It's a 'dreary f8' day...

[Duncan Ross]

And I need to use up some film in the camera so I can get it processed. Problem is I'll just end up with almost colourless washed-out images with a paper-white sky as if they had been cut in half.

Can anyone give me some ideas of the sort of outdoor photos that suit a day like this, especially with colour film? The cat is fed up with being photographed.

 

[varjag]

Ask whether your lab can push film. It adds contrast and will bump the colors somewhat.

 

[Duncan Ross]

Unfortunately not; I use a budget 'postal' lab that just offer a cheap no-frills service.

 

[oftheherd]

Or, try some of those experiments you have considered in the past but never got around to, like using filters with the express intent of converting to b/w, and see what effect they have on color film. If you have none of those, there's always the cat. ;-)

 

[varjag]

Then use one of your magic cubes maybe? 🙂 A flash can make it less boring.

 

[Duncan Ross]

Then use one of your magic cubes maybe? 🙂 A flash can make it less boring.

Yep, just might do that. Unfortunately it leaves me stuck at 1/10s so I'd really have to stay indoors. I think I'll go and annoy the cat! 😀

 

[FrankS]

Duncan, don't fret about washed out blank skies, just don't include it in your picture. Photograph stuff with you camera pointed down to exclude the sky. This type of lighting can be very good for details - kind of like a giant soft box.

 

[kiev4a]

I would like to see and f8 day every once in awhile. We're into a second month of cloudless, hazy skies and temps in the mid 90s (F) to 105. Even the birds don't want to sing. Sunshine doesn't always equate to a good photographic environment.

 

[egpj]

Frank is exactly right about that type of lighting. Often while photographing from the air you do not want shadows. Sometimes I would get some multiple cloud layers a distance off from the work area that would bounce the light in between them and then down on my area. It just fills the work area with a diffused light that brings out every detail. I say shoot away when you have even lighting like that.

Unfortunately we have thunder showers here in sunny Florida right now. Hence I am here on the computer.

 

[varjag]

FWIW we've got f/5.6 days lately here, right when I loaded my camera with 65 ASA film :/
Additionaly we've had a total blackout in Minsk last night: so much for city lighting.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Rate your film to 1/2 of it's normal speed, i.e. 200 for 400 speed film, and proceed with reckless abandon 😉.

Get creative, simplify, use the blank washed-out sky to help isolate a subject like a tree, light pole, a building feature or a kid on a swing:

 

[Kin Lau]

And I need to use up some film in the camera so I can get it processed. Problem is I'll just end up with almost colourless washed-out images with a paper-white sky as if they had been cut in half.

Can anyone give me some ideas of the sort of outdoor photos that suit a day like this, especially with colour film? The cat is fed up with being photographed.

Grab a spray bottle and go shoot some plants and flowers. Over expose a bit after spraying the flower/plant, and you should get some really nice saturated colours. Throw on a "warming filter" aka 81A for a bit of that early morning light effect.

 

[peter_n]

That's a cracking shot Todd - love it!

 

[Poptart]

Nudes and close-up portraits. Or close-up nudes. Or naked portraits.

 

[MJFerron]

As mentioned abouve cloudy days, especially a bright overcast can make for excellent photos. We all like nice blue sky days but what looks good in the bright sun?

 

[jdos2]

Nudes and close-up portraits. Or close-up nudes. Or naked portraits.

Naked self portraits.

 

[Kin Lau]

Naked self portraits.

outdoors too 😀

 

[Poptart]

Not in Scotland!
ps- I mak siker! (Mean anything to you?)

 

[varjag]

We all like nice blue sky days but what looks good in the bright sun?

Mmm.. shadows?

 

[David Doler]

Maybe get a new cat?