Ralph Emerson was once quoted as saying that “The sky is the daily bread of the eyes” and how true that is. As photographers we perhaps notice the subtle changes in the sky more than most, because it’s so important in our photographic composition, and even more importantly, it’s the great light source we need and use out in the field.

Leaf through any Photographic book and you’ll undoubtedly notice how frequently the sky occupies an important part of the photographs. We also need to hone out skills and understand the importance in taking advantage of great lighting situations that the sky constantly gives us to improve our photography.

Landscape photographs seldom exclude the sky. It usually occupies a fair percentage of the image area, perhaps a third or more. The sky is often the only part of a scene that is constantly changing. While trees, openfields and buildings remain static, the sky may have a profound effect on altering the mood, the area of interest within the picture frame, and the overall colouring of the scene you are photographing.

The sky is vital to the composition of a landscape photograph. It is used to emphasize and support the foreground, the middle distance or even the sky itself. An otherwise dull picture may be greatly enhanced by a dominant sky, particularly when its stormy and dramatic, or even when it’s a crisp, clean blue.

The sky can convey information about a particular scene you might be capturing. Cities are often hazy and polluted, with yellowish tinges present in the atmosphere. By incorporating this in your picture you add to the feeling of the photograph, and it can be used to stress industry or urban living.

Intense blue skies give off the feeling of warmsummer days and will invariably brighten up any landscape photo, especially if you use a polariser. In many parts of Australia, particularly the coastal areas, sky conditions are infinitely variable, and can change without warning. It helps to be able to anticipate the cloud formations and the shifting qualities of “light and shade’.

In flat expanses of the country, the sky is very prominent, whereas in the mountainous parts it is less so. The amount of sky you choose to include in your picture depends on the balance needed in your photograph and what part of the scene is central to your image. As a general rule, try to include a certain amount of sky in your pictures. Conversely, keep part of the horizon in a sky picture, because land and sky are naturally related, and unless it’s an abstract picture, one without the other will not work as a landscape.The focal length you choose will play an important part in what you are trying to convey in your photo. The use of a wide angle lens will give you a greater sense of spaciousness, but remember that sky alone - no matter how dramatic it might be - will not give your photo enough impact.

Some thought needs to go into the foreground, with emphasis on placement of eye catching objects, such as a rock or bush or sometimes even a person. The greatest city shots, for example, always have the city skyline included with the dramatic sky dominating above. Giving thought to landscape pictures when you are presented with an interesting sky will heighten your creative potential.

Sometimes we are lucky enough to witness such a beautiful burst of light that we can make the sky the complete focal point of the photograph. A good example could becrepuscular rays, sometimes referred to by landscape photographers as ‘God Beams’ or ‘Jesus Rays’. (Think of the religious epics of
the 1950’s and you will understand why…)

Sun bursts (deliberately caused in camera by us at f11 or higher) can also be used to emphasize wonderful lighting conditions. When there’s wind in the atmosphere the cloud will often break up into unbelievable segments, and if your familiar with the meteorological terms of Sirius, nimbus and cumulus, you’ll start to watch for and anticipate these changing conditions, so you can incorporate them in your future photographic forays.

Some wonderful effects can also be created using filters. They will often give extra strength or contrast to the sky in your photographs. In black and white photography the use of yellow or red filters gives greater contrast and will intensify white clouds.In colour photography the use of a polariser will darken blue sky and you will need to be careful how much you dial in. Often the inclusion of just one Cloud will enhance the photo immeasurably. Graduated filters can dramatically alter the sky in your landscapes too. A Grey 2 stop graduated filter will enhance stormy skies, a blue 2 stop graduated coupled with a polariser will turn day into evening and at times a sunset graduated filter will turn that weak setting sun into an event worth capturing.

So if you’ll pardon the pun, next time you venture out in the great outdoors with your camera in hand, remember that the sky really is the limit!

Entry was posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 12:33 pm under Compact digital cameras, How to - Portraits, How to - landscapes, Lenses, Nikon, Paint Shop Pro, Ricoh, Tutorials.  Print This Post