Photography ideas : Trees in fog

Our best photography opportunities often occur when weather conditions are what many consider to be least favorable. To help improve those opportunities, think of sunny days as good days and unsettled weather days as great days.

Once we get past the dog days of summer, weather activities increase. Many photographers consider autumn, winter, and spring as being the most productive times on the photography calendar.

Although many travel publications want those sunny blue skies in the image submissions, the truth is those images can be easily achieved. It is the photograph with the perfectly positioned cloud bank, the approaching storm, and the sense of drama created by unstable weather conditions that you should be in search of.

Instituting an inclement weather policy is a great way to force yourself outdoors on those less than perfect days. Often times just by placing yourself in this weather element opens new doors for understanding visual awareness. With patience and effort come great rewards.

Foggy days can be especially rewarding photography days. Many of us think of fog as nothing more than dreary when in fact it is quite the opposite, if you’re a photographer. Fog tends to separate primary subject matter from its background, helping emphasize shape of the subject. Form, or depth of your subject tends to flatten out in foggy conditions, so use other design elements in helping achieve depth in foggy conditions.

Regarding those dreary days, remember that fog is quite surprising with its variety of light quality. This is based on the thickness, or density of the fog. Wind conditions can also affect light quality on a foggy day. There may be thicker patches of fog within the fog that will move through the scene, offering good photography conditions.

Test your photography idea by composing a scene toward the general direction of the sun. Although fog hides the sun, you may in fact be able to create small specular highlights in the image by using this technique, helping add a glowing quality to the scene.

Be aware that because we’re dealing with skylight photograph you will have a non-directional light source that creates soft shadows and minimizes depth. This light quality also creates cool tones to your images, making for an overall blue cast to your scene.

Another idea is to photograph a tree grove in the fog. As mentioned, shapes come to life in foggy conditions. Concentrate on a grove of trees that have unusual shapes to their trunks. It’s a great way for adding drama to the scene.

You can also try using a tree or trees as a backdrop to a foggy scene. Incorporating a near-far relationship with subject matter helps create depth while working in a two dimensional arena.

Pay close attention to condensation build-up on your front lens element during foggy weather, as it can happen rather quickly, and unknowingly. It’s easy to think that the foggy conditions are why the scene in the viewfinder seems foggy. A lens shade will help some, but you should still be aware of this natural occurring event.

Observing various types of light quality within a foggy environment will improve your photography skills and can have you looking forward to those less than perfect weather days.