What do you do on a cloudy day?

TiCoyote · May 28, 2009

Today is completely overcast and drizzly. Yesterday was the same. Tomorrow will likely be the same. I don't have anything that needs to be 'shopped. What do you do on a cloudy, rainy day?

PhotoXopher · May 28, 2009

Organize/upload photos, read about ways to improve or understand a new skill (lighting technique is always good).

Dagwood56 · May 28, 2009

If its not actually raining, I go out in the yard and shoot water drops and bugs that come out seeking the water.

Samanax · May 28, 2009

TiCoyote said:
Today is completely overcast and drizzly. Yesterday was the same. Tomorrow will likely be the same. I don't have anything that needs to be 'shopped. What do you do on a cloudy, rainy day?

If I'm not editing anything and don't have any chores to take care of, I set up my strobist gear and shoot indoors. On another forum the monthly assignment was "technology" so I took out my spare parts box and did this setup...

Two strobes with grid snoots fired from low angles and a third strobe with grid snoot fired from a higher angle. Canon XTi with EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM @ 17mm.

This one is with the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM.

Just because the weather outside isn't good doesn't mean you can't do any shooting.

rmh159 · May 28, 2009

You can get some awesome contrast with overcast days because you won't have the extreme brights / shadows. I'd still go outside and have at it.

Sherman Banks · May 28, 2009

Samanax said:
If I'm not editing anything and don't have any chores to take care of, I set up my strobist gear and shoot indoors. On another forum the monthly assignment was "technology" so I took out my spare parts box and did this setup...

Geez Sam, looks like 10gb's of memory there! (I'm sure they're probably all older 256k).

To the OP, shoot indoors using whatever lighting you have. Or go to any of your public buildings where you can get some shots of people, things or whatever it is that floats your boat. Use this as an opportunity to learn something new!

itznfb · May 28, 2009

everyday is a good day for the Zoo/Aviary/botanical garden

musicaleCA · May 28, 2009

I live in Vancouver, so this happens quite often. I just set my WB to cloudy, go out and shoot. If it's particularly rainy I'll tear-up a plastic bag and take a few with me to wrap around my camera body and lens. Shoot with available light; it's good weather for candids, street shots, and anything that might benefit from a little water in the scene (particularly roads with trees lining them; during and after rain you can get really nice reflections from the road).

The nastier thing about shooting in rain is removing raindrops from the scene if need be. That can be a bit time consuming. >.<

Torus34 · May 28, 2009

Open the lens up about three stops.

musicaleCA · May 28, 2009

If that was directed at me, can't. My lenses aren't faster than 4-5.6. >.<

patrickt · May 28, 2009

Since I live in Oaxaca, Mexico, I'm not really familiar with the concept of a rainy day. However, there are days where it's too hot and too bright and too cloudless to shooting outside much. Then I go to old churches, museums, pleasant gardens around town.