The problem with Britain (no jokes please)

[dewmuw]

is that so often you have to contend with a grey featureless sky- like the one below. How would you cope with it?

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/32776531.jpg

[Ikinaa]

Same weather here actually... autumn has come :?
As for the picture, how about the same picture taken two times?
One as you did, the other 2 stops below, so that you have some texture in the clouds, then paste the two together... (take the best of both of course, not the worst :wink: )
On the other hand, I think the composition isn't so good... perhaps the house is too centered, the left tree covers too much, I don't know, just doesn't hit me...

[dewmuw]

Same weather here actually... autumn has come :?
As for the picture, how about the same picture taken two times?
One as you did, the other 2 stops below, so that you have some texture in the clouds, then paste the two together... (take the best of both of course, not the worst :wink: )
On the other hand, I think the composition isn't so good... perhaps the house is too centered, the left tree covers too much, I don't know, just doesn't hit me...

Thanks. I'll try that.

It's not a great photo - just the best example I have of the problem.

[stopbath]

"Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come, you get a tan
From standing in the English rain."
- Dr. Winston O'Boogie.

Seriously, an noon overcast sky is a just a giant light source. As noted you could take two exposures (on a tripod), or you could expose for the highlights and bring up the mid tones (RAW mode helps here), or you could forgo the sky altogether and shoot with no horizon. Look for micro-landscapes: An interesting scene, complete in itself, that has no sky... A few shots of some of the buildings more interesting features... Normally a landscape with no horizon feels 'off' but if done well, can be quite effective.

[neil_r]

I have a plan, I will go to the Maldives and photograph nothing but skys, I will then return to the UK and really practice my Photo Monatge technique in PS :D

N

[sGu]

I have a plan, I will go to the Maldives and photograph nothing but skys, I will then return to the UK and really practice my Photo Monatge technique in PS :D

N

lol, brilliant idea, i'll place some order of skys with you before you go :wink:

[JCK]

Yeah, and just sip on your tropical cocktail as you shoot away from the pool at the Four Seasons...

http://surflens.smugmug.com/photos/9270644-M.jpg

[rick barclay]

Look at the bright side: the sky might be wash water gray, but the grass is
beautiful and healthy.

[AprilShowers]

Trust me hunny, its not solely a problem in England...its ALL OVER EUROPE! I lived there for 11 years. Saw more sun during 2 weeks in Arizona then all of my years overseas! *wink* ok, a little exaggerated...

I would try different ISO's settings, under/over expose and change the aperature.

The green grass distracts from the beautiful architecture :cry:

[chris.bailey]

I have a plan, I will go to the Maldives and photograph nothing but skys, I will then return to the UK and really practice my Photo Monatge technique in PS :D

N

Like this one -

http://www.pbase.com/chris_bailey/image/26551983.jpg

After a while blue sky gets boring and you just wish for some good old Englisg grey (only kidding)

[BDM]

Gosh, I don't think you would need or want a blue sky. The atmosphere is just right as it is. The grass is lush - - something we don't have in more rain deprived climes. And I think the white sky is perfectly in keeping with the subject matter. One of the things I have always noticed in films and TV programs shot in the UK is the beautiful, gentle, pearly quality to the outdoor lighting. That white sky is a wonderful defuser. As an outsider I suppose this is easy enough for me to say but I wouldn't change a thing in that shot.

Bruce - in the presently sunny but soon to be absolutely miserable Great Lakes portion of the US.

[Ikinaa]

I have a plan, I will go to the Maldives and photograph nothing but skys, I will then return to the UK and really practice my Photo Monatge technique in PS :D

N

Like this one -

http://www.pbase.com/chris_bailey/image/26551983.jpg

After a while blue sky gets boring and you just wish for some good old Englisg grey (only kidding)

That sky is just plain blue... Not interesting :wink:
If dewmuw want's to have such a sky in GB, the only thing to do is use the color-replace tool on his pic to replace grey by blue... :twisted:

[Alan Neilson]

How to cope with it? on the days that there are is some sun (we do get quite a few, just doesn't seem like it) take some shots, then you have some photos that you can combin with other photographs to get a better image. Yes I know it is altering the photograph, but isn't that part of digital photography?

[Sailor Don]

Use a digital photo editor to add some sky.

See the following for an example:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44709

I think it has the basis for a really nice photo, but it needs some help.

[flowe]

The castle leans backwards - by about 1 degree. It's not much, but immediately recognisable und corrected within the minute.

[aam1234]

How about a CP?

[lucasdigital]

is that so often you have to contend with a grey featureless sky- like the one below. How would you cope with it?

Hello,

I've got to agree. particularly over the coming winter months. Grey skies, and frequent spells of photographer banishing wind and drissle
:(

If think my subject is worth the effort I will create a replacement sky in photoshop, though it can be a real labour. In the right situation I take a second shot that is highly under-exposed, this often brings out more shape in the sky, rather than the bleached white/grey. I can superimpose in this and work on getting both sky and ground servicable.

Not a great example - but the technique was used here -

http://www.lucas-digital.com/bloghouse/derwentvalley1.jpg

source image -

http://www.lucas-digital.com/bloghouse/derwentvalley1source.jpg

Exposure time: 1/250 (0.00400)
Shutter speed: 1/250.51
F-stop: 5.6
Focal length: 7.8125
Flash: 16
Orientation: 1
Aperture: 4.9688
Exposure bias: 0.0000
Metering mode: 5

[billhercus]

This grey sky on the west of Scotland last weekend was slightly enhanced by isolating the sky and using the levels command. Great care is needed to avoid what looks like chromatic aberration in that there may be colour fringing along the high contrast edge beteween cloud and land if overdone.



http://www.mayfieldghouse.freeserve.co.uk/Webpics/PlocktonOct041909.jpg

[arumdevil]

Trust me hunny, its not solely a problem in England...its ALL OVER EUROPE!

I have to disagree with that statement. a lot of europe for sure, but not ALL OVER. I just got back from living in Ibiza (spanish isle bang in the Mediterranean) for two years and it's hardly ever not sunny. most of spain and portugal enjoy similar weather, and the south of france. But certainly the UK. and Ireland, northern france, belgium, holland etc, get lots of grey rainy weather.

mmmmmmmmmm sunshine 8)