Anyone who has seen many of my photos knows that I like clouds – small ones, big ones, storm clouds, and little wispy ones. It really doesn’t matter a lot. They are clouds, and make an otherwise uninteresting sky somewhat bearable.
Clouds liven up an image. Even hazy skies and fog can compliment an old barn or abandoned farm house. There’s nothing I hate in back road photography as a stark blue sky and harsh shadows. I rarely get my camera out on bright sunny days. Early mornings and late evenings are the exceptions here, when the sky can become full of color.
If a bright, sunny day, without clouds, is in the forecast, I would recommend finding subjects that don’t require a lot of sky. The option is waiting for morning or evening light, or for the weather to change.
I was recently driving home on the interstate on what had been a bright sunny day, with a few clouds here and there, but really nothing to write home about. Not much of a subject for photos! The sun had just gone down and then the sky became alive with color. I picked up up my camera and snapped a shot. An uninteresting subject became worthy of a second look.
Of course, old barns, churches and abandoned houses tend to be the majority of my subject matter. It pays to watch the weather forecast and plan photo adventures accordingly. Sometimes the weatherman misses his call, and I have to restructure my day. Usually the wait isn’t long and the final result will show that sometimes waiting pays off.
