Taking foliage photos in yucky weather (2 pix, about 350

[ixl]

I was thinking about pwt's comment about how it was a horrible weekend for photography.. and he's right. I had a friend come up to Vermont for the first time ever yesterday to go shooting, and it was miserable.

However... there ARE some good things to try to photograph in overcast weather and even when it is lightly raining. Since the skies are yucky on days like this, the key is to avoid getting the sky in your picture. Instead, look for scenes that do best in low-contrast, soft light.

Some good examples include:

- Streams. These do best in exactly the sort of weather we had over the weekend.

- "Micro-landscapes" such as pretty arrangements of leaves and rocks on the ground, or stripes on birch bark. Walk around the forest and look around, you'll be amazed what you can see.

- Reflection shots in calm ponds or lakes (when not windy... it was pretty windy this past weekend, however.)

- Shots where you isolate a section of forest from a distance. For example, a farm in a stand of pretty maples viewed from above.

One big hint: if possible, use a tripod. In gray weather conditions are darker and you may well need it.

Here are a couple of shots I took yesterday in the misty gloom to give you some ideas... hope you enjoy them and do get to take some pleasant foliage pictures, even if the weather is not cooperative. --c

#1. A stream in Jamaica, VT.

<img src="http://www.pcguide.com/pers/vt04f/036894.jpg" alt=" - " />

#2. "Still life" in the forest near the Appalachian Trail intersection with the Mt. Tabor - Weston Road.

<img src="http://www.pcguide.com/pers/vt04f/036920.jpg" alt=" - " />

[pwt54]

That's exactly what I did, except for the moose. It was in the evergreens so there was no color. Dumb moose. I might have had better luck with a flock of turkeys. I'll be checking my photos later.

[nehal]

Great pictures and great hints. Especially the first one.