so the only thing you need to worry about is keeping your gear dry.
Snow and Ice
Photo: Couleur/Pixabay
Snow and ice transform familiar landscapes and create a completely different feel or mood. Trees covered in snow and ice create a picturesque scene that is perfect for photography.
The contrast between the white snow and the dark tree trunks can result in striking compositions. Capture the intricate details of frost-covered branches and the pristine beauty of snow-covered forests.
Storms
Photo: StockSnap/Pixabay
Stormy weather provides dramatic and dynamic scenes that are perfect for landscape photos. Dark storm clouds add a sense of power and intensity. To capture the moment, use wide-angle shots of storm clouds rolling in over open landscapes.
You can also use a neutral density filter and long exposures to show the movement of the clouds for even more dramatic photos.
Windy Weather
Photo: Stanislav Kondratiev/Pexels
Windy weather adds a sense of movement to your photos. To show the energy of the wind, capture fields with blowing grass, plants, and crops. Experiment with different shutter speeds to either freeze the motion or create a blurred effect. A fast shutter speed will capture the individual blades of grass in sharp detail, while a slow shutter speed will create a sense of fluid motion.
Fog
Photo: Nong/Unsplash
Foggy weather creates an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. Photograph man-made structures like bridges, piers, and tall buildings emerging from the fog. The fog adds a sense of depth and mystery to these structures, making them appear more interesting.
Final Thoughts
There are incredible photo opportunities in any weather condition. The key is knowing what to photograph and working with the weather instead of against it. By adjusting your approach and choosing the right subjects for each weather condition, you can come away with stunning images that showcase the beauty and diversity of the natural world.
The Weather series of Photo Starter Cards from Explore.Photography provides everything you need to know to capture beautiful photos in all of the conditions mentioned in this article. The set includes a total of 71 PDF cards you can keep on your phone or tablet for easy reference (or you can print them). Grab them today and be prepared for whatever nature throws at you.
Author: Marc Andre
Marc is an avid landscape and travel photographer and the founder of Explore.Photography. He photographs his local area in Pennsylvania and travels whenever he can to experience new places.
