overcast, new camera, I want to shoot today!!

Hi all. I have just bought a 50D with 17-85 lens. Now my problem is I have had this camera for a week now and every day I have had free to take shots has been overcast. I'm getting frustrated!!

So this brings me to my question:

Is it possible to go out on a boring light day and come home with worthwhile photos? I just want to go for a drive and shoot some stuff, but am after some pointers on the best way to get some nice shots on an overcast day. There are no textures in the sky, no storms, just plain ol' grey. At least it's not raining
I have a magnificent lake and ocean with cliffs and all sorts of interesting stuff, all a stones throw away that give off some magic colors when the sun is out, but alas, that isn't today......

what sort of shots would you be looking for in this lighting situation? I'm thinking some sort of mood shots, but I really have no idea!

What would you do, and where would you be heading? I have no fancy filters etc, just a shiny new camera, 17-85 IS USM lens, fully charged batterys, empty card, and an itchy finger!

Cheers
Paul

I prefer overcast days most of the time. Heres a few from overcast days.

I guess the obvious answer is anything that doesn't involve the sky! So that includes portraits, candids, architecture, macro's, wildlife, etc. If you prefer landscapes, then I guess you need to get creative. Maybe do some long exposures on some rivers/streams/waterfa​lls if you have any available. Or just walk around and find scenes that are interesting enough without a sky.

If you're pretty handy with cameras already, then I'm sure you can find some indoor use for it.

But if you're a newbie, then an overcast day(or any other day) is a good day to practice, practice, practice. Not many pesky shadows to deal with on a overcast day, even lighting, cool colors. Just go out and practice, and have fun.

geo1976 wrote in post #7433535
If you're pretty handy with cameras already, then I'm sure you can find some indoor use for it.

But if you're a newbie, then an overcast day(or any other day) is a good day to practice, practice, practice. Not many pesky shadows to deal with on a overcast day, even lighting, cool colors. Just go out and practice, and have fun.

Theres a quality to the light when its overcast also thats much different than a bright sunny day. Sometimes when the overcast is real heavy and near sunrise/sunset there is a UV quality to it. Colors are bolder and stronger.

I perfer portraits on overcast days. Its like a big overhead softbox.

airfrogusmc: that's all the inspiration I needed! I look outside, see how grey it is, and just figure the color just won't be there, but looking at those beauties, it sure is still there!!

I'm heading out now to see how I go. My biggest problem with all of my photos is I just can't seem to "get it" when it comes to creative. I have been looking at thousands of shots in the different forums here to try and extract some of that in me.

Thanks for the quick responses, I'll post some for some C&C when I get back if they are worthy

Here you go: Change your mindset. Good sky or sunny day does not equal to good photography.

Wow, so many quick relies. Thanks everyone!

It appears that I have spent so much time on here this morning that I went to pack the car and head out with my new found inspiration for grey days, and you wouldn't believe it, to the east is clearing at a rapid rate of knots! I actually now have some nice fluffy clouds, and blue overhead! So I just get keen on going out after realizing how good overcast can be, and it's going sunny. I reckon in an hour or so it will be a blue sky.

Yesterday I went riding around Mount Diablo with my friend Beth. She was on her hooligan bike, a DRZ-400 that she's been modifying to super motard specs for street use.

It was overcast and hazy and the few landscapes I took didn't look like much. This shot in the parking lot at the summit has some punch, though. I think.

I found DPP did a really excellent job with the color assignment of the raw image - I cranked up the saturation a click and got a decent result:

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