NOTE: Please at all times consider your own health and safety + practice at your own discretion.
Now that we're getting into fall in the Okanagan the weather is going to start changing.
About a week ago smoke covered the valley for 7-10 days, and now cloudy, overcast skies might start dominating.
The other day we had this storm pass through (there wasn't thunder or lightning) but there was some rain and high winds.
It gave me the idea to film a video about bad weather photography!
In today's episode I cover how I enjoy bad weather photography and provide 3 tips that might be able to help you!
Tip #1: Find some inspiration -> go out and try to recreate it -> and new ideas will come!
I was really loving these cool atmospheric shots of fog in the forest so when we had smoke fill the valley I thought it was perfect to try and get some atmospheric shots.
I had the intent that I would capture a line up of trees with the smoke atmosphere fading each tree but then when I went out I had the idea to do some comparison photos of what the valley looked liked before the smoke in the summer and now.
I posted these photos to my Instagram stories.
On the stormy day I thought I would go out and get some choppy waves photos. I ended up being interested/inspired by the clouds in the sky - the different shapes, lines and shadows. As well, the lonely trees that I've recently been obsessed with.
I often times get inspired by an image, go to recreate it with my own twist but then find other ideas to create!
Tip #2: Consider getting close/intimate with a part of the scene
For the past couple weeks I have been interested in intimate landscape photography. Getting close and personal with a part of the scene (focusing on a shape, line, texture, color of the scene).
Earlier this week I went to Cedar Creek Park in southeast Kelowna to hopefully get a stunning sunset.
By the time the sun was getting low in the sky some weird clouds had rolled in that added distraction to the image more than anything.
I switched focus and instead did some intimate landscape photography - this is one of my favourite images from the trip:
Yes, its of a rock! But I loved how the waves were crashing against the rock causing water droplets to spew upwards.
This is another image I like that I produced when the sky was super smoky - I liked how the water created lines in the sand and the little bubbles that would form.
When the weather is bad it's good to consider getting close to the subject and focusing more on lines, textures and color.
Tip #3: Try out abstract photography
Abstract photography isn't for everyone but it's fun to try - especially when the weather is bad!
Here's a photo that I posted a few weeks ago on my Instagram which was a camera pan of the sunset. I used a long shutter speed and swung the camera side to side.
I did it again when I visited Cedar Creek Park.
Here are some abstract photos that I haven't posted yet - the first one is at Cedar Creek Park of the lake and the second is the clouds on that stormy day at Gyro.
Your Camera System
It can be tricky to do bad weather photography if your camera can't handle it.
I use an Olympus EM1 Mark II which is dust-proof, splash-proof and freeze-proof so I don't worry too much if the weather is bad.
This however, is completely up to your own discretion and what you feel comfortable doing with your gear.
Niche & Voice
I have also found that narrowing down on my photography niche, finding my photography voice and doing photography more for myself and what I'm interested in has also helped in my creativity and motivation.
I hope you were able to take something away from this post on bad weather photography and I'll see you in the next time!
Robynne | Beautifully Wander