Boring, flat grey December light ...

[focus_on_infinity]

I'm looking for winter inspiration. I tend to shoot a lot outdoors. It's boring and flat and grey out, which means my pictures turn out boring and flat and grey. But surely more skilled photographers are able to compose a shot no matter what the conditions. What are you composing in the December light? Are you filtering to bring out contrast? How does this affect your subject selection? Thanks.

 

[Helge]

It’s not so much the light to me. Diffuse light can be very flattering for a lot of stuff I find. Especially in B&W.
It’s more the dreary nature of most scenes in northern countries. No leaves, absolutely uniform sky, people wrapped in cocoons of ugly but practical clothes.
There is a limit to how many “meaningful” melancholic scenes you can take before it starts to feel very cliché.
Architecture and night scenes shine in these months though.
Get some Acros and do long exposures of citylight and moonlit scenes.
If you go an hour or so outside the main city, astro photography is “now” too. Requires a clear sky of course.
You can use powerful daylight flash from the side to create some shadows and contrast.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Just saw a video from Steve O'Nions on YouTube about exactly this. He basically says it gives you opportunities you wouldn't have in "good" weather. He also links from it to an older video with some of the same sentiments (plus tips on keeping a camera functional when it's pouring out).

I note he had a yellow filter on for much of the first video I linked; it does help increase contrast a little, in that the shadows will generally have a slight blue cast to them (although under an overcast, it has little if any effect on the sky). Short version, though, is you need to look for scenes that would be too harsh on a sunny day, or would lose their depth without some mist or rain to visually push the further parts back. He used XP2 Super for the newer, more "go out and shoot" video, though I don't know that film choice matters that much aside from giving him the kind of "large format in a Bronica" look he was after.

 

[gone]

It's been a challenge here in Tucson. We don't get the cold winters, but do get a little rain and overcast days this time of year (which remind me of living in Portland, where the weather had me ready to shoot myself). Yellow or red filters may help, but they will be less effective in diffused light. I suspect the larger film formats will give less contrast than the smaller formats, so 35mm would be the way to go for the best chance at more contrast and better IQ.

I've been experimenting w/ shooting Tri-X at 1000 and developing it in Rodinal at 1:40. That will give you some needed contrast, and it also gave me some beautiful grain. Very different than the Delta 100 negs I was making. You could try something as simple as using higher developing temps and more agitation w/ the negs too.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The flat overcast light that covers Washington DC much of the winter and Rochester New York can be a real photographic desire killer. Would it hurt to have a little contrasting light once in a while?

By the way, the reason George Eastman chose Rochester New York as the Kodak headquarters is that Rochester is the largest natural darkroom in the world.

 

[MattKing]

I like flat light:

 

[jeffreyg]

Although i live in sunny south Florida, I prefer overcast lighting. My medium is black and white and overcast is not necessarily flat. Foggy mornings can produce interesting opportunities . Depending on the hues of your subject a filter might work. If using black and white development time can increase contrast and if printing digital there is plenty of options.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

 

[Sirius Glass]

The flat overcast light that covers Washington DC much of the winter and Rochester New York can be a real photographic desire killer. Would it hurt to have a little contrasting light once in a while?

By the way, the reason George Eastman chose Rochester New York as the Kodak headquarters is that Rochester is the largest natural darkroom in the world.

Yes some like flat light. I did not say flat light is a desire killer, but it can get to be very boring after the same thing for months.

 

[Moose22]

Yes some like flat light. I did not say flat light is a desire killer, but it can get to be very boring after the same thing for months.

But -- your location is southern California.

Today, the light has been spectacular. This time of year the sunny days have a low sun, clearer air than spring and summer, and fantastic shadows. It's like golden hour all damned day in December!

I'm going outside as soon as this load of laundry is done. Rains are coming next week, so they were even nice enough to schedule the nice days on the weekend.

And a good cure is to try something else. Maybe artificial light. Take a picture of an apple with a speedlight. Pull out your macro lens. Get a friend to pose and play with portraiture. Maybe mess with the soft winter light coming in windows. Something different or that you haven't been doing for a while. Then when you get back outside maybe it feels a little more fresh.

I've been bored with my normal scenery and wanting to use up some film so I got a little wound up in lighting a couple weeks ago, and macro stuff. Just taking photos of things around the house. Guitars, cameras, whatever. I think "How do I deal with those weird reflections?" or "how can I do this with just one light?" and make it a challenge.

 

[Sirius Glass]

But -- your location is southern California.

Today, the light has been spectacular. This time of year the sunny days have a low sun, clearer air than spring and summer, and fantastic shadows. It's like golden hour all damned day in December!

I'm going outside as soon as this load of laundry is done. Rains are coming next week, so they were even nice enough to schedule the nice days on the weekend.

And a good cure is to try something else. Maybe artificial light. Take a picture of an apple with a speedlight. Pull out your macro lens. Get a friend to pose and play with portraiture. Maybe mess with the soft winter light coming in windows. Something different or that you haven't been doing for a while. Then when you get back outside maybe it feels a little more fresh.

I've been bored with my normal scenery and wanting to use up some film so I got a little wound up in lighting a couple weeks ago, and macro stuff. Just taking photos of things around the house. Guitars, cameras, whatever. I think "How do I deal with those weird reflections?" or "how can I do this with just one light?" and make it a challenge.

You cracked to code. I am in southern California for many reasons and sunshine is one. When the weather changes from hot to cold or cold to hot we get a day or two of thick fog in the mornings which can produce some interesting photographs.

 

[ic-racer]

Most of my winter photography includes snow. Otherwise I tend to print with much more contrast than usual. Maybe try printing some of your negatives with more contrast. Just stick in the 5 filter or crank up Magenta to max and see what transpires.
These were both done on Ilford Multigrade 11x14 FB with the Magenta filtration quite high.
Since there is very little exposure latitude at high contrast levels, extensive dodging, burning and even reduction may be required.

 

[Down Under]

Here is what an old photographer taught me years ago (in the 1980s), to spiff up images taken on boring dull days...

Use color negative film. Cut back the ISO speed to half the rating - 100 to 50, 200 to 100. (This in fact is how I always use ISO 200 negative film anyway.)

Assuming you process your own C41, keep the developing time to EXACTLY the normal contrast time.

Convert to B&W.

Obviously the purists and ARs will shriek in horror at this, but it has always produced the goods for me. I have even sold images taken with this method to book publishers. So yes, it works.

 

[logan2z]

I never thought I'd say this, but by I've grown somewhat tired of the endless clear skies and sunny days here in Northern California and a bit of winter dullness the last few weeks has been a welcome change.

This picture was actually taken in the summer but at the coast, so the cloud cover resulted in flat light. I don't mind it at all.

 

[BAC1967]

December fog in the PNW.

Wayne Park Orchard Tree by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[foc]

Where I live it is often overcast cloudy weather most of the time.

 

[guangong]

I take weather as it comes. Winter without the obstruction of leafy trees and bushes allows the forms of the landscape to become visible. I enjoy shooting in the mystery of heavy fog. Snow is great also. On the other hand, I do tend to avoid using cameras with bellows, so that leaves out folders and view cameras. Although I sometimes use MF, 35mm is my usual choice.
And urban life is also very picturesque during the winter. Lights, clothing people wear. Not o mention meeting places such as bars and coffee shops.

 

[Auer]

Flat light is great

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm looking for winter inspiration. I tend to shoot a lot outdoors. It's boring and flat and grey out, which means my pictures turn out boring and flat and grey. But surely more skilled photographers are able to compose a shot no matter what the conditions. What are you composing in the December light? Are you filtering to bring out contrast? How does this affect your subject selection? Thanks.

it's a good time to try some table-top photography.

 

[logan2z]

+1.

Nice photograph!

Thanks!

 

[warden]

I'm glad this has turned into an image thread. Looking good!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Flat light ...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've never thought of the light this time of year, flat and boring. When we do get sunlight, it can be magical, almost super 3-D feel.