18 http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk
Get some thermals
Shooting in bad weather can entail a great deal of
hanging around, waiting for the right moment, often in
bleak, exposed locations. You need the right outdoor
kit. Rain dribbling down your neck, frozen extremities
and boots that leak are not going to lead to great
images. Once cold, your mind turns to warm res and
mugs of tea, which is not the best frame of mind to
have. There are serious health issues to contend with
as well: hyperthermia can become a major issue. You
need the best outdoor clothing you can afford. Start
with Icebreaker thermals, they’re fab!
Technique LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeremy Walker
Jeremy is regarded as one of the finest
landscape photographers in the UK and for
more than 25 years has been producing
eye-catching images for use by clients
around the globe. Jeremy’s inspiring images
and writing appear in many of the world’stop photographic publications and he is in regular demand as a
guest speaker, writer and workshop leader, both at home and
abroad. See more at http://www.jeremywalker.co.uk.
IT COULD of course be argued that there is no such
thing as ‘bad weather’, just different light and an
opportunity to perhaps shoot something a bit
unusual. Landscape photography is not all about
just going out at sunrise or sunset and shooting
pretty, colourful skies. Shooting in ‘bad weather’ is a
chance to capture an image with a unique, fleeting
mood and drama. Of course, chances are you will
have to suffer for your image; the conditions will be
too wet, too windy, too cold. You will be pelted by
hailstones, smothered in snow and no doubt will be
standing around, possibly for hours at a time, in the
most uncomfortable of conditions. However, if you
do your homework and are prepared, you can make
the ‘bad weather’ work for you.
Be ready and anticipate
Watch the weather forecasts and use smartphone weather apps. Constantly
be on the lookout for storm fronts and a change in weather systems and keep
an eye on where the weather is coming from. The weather can be very transient – a
fresh snowfall may last only a day and you need to know where you are going to
shoot and how to get there. Making your mind up at the last minute and dithering
simply does not work. Allow extra time to get to your chosen location, as the
weather may make driving slow and dif cult.