Suggestions on taking pictures on cloudy days...

[lambchop24]

My pictures usually don't come out as nice when it's cloudy outside with my digital camera. Do you have any suggestions on how to get the pictures to trun out better?

[pstewart]

What is not so nice about them? If it's color brightness, you can easily tweak that in photoshop. Or is there another problem?

Personally, I like cloudy days for pics...no harsh shadows. It's a good time to take shots of smaller things, and of people.

If you could post a few examples of some that you don't like due to the cloudiness, that would help.

Phyllis

[warno]

Hi Gisela, simply don't have any preconceptions when you go out with your camera. NOTHING is ever a problem

[pstewart]

Hi Gisela, simply don't have any preconceptions when you go out with your camera. NOTHING is ever a problem

Well put. A "problem" day is really an OPPORTUNITY to see something new or in a different way.

[lambchop24]

Here are some examples....

http://www.pbase.com/image/24177291
http://www.pbase.com/image/24177320

I just feel that the pictures that I take in the sun...come out better. But, I also would love any suggestions. I do this as a hobby, but don't have any educational experience.

thanks for the suggestions so far!

[lambchop24]

Btw your pictures are great...both of you!

I love Wet, wet wales!

And your Kids pictures are really good!

[warno]

Thanks Gisela -- Wet Wales, exactly! Looking at your photos, the problem is not the weather, but the colour. Always think of colour. So, if you see a view like that -- think of black and white, or try a different crop, until you see a view where you really like the colour. By that I mean that it could be a set of subdued colours, like the ones you find in 'bad' weather. Actually, there are a few times when the weather can really be bad; when it rains so much your camera's getting wet; when you're on top of a mountain and you're surrounded by a wall of cloud, or when the sky is clean you might as well have painted it in Photoshop... (The best sunsets involve some degree of cloud) See what I mean?

[ang1970]

lambchop, the first thing I would address is your white balance setting. I did a quick level adjustment in photoshop, a kind of white-balance-after-the-fact. The difference isn't mind blowing, but hopefully it will give you a starting point to make improvements.


(Original)--------------------------(Photoshopped)

With the images side by side, you can see how the original has a green haze, which is making the other colors seem washed out.

Hope that helps.
Angelo

p.s. You can save a ton of space by saving your pictures as .jpeg instead of .bmp . See this page for more info.

[lambchop24]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Oh I see...that is nice what you can do with photoshop! The colors look a bit better.

What do you mean about saving my pictures. I didn't know they were bmp?