Clouds!

[Yeager]

I hate the sky! Whether with 35mm photography or digital, I cant get good pictures of clouds! I will post some disappointing pictures of what happened. I didnt use a polorizer which would have helped but I dont know. Suggestions?

[robertwgross]

This is a trick question, right?

Use a circular polarizer.

This assumes that you are not shooting toward the sun or away from the sun. Polarizers work to their maximum when aimed 90 degrees off from the sun direction.

I've been using some type of polarizer for about twenty years now.

---Bob Gross---

[evilenglishman]

http://www.electricvenus.com/dump/clouds.jpg

this is a photo of some plant that only opens once every 7 years (I was photographing it daily as it neared its opening). No filters.

I've found that its only in certain conditions that you get decent skies. If its either a very clear day or very dark and moody you will get decent shots - or if you use a flash on the main subject. Otherwise you will need a filter due to the limits of the dynamic range of the camera.

[robertwgross]

You mean <gasp> that you actually get good sun in the UK?

---Bob Gross---

[Scottes]

You mean <gasp> that you actually get good sun in the UK?

Hmmm... EE is pretty good with Photoshop... Maybe he's one of those "sky replacers"

:)

[Cadwell]

You mean <gasp> that you actually get good sun in the UK?

---Bob Gross---

Yes but only every seven years. That's why the plant opens at that frequency... Oh, and he missed that shot last time around (call of nature) so he's been sitting there, clicking away, for fourteen years! ;)

[DaveG]

I hate the sky! Whether with 35mm photography or digital, I cant get good pictures of clouds! I will post some disappointing pictures of what happened. I didnt use a polorizer which would have helped but I dont know. Suggestions?

Clouds are both easy to photograph and difficult. First off - by definition - clouds CANNOT be out of focus. Why? Because if the cloud looks soft, who is to say that wasn't the state of the cloud at that moment?

So that part is easy. But like anything else the clouds need to be lit. The best cloud photos come (I think) when there are a lot of clouds around (not overcast) and the sunlight streams down separating the clouds and casts some drama into the scene. For example a dark cloud in the foreground could help frame a sunlit cloud just behind it. Near sunset witht he sun behind you can often create spectacular cloud images if there is that broken cloud effect. At ground level your current position may be in the shade, while at 4000 meters (where the clouds are) everything is bathed in brilliant warmly tinted light.

A polarizing filter will darken the sky (if it's at the right angle) and cause the white clouds to pop and that will add drama to the shot. If I was shooting black and white film, I'd use a red filter to do the same thing. In the B&W shot the sky turns black in a print and the clouds stay pure white. (See Ansel Adams for drooling purposes.) But be careful with a polarizer and a very wide lens, as the polarizing effect will not be uniform across the entire sky. The results will be very deep blue over on that side of the frame which will lighten gradually from left to right (or obviously right to left).

But it all comes down to lighting - as usual.

[johneo]

I hate the sky!

I know what you mean :cry:

Was setting up for a shot on Sunday as the sky was filled with those big puffy clouds. Timing was going to be critical and I left the spot I was in and drove to the spot to get the "perfect" :roll: shot.

By the time I got there, changed lenses, set the camera up and positioned myself this big black cloud had moved over and completely ruined the shot.

My hate may be different than yours because at least I won't have to wait another 7 years, I'll try again in a few days ... sorry about that :(

http://members.cox.net/johneo/g084924n.jpg

[gail]

Talking about clouds. Here's a picture taken one day while husband was working on his shop that I actually liked. But I know what you mean when your going after a shot with the clouds to be the way you want. You can't get one like this well I can't anyway. :wink:

I was just playing around here with the settings as he was working building on the shop and got this shot. And I was like why can't I get clouds like that in pic I really want ha.

But just thought I would shared this pic. I love the way the clouds came out so nice.

http://photos.imageevent.com/gailsgallery/miscthisandthat/websize/sky.jpg
This shot was taken with my G3
Here's the shooting Info for this shot.
File Name
IMG_0502.JPG
Camera Model Name
Canon PowerShot G3
Shooting Date/Time
7/31/2004 8:34:45 PM
Shooting Mode
Manual
Photo Effect Mode
Off
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/400
Av( Aperture Value )
5.6
Metering Mode
Evaluative
ISO Speed
50
Lens
7.2 - 28.8mm
Focal Length
7.2mm
Digital Zoom
None
Image Size
2272x1704
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF Mode
Continuous AF
File Size
1344KB
Drive Mode
Single-frame shooting
Owner's Name

[natalka]

The faster your shutter speed, the more likely you are to get good clouds, or blue skies. Try playing around with shutter speeds from real slow to real fast, and see what kind of results you get.


Nata

[blinking8s]

With the black and white film class I am in, I am having a lot of trouble getting clouds in my photos, I dont know if it is cause I am using a new camera, shooting film...its being a pain, I can pull very faint portion of clouds out in the prints :(

with digital it took me a little white, most people want to knock the apature failry open...not always a good thing

[Yeager]

I just took a b & w class. Alot of people had issues with clouds. The ones that turned out well needed lots of burning. I wasnt a fan of burning so I skipped it and quit taking pictures of the sky. Of the 10 pictures I turned in at the end of the class, 1 had a sky, out of 8 rolls of film.

[natalka]

if you're using black and white film, use a red or yellow filter to bring out clouds, and to darken the sky. It works better when the sky is deep blue and you have big poofy clouds.


Nata

[dschwartz69]

Here in the SW USA, we get some really great cloud formations this time of year due to the 'monsoon' type weather patterns.

I just got my 10D about a month ago and have been experimenting with cloud photos:
http://gallery.schwartzfamilyonline.com

Both cloud images had their contrast increased slightly in Photoshop CD just to emphasize the white cloud on dark blue sky effect.

I would appreciate any comments on the photos - since I"m just getting started with 'real' digital photos.

Thanks,

[Yeager]

I love the first one with the light trails in the sky. How did you take those shots and with what lens. Maybe my problem was that I was trying to use a 50mm 1.8 lens instead of a little bit more zoom lens. Tell me your secret!

[dschwartz69]

Don, here's the EXIF for that photo (the first in the gallery):

Canon 10D
Canon EF 28-135 F3.5/4.5
1/500
F/9.5
105mm
ISO 200
Metering: Pattern

[robertwgross]

First, you head out to Belmondo country. When you get to the desert, you post yourself to some good vantage spot and wait for a desert storm. When a desert storm hits, watch for the dark clouds and watch for the shafts of light that streak down between the dark clouds.

There's lots of color hidden in there.

---Bob Gross---