Digital Photographer - USA (2019-07)

Understanding the weather is key to successful summer landscape photography

Understand summer weather

ItisGeorgeIIwhoislargely attributed with

havingcharacterisedthe British summer as ‘3

finedaysandthunderstorm’ and nearly 300

yearslater,thereremains an element of truth

inthis.

AlthoughintheUKwe tend to romanticise

thesummerasbeingfull of long, warm days

spentonthebeachor in the countryside,

therealityisthattheweather is often quite

changeable:neitherweeks of blazing sunshine

norunendingrainbut often a few mini-

heatwavesfollowedby thunderstorms.

Thisunpredictability is actually great

newsthough,asitcan provide excellent

opportunitiesifyouget your timing right.

Cloudydayscanhelpdiffuse the harsh Sun

and create interesting lighting effects even in

the middle of the day. The Sun poking through

gaps in the clouds can create dappled lighting

across the landscape or spotlight key features;

with the right filtration and processing, these

conditions can make very dramatic images.

Cloudy days are also excellent for coastal

photography: stick an extreme ND over your

lens and turn waves into an ethereal mist and

the sea into a glassy surface.

Clear skies are not popular with landscape

photographers, but they can be common

during the summer. In these conditions, you’re

better off sticking to the beginnings and ends

of the day when the light is softer and the low

Sun reveals form and texture in the landscape.

Another option during periods of clear skies

is to head out in the evening and try shooting

the night sky.

Thunderstorms are quite common during

the summer and they can be dramatic

to photograph, though don’t take risks –

standing directly underneath an electrical

storm with a camera mounted on what is

effectively a lightning conductor is not the

best way to guarantee personal safety. It’s

easy to get caught up in the moment, so don’t

forget to pick a viewpoint that gives a strong

composition. If you don’t fancy shooting

lightning, head out immediately after the

storm, as there will be exceptional clarity and

the sky can still be dramatic.

Techniques