Page 17 - Cape-Camera-August-2022

August 2022 Cape Camera

You should also think about the number of people in your im-
age. Depending on the season, your chances are better that
there are less people at places you would like to photograph.
Vacation destinations are usually much easier to shot outside
the vacation season, while other places may be a better choice
during the summertime, because that’s the time when the sun
rises very early and most of the people are still sleeping.
Think about the right season and time when your desired spot
is usually uncomfortable to visit for other people – that’s prob-
ably your best available time slot!
Time
The right timing always depends on the spot you want to shoot
and where the sun is rising or setting at this place. In my opin-
ion, this usually results in two or maybe even just one time slot
per day when you should be at any particular spot: during sun-
rise or during sunset.
There are always exceptions to the rule, but that's probably the
best available light you can get for your photos. Both events
consist of 3 different parts: the golden hour, the sunrise/sunset
itself and the blue hour. The sunset, for example, starts with the
golden hour and, after the sunset itself, you still have the blue
hour you should use until the sky gets black.
Afterwards the sky is usually too dark, resulting in a huge black
part of your image with nearly zero details. Unless you are at this
spot to shoot the stars, this is when you normally stop shooting.

View to Big Ben, London
Special Events
Obvious, but still often forgotten, are special events that take
place at the spots you want to shoot. Fireworks are a good ex-
Sunset at Kennedy Bridge, Bonn
ample, but also blooming periods, hot-air balloon festivals, or
Weather even historical events like New York’s Tribute in Light are things
you should consider while planing your shooting.
The weather isn't particularly predictable for huge periods of
time, but you can use the weather forecast a few hours before Things like that can make a huge difference and add something
special and unique to your photography.
your trip to choose the right spot for that day.
Learn how to read the weather radar and watch out for cloud
fronts during sunrise or sunset and where they are coming from.
Your results will look boring with a huge grey cloud ceiling or
without any clouds in the sky at all. That’s why sunshine and
"good weather" doesn’t equally mean perfect weather for pho-
tography. Often the best timings for dramatic clouds or amaz-
ing sunsets are just before or after a storm.
Another important stylistic element is fog, which can add that
mystical mood to your photos. Especially woods, valleys, or cas-
tles in particular look great with fog. It's not fully predictable,
but your chances increase during early morning in the spring
and autumn. Getting up that early may be uncomfortable, but
it’s often worth the effort when you really want that special shot.
Finally, depending on the spot, even rain can add a nice mood
to your results. It’s up to us as photographers to decide what feel- Tribute in Light, New York
ings we want to convey to the viewer.

16 Cape Town Photographic Society