We've been having a really, really long summer in Michigan. Lots of humidity, lots of warm temperatures and lots of sun. Last weekend, I shot for seven hours outdoors over the course of Saturday and Sunday. And while it took several bottles of water to keep me cool, keeping the strong highlights out of my photographs was a bit easier. By utilizing the sunny 16 rule, you can get great photographs because getting the right exposure is easy with the hot sun beating down on you. What's the sunny 16 rule? While using an incident light meter … [Read more...] about How to get perfect exposures on a sunny day
weather
Getting Ready to Photograph in the Rain
Mother Nature doesn't always play in our favor. Being in Michigan, I've dealt with all the different elements there are. Last weekend, I had the privilege to photograph the MSU Gran Fondo, a bike race organized by the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine to support skin cancer awareness, prevention and research. And with an eight-hour shoot ahead of me, and gloomy weather in the forecast, I decided it was necessary to pick up some weather-necessary supplies. I wasn't totally worried about my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, with … [Read more...] about Getting Ready to Photograph in the Rain
Svalbard (Part 2-thermal preparation)
Traveling to a polar region, whether the Arctic or the Antarctic, instantly brings to mind glaciers, icebergs, and very possibly snow, sleet or rain. These regions also can have rapidly changing conditions, all in the same day. It takes specialized clothing and gear to comfortably shoot in extreme weather, but you can’t get the shot if you are too cold to venture out on deck when the action is happening. Shore landings may be for several hours, so one needs to be well prepared for staying out in the elements for an extended … [Read more...] about Svalbard (Part 2-thermal preparation)
Learning to See: Working Around the Iconic Vacation Shot
A few weeks ago, I spent some time in Ireland with my family. One of the places that was on our list to check out was Kylemore Abbey, a former boarding school and castle in County Galway. There was a lake in front of it, and we had grand ideas of capturing the building with its reflection in the water; the mountains and trees surrounding it in the background. But as we pulled up, we noticed something was different. One of the wings of the building was surrounded by scaffolding. It was under construction. As bummed as we were, I knew … [Read more...] about Learning to See: Working Around the Iconic Vacation Shot
Getting Creative with Unexpected Weather on Vacation
I recently took a trip to Raleigh, NC to visit friends. One of my goals, wherever I visit, is to see the local sights and spend a lot of time doing photography. During this trip, the first three days were gorgeous, sunny days. But the last two, we experienced unusual all-day rain in Raleigh. I still had the urge to take photographs. And while my camera is weather sealed, I'm not. I didn't pack, or expect, all-day rain. So, what's a photographer to do when you still want to take pictures, but don't want to brave the elements for countless … [Read more...] about Getting Creative with Unexpected Weather on Vacation
“Bad Weather Makes Good Photographs” and Better Stories
I first heard this phrase from Joe McNally: "Bad weather makes good photographs," and I continue to find that it's true. My dad, also a photographer, was visiting from out of town the other day, and I was planning to take him on a hike to a waterfall I'd been dreaming of photographing with Autumn colors. It's only about a mile and a half up to Metlako Falls and it would have been a fun few hours' hike and shoot. However, it had been raining all day in the city, and by the time our family activities were over it was getting late in the … [Read more...] about “Bad Weather Makes Good Photographs” and Better Stories
Being a Weather-Savvy Photographer Part 3 – Going Mobile
In my past two articles I took a look behind the scenes at the National Weather Service with an introduction to the Forecast Discussion and severe weather alert products. The NWS web page is a buffet of weather information that should fill you up when you are planning to photograph outdoors in dynamic weather, but when you are actually out in the field you need more bite-size weather information. In this article I will share the weather-focused applications I use on my iPhone to keep abreast of the every-changing weather. While I use an iPhone, … [Read more...] about Being a Weather-Savvy Photographer Part 3 – Going Mobile
Being a Weather-Savvy Photographer Part 2 – Warnings, Watches and Advisories
In my previous article about the National Weather Service's Forecast Discussions I touched briefly on another set of products the NWS releases: outlooks, advisories, watches and warnings. These alerts are designed to help those planning on being out in the elements prepare for forecasted severe weather. Outdoor photographers can use these alerts to determine the best times and places to capture dramatic weather conditions, and learn when they should seek shelter from dangerous weather. Understanding the differences between the four types of … [Read more...] about Being a Weather-Savvy Photographer Part 2 – Warnings, Watches and Advisories
Being a Weather-Savvy Photographer
The Pacific Northwest is a veritable playground for outdoor photographers. In any given day I can photograph alpine landscapes, arid desert scablands, lush temperate rainforests and rugged ocean shorelines. One constant in our diverse region is the complex weather. As a native Northwesterner, I have always had a fascination with meteorology and with todays wealth of weather information at our fingertips, its easier than ever to be a weather-savvy outdoor enthusiast. Get Insider Information Straight From the National Weather Service Weather … [Read more...] about Being a Weather-Savvy Photographer
Five Items For The Cold Weather Photographer
Editor's Note: While You might have summer on your mind, now's the perfect time to put your plans together for winter shooting. Recently, I went on a 2 1/2 week trip to Iceland and Norway during the winter season. Upon doing my research of the historic weather reports for those areas during that time of year, along with looking at the current forecasts, I was able to get a good idea as to what I should expect. I also had lots of conversations with fellow adventure photographers who have been to these areas about recommended accessories to keep … [Read more...] about Five Items For The Cold Weather Photographer
Keep Your Camera Safe in Cold Weather
Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 48mm, f/16, 5 frame HDR, ISO 200, finished in Lightroom 5 and Photomatix Pro 5. It was about minus 15 degrees F when I made this photograph in Grand Teton National Park. Anytime you take something cold into a place where it's warm, you're likely to see water vapor from the air condense on the outside of the cold thing--like the water condensing and puddling on the outside of a glass of ice water in Florida. Warm air is capable of holding a lot of water, and that water is drawn out as condensation on cold … [Read more...] about Keep Your Camera Safe in Cold Weather
