POLL - Landscape skies

[Damien_Demolder]

We can all think of countries where we’d rather live, and those lottery-winning dreams rarely culminate in a house with rain lashing against the windows. In fantasies we look to year-round sunshine, but I am certain I’d miss the different seasons. Having lived for three years in idyllic holiday-type climates in my youth, there is something clinical and anti-cultural about that type of perfection.

When you are having a barbecue there is a definite difference between good and bad weather, but when you are taking pictures the conditions other people might consider less than ideal can look dramatic, moody and atmospheric through the lens. And that’s one of the great things about living in Britain – weather that changes by the minute presenting us with myriad different pictures from one moment to the next. A cloudless blue sky all day is boring in comparison.

The landscape of Britain is amazingly varied for such a compact area, from the flat plains of East Anglia to the mountainous violence of the Scottish Highlands, not to mention the miles of a fractured coast that is always in striking distance. And with ever-changing heavens to entertain the top of your screen, there really is no need to go anywhere else.

Take part in our poll What do you prefer in the top of your landscape frame?

Thanks

damien

[Benchista]

I much prefer landscape work with dramatic clouds - IMVHO it leads to a lot less sameness than shooting everything in the golden hour.

[parisian]

Landscape just has to have clouds but for the rest of my work I am really happy with overcast; it's a damn site easier metering for one thing.

[Tickhiller]

/\WHS/\
I was in the Dales yesterday and it did not look right with a clear blue sky, give me clouds any day.

[gollum]

Cloudage of some sort, it brings drama to a landscape

[daft_biker]

We can all think of countries where we’d rather live...

Nope....I like it here If I could move anywhere it would be within 15 miles of where I live now......but it makes the commute to work longer than I'm prepared to do or I'd be there already. I don't like this heat!

What do you prefer in the top of your landscape frame?

It depends. Who says there has to be sky at the top?

[Zou]

A clear cloudless sky can be desireable, but if shooting colour (especially reversal film) I prefer to have some clouds in there to liven things up. If shooting mono then I like brooding overcast days.

[LargeFormat]

We can all think of countries where we’d rather live

I'm with Andrew, much as I enjoy travelling where you live is something else. The fells are every bit as dramatic as big mountains and the light can be magic.

[Wheelu]

it's nice to have some variety - clear blue sky can have an appeal when you are trying to portray a holiday scene or the sense of heat. The worst situation is a featureless grey sky. In the winter, interesting cloud formations can make a photograph, who needs anything in the foreground?

[El_Sid]

Not sure I prefer any particular sky though for landscape I definitely don't like bland overcast. The rest of the time a sky appropriate to the weather, composition or mood I'm trying (and usually failing) to convey is all I ask for...

[Hotblack]

Dramatic clouds for general landscape work are a must for me.

Overcast conditions certainly are very effective in certain circumstances but for my work I prefer dramatic clouds everytime.

[huwevans]

I'm just not sure I can fairly state a preference, because different kinds of skies make for diffeent kinds of landscape shots, and indeed may suit different shots better than others. There may be just one kind of sky that is right for a shot, but it could be almost anything, depending on the other circumstances of the shot.

[DaveS]

Andrew said it.
Why does a Landscape need a sky at all.
And why am I repeating what Andrew's already said?
Dave

[Manofolympus]

A lot of my landscapes are more cloudscapes with a foreground!
Certainly in mono a sky with no clouds is just a big empty space.

[Gromit]

Like to have some clouds if I can rather than an empty sky.

I was in West Wales just over a week ago and saw some really strange cloud formations. I really should have taken some pics just of the sky They turned out to be a completely new type of cloud, like this. Or check this one if you want something dramatic.

[Fire_Monkey]

Have to say I'm easy. Different sky's give different shots, or, as has already been said, remove the sky from the shot. As long as I'm not been rained on, I'm happy! Sadly, my shots are still rubbish!

[RonM]

Yep in the main needs clouds provides interest



It also helps that you have ND grads

[Done_rundleCams]

Jack

[MarkCook]

Unless it's a bland grey sky then anything goes I guess for me. Recently given the nice weather I've been taken by totally clear skies and if shot at the right time of day (or night!) they can be equally appealing (to me at least).

Here's a couple from Whitstable in Kent recently...

Hand held at dawn on Whitstable beach as the guy was fishing, this was around 5.45am (ish)



Tripod 11 minute exposure to get the sky and those great colours, plus of course the star trails and a smattering of small clouds - shot at around 1.50am again on Whitstable beach...




The small size doesn't do justice to either picture and depending on how good your eye sight/monitor combination is you may or may not be able to see the star trails.

Mark

[beejaybee]

you may or may not be able to see the star trails.

I see them alright & recognise the Plough with its tail truncated. Shocking light pollution you have there - does that count as a "man made landscape?"