Cloud Photography at Night

Monday, 14 November 2011

Cloud Photography at Night

I am currently working on photographing different weather events at different times of night.  Stuff that most people won't try or figure is impossible.  Lately I have been working on settings that allow me to freeze a cloud at night with as little digital noise as possible.  Last night was a real test for my Canon 5D MKII.  The clouds last night were moving from Southwest to Northeast approximately 70km/h.  Most the cloud had been small cumulus when I noticed some spotty showers had developed on radar infront of the cold front.  I went out and looked to my southwest where I saw a developing cumulus cloud. I quickly went to my night-time settings and was able to freeze the cloud while keeping the digital noise respectable.  I am looking forward to another night when the clouds are moving slower with an even fuller moon because that will allow me to use lower ISO numbers and hopefully lead to a better quality shot at the end. This will be an ongoing project of mine. I still believe I can get the quality that much better. In this photograph above there was also a pileus cloud on the right side of the cumulus where it is fuzzy.  Unfortunately, by the time I got everything lined up and focused most the cumulus had broken through the pileus.  So it is very fragmented but was there.

Late Season Autumn Colours

One of the things I enjoy the most about the challenges of doing photography when fall colours are close to coming to an end is looking for small isolated areas of colour. This photo was taken on my street where most the domestic maple trees still have their leaves. Whereas, most the wild trees in the area don't have much of anything left on them. Photo was taken on November 8, 2011. 

I had been watching a weather system move in and seen in the forecast that they were predicting fog. I new that would add a whole other element to the photograph. I had taken this same seen with beautiful sunshine on it. The photographs turned out beautifully but I felt it lacked the technical difficulty I was looking for. Something different! Finally the fog rolled in and I had what I wanted.  I had the late season fall colours, fog and even some bonus shadow crespular rays. All giving this image a dynamic that really made me happy when I was finished.  My favourite thing to do is combine weather phenomena.  For example in 2003 I photographed lightning and northern lights in full moonlight all at the same time.  I just wish I had a camera like I do today.  That was 15 megapixels ago and not to mention how much more my compositions have improved.  I am not sure what I will release this photo at but I don't think it will be anything smaller then 20"X30" because of the fact it is such a welcoming seen.  It makes you feel like you can just walk right down the sidewalk.