Outdoors/overcast - please give me some tips / post some of your pics

I would like to take some pix for some colleagues using an monolight and BD.
I will be taking shots after work (around 6pm) but it is overcast (cloudy and gloomy outside).

Can you guys give me some tips and maybe post some examples of your shot so hopefully I can learn from it?

Thanks a bunch!

Anyone?

On an overcast day you can basically use the ambient for fill and your strobe as main light. Position it where you normally would and adjust strobe power & shutter speed to get the desired ratio. A flash meter would be very useful for this, otherwise you're in for a lot of trial and error (mostly error).

Honestly, when I'm taking outdoor portraits I use reflectors & gobos most of the time. You can use a reflector to add some light to one side of the subject, or a gobo (back side of the reflector or anything that will block the light) to reduce the light on one side. Even on an overcast day this can work if you get the aforementioned devices close enough to the subject.

I love overcast days! Free, diffused, soft, natural light

BrickR wrote in post #12666602
I love overcast days! Free, diffused, soft, natural light

You forgot the "flat light", LOL.

Curtis N wrote in post #12665479
On an overcast day you can basically use the ambient for fill and your strobe as main light. Position it where you normally would and adjust strobe power & shutter speed to get the desired ratio. A flash meter would be very useful for this, otherwise you're in for a lot of trial and error (mostly error).

Honestly, when I'm taking outdoor portraits I use reflectors & gobos most of the time. You can use a reflector to add some light to one side of the subject, or a gobo (back side of the reflector or anything that will block the light) to reduce the light on one side. Even on an overcast day this can work if you get the aforementioned devices close enough to the subject.

Thanks Curtis. Today ended up much nicer than expected. I wish the sky was bluer but it was partially clear, no rain and the sun came out unexpectedly (forecast was showers) - so can't complain. Will post some pics the next few days.

airshaq20 wrote in post #12667505
You forgot the "flat light", LOL.

Use that flat nice light as fill and your strobe as main (as already mentioned). I don't understand why it has to be any different on cloduy day vs any other day (as long as you got flash/strobe power).

BrickR wrote in post #12666602
I love overcast days! Free, diffused, soft, natural light

I agree,, nothing beats shooting on an overcast day when the light is soft, diffuse and even.. No need for reflectors or additional light sources..

Quite nothing like it..

bobbyz wrote in post #12668848
Use that flat nice light as fill and your strobe as main (as already mentioned). I don't understand why it has to be any different on cloduy day vs any other day (as long as you got flash/strobe power).

Can you show me a pic taken by you on an overcast day?

yogestee wrote in post #12669079
I agree,, nothing beats shooting on an overcast day when the light is soft, diffuse and even.. No need for reflectors or additional light sources..

Quite nothing like it..

That depends. I like to shoot with lights (indoors or out).
If you are shooting with no lights outdoors, then yes, outcast will work better for you.
But if you have light(s) that can overpower the sun, then I will definitely take that but I like the sky blue than cloudy.

airshaq20 wrote in post #12669981
Can you show me a pic taken by you on an overcast day?

All with strobes or hot shoe flashes outside on an overcast day.

#1

airshaq20 wrote in post #12669986
I like to shoot with lights (indoors or out).

Step back for a moment and ask yourself why you made that statement.

Light is our raw material, and lighting equipment is just tools. If you've got "God's ultimate softbox," use it. I don't mean have the model stand in the middle of nowhere and take a lot of flat-lit pictures. Have the model lean up against a dark colored building and you will have great contrast from one side of the face to the other, without hard-edged shadows. The wonderfully soft light of a cloudy sky can still be directional if you take advantage of buildings, trees or whatever.

Without lights, you not only save yourself the hassle and time of dragging all that gear around and hoping it doesn't tip over in the wind. Lose the flash and you can speed up the shutter, stop down and blur the background. You can shoot in burst mode and never miss a shot waiting for recycle. Metering is quicker and easier.

Take a look at post #2 in this thread.

Overcast day in a shady alley,, no reflectors or additional lighting.

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^ Excellent examples of what I was talking about. Get between some buildings and you'll find enough contrast to make it interesting.

I might use low-powered flash on camera with maybe a Lumiquest softbox to add catchlights, nothing more.

Curtis N wrote in post #12671311
^ Excellent examples of what I was talking about. Get between some buildings and you'll find enough contrast to make it interesting.

I might use low-powered flash on camera with maybe a Lumiquest softbox to add catchlights, nothing more.

And you'll find there'll be a lot of light bouncing around between the buildings even on an overcast day..

On a very overcast day,, the sky acts like a huge softbox.. Concrete paths etc will reflect enough light up to soften any shadows under the chin, nose and eyes.