Photographers - Overcast?

[Lagerlout]

I'm off to Malta for a mates wedding on Tuesday (don't ask lol) and I've been keeping my eye on the weather. Looks pretty set that it's going to be dul and overcast if the weather stays as is.

Anybody got any tips/advice for shooting on overcast/dull days?

I usually just try not to shoot much sky if it's bland, and then tweak in PS afterwards. Overcast is usually a nice even light for close up/portrait stuff but I'd quite like to try and get some landscape stuff while I'm there.

Just wondered what some of the better snappers on here do.

 

[Dafthead]

You got an external flash at all fella?

 

[Lagerlout]

Sadly not. Is on the list of things to buy. When I bought my DSLR I never thought I'd get to the point where I'd become limited due to lack of gear. But it's happening lol.

 

[Dafthead]

See if you can borrow/hire one, I took some of my cat tonight and used the flash (pointed straight up) makes her look nice without harsh the flash light/creating shadows

Starting here, so you can get an idea of how much difference they make :

http://andyturner.smugmug.com/gallery/2934580#233063442-A-LB

 

[Lagerlout]

They look fantastic, and still have lovely warmth to them despite the flash!

 

[Dafthead]

P.S. For overcast landscapes, you could always try a slightly longer exposure to get a little more light in, or change the WB to cloudy/shade?

Just have a play with the settings, that's what I do mate

 

[Dafthead]

They look fantastic, and still have lovely warmth to them despite the flash!

Yeah I turned the flash down to 1/8 power so it was softer too
Thanks

 

[Rasclart]

As he said longer exposure but then you might need a tripod or something to steady it on so you can keep a smaller aperture.

Or shoot at sunrise/sunset dude.

Or expose for the sky and then take another shot exposing for the terrain, then chop the two together

 

[Lagerlout]

P.S. For overcast landscapes, you could always try a slightly longer exposure to get a little more light in, or change the WB to cloudy/shade?

Just have a play with the settings, that's what I do mate

Yeeah, I'll have a play. I'm just dreading the white sky syndrome. lol.

 

[Lagerlout]

As he said longer exposure but then you might need a tripod or something to steady it on so you can keep a smaller aperture.

Or shoot at sunrise/sunset dude.

Well I'll be tied by the times of the wedding tbh... I just want to take some decent pictures for my mate tbh as they're not having an official photographer.

I'll give it my best shot lol

 

[MaLicE]

get a gold bounce board for the wedding shots... landscapes just use longer exposure... tbh malta is never really that overcast, my parents had a house there for ages and i never saw a dull day really not even in winter... where you going in malta?

 

[unofficialPete]

For overcast landscape I'd use longer exposures, specially if your around the sea but requires a decent tripod. Theres always graduated neutral density filters but thats fiddly and takes some time to learn..

I'd pick up a flash, fast prime or portable tripod...

 

[Moz168]

Overcast skys can be a great time to use black and white.