In landscape photography, the weather is more than just a backdrop; it’s a powerful tool that can dramatically shape the mood and story of your images. Whether it's the soft, diffused light of a misty morning or the vibrant arc of a rainbow after a storm, understanding and adapting to weather conditions is essential for capturing compelling landscape photos. This article will guide you on how to work with various atmospheric effects, from fog and mist to rainbows, ensuring you’re always in the right place at the right time.

1. The Importance of Weather Forecasting

To maximise your chances of capturing stunning atmospheric effects, you need to become as much a student of the weather as you are of photography. Regularly monitoring weather forecasts is crucial. Here are a few tips:

• Use Specialised Weather Apps: General weather apps are useful, but consider using specialised tools like Windy, Clear Outside, or PhotoPills. These provide detailed information on cloud cover, humidity, wind speed, and more—all critical factors in landscape photography.
• Learn to Interpret Cloud Types: High, wispy cirrus clouds often signal good sunset or sunrise conditions, while cumulus clouds can create dramatic skies. On the other hand, low-hanging stratus clouds might indicate an impending foggy morning.
• Understand Light and Shadow: The sun’s position in relation to clouds can create dramatic lighting conditions, with beams of sunlight piercing through gaps in the clouds, known as crepuscular rays.

2. Adapting to Different Weather Conditions

Being flexible and ready to adapt to changing weather is key. Here’s how you can turn different conditions to your advantage:

• Clear Skies: These can seem uninspiring, but they offer opportunities for crisp, clean images. Consider shooting during golden hour to add warmth and depth, or use the blue sky as a backdrop to emphasise strong compositions with leading lines or patterns.
• Cloudy Days: Overcast conditions are excellent for even, diffused light, which is ideal for capturing rich colors and textures. Use these days to shoot in woodland/forests or (especially in the summer months) photographing delicate subjects such as flowers and insects.
• Rain and Storms: Storms create some of the most dramatic scenes. Capture the powerful interplay between light and dark, and consider using a longer shutter speed to emphasise the movement of rain and cloud. Don’t forget your rain cover!
• Snow and Ice: Snow can simplify a landscape, stripping it down to its essential shapes and lines. Pay attention to how snow interacts with light, creating soft shadows and highlights.

3. Capturing Fog and Mist

Fog and mist are among the most atmospheric conditions you can photograph. They add mystery and depth, often transforming a familiar scene into something ethereal.

• Timing and Location: Fog and mist are most common in the early morning after a cool, clear night. Look for areas near water bodies, valleys or woodland/forests where cool air can settle and create these conditions. Check the aformentioned weather apps to predict dew-point which will help determine the likelyhood of mist.
• Composition Tips: Use fog to simplify your compositions, focusing on strong shapes and silhouettes. Trees, hills, and buildings can create striking images when partially obscured by fog.
• Camera Settings: Fog can confuse your camera’s autofocus and metering systems, so consider using manual focus and exposure compensation to avoid underexposure.

4. Chasing Rainbows

Rainbows are a fleeting but magical phenomenon. To capture them, you need a combination of sun and rain, with the sun at a low angle behind you.

• Planning for Rainbows: Rainbows typically appear when rain is clearing, and the sun breaks through. Look for opportunities when showers are forecast around sunrise or sunset.
• Composition: While the rainbow itself is often the main subject, consider including foreground elements like trees, fields, mountains or buildings to add context and depth to your image.
• Exposure and Post-Processing: Rainbows can be tricky to expose correctly, as they are often much brighter than the surrounding sky. Bracketing your shots and combining exposures in post-processing can help balance the exposure.

5. Other Atmospheric Effects

There are many other atmospheric effects that can add a unique mood to your landscape photos:

• Crepuscular Rays: These “God rays” occur when the sun shines through gaps in clouds, creating visible beams of light. Position yourself where the sun is partially obscured by clouds or terrain for the best results.
• Frost and Dew: Early morning frost and dew can add a magical quality to close-up landscape shots. Look for patterns in the frost or dew-covered spider webs and leaves.
• Lightning: Capturing lightning requires patience and timing. Use a long exposure (with a tripod) to increase your chances of capturing a bolt and be mindful of safety when shooting storms.

6. Post-Processing Tips for Atmospheric Effects

Post-processing is an essential step in enhancing atmospheric effects. Here are some techniques:

• Enhance the Mood: Use tools like the Dehaze slider in Lightroom to adjust the contrast of foggy scenes, or add a soft glow to enhance the mystical quality of mist.
• Colour Grading: Adjust the white balance to emphasise the warmth of a sunrise or the coolness of a misty morning. Split toning can also be used to add subtle colour shifts that enhance the mood.
• Clarity and Contrast: When editing foggy or misty photos, reducing clarity can add to the softness, while selective contrast adjustments can help define key elements in the scene.
• Go Monochrome: Photographing in monochrome (or switching to monochrome in post-production later) can create a dark, moody feeling with a big impact!

Master the Weather!

Mastering weather and atmospheric conditions in landscape photography takes practice, patience, and a bit of meteorological knowledge. By understanding how different weather conditions influence the landscape, and by being prepared to adapt to these conditions, you can create images that are not only technically proficient but also deeply evocative. So, keep your gear ready, study the skies, and embrace the ever-changing moods of nature. Better still, why not consider one of the many landscape photography workshops I run each year? These are packed with useful information from start to finish and an ideal way to learn how to study weather. All my workshops can be found on the workshops page of my website here >>.Your next great landscape shot could be just a storm, fog, or rainbow away!