Whatever the weather
As winter gives way to spring, this period of transition provides changeable weather, big stormy skies, and dramatic lighting – this is the perfect time of year to be outdoors
11 Shoot rainbows
Opportunities can be fleeting, so be prepared to set up quickly and shoot while it is still raining. Check the front of the lens for raindrops, using a lens cloth to wick away moisture. A polarizer will strengthen a rainbow’s vibrancy, but you need to be careful – rotated incorrectly, colour will diminish.
12 Wear the right clobber
April can be showery and weather conditions may change rapidly. Dress appropriately. A good base-layer combined with a lightweight, waterand wind-proof jacket is a good combination.
13 Mist opportunity
Spring is one of the best times to shoot mist, so set your alarm early. Although tricky to anticipate, mist is most likely to form over large bodies of water, in valleys and over floodplains. Elevated viewpoints are a good option.
14 April showers
April showers provide great conditions for photography. The light during early spring is often crisp and, between downpours, visibility can be superb. The landscape is currently vibrant and green, and a polarizer will help you capture vivid colour. Use a rain sleeve (or a shower cap) to keep the camera dry while you wait for gaps in the cloud.
15 Download a weather app
Weather provides drama, light, colour and mood, so it is essential that photographers know the latest forecast. Download a good weather app providing a detailed, up-to-the-date forecast. Accuweather, Dark Sky, Weather Underground and Yr are all popular among outdoor photographers.
16 Shoot a silhouette
By shooting against the light, objects will be rendered as inky outlines. Contre-jour photography is great for highlighting a subject’s shape and form – for example, a building, tree or person. Opt for instantly recognizable subjects and expose correctly for the bright sky, not the subject.
17 After the rain
Following April showers, head outdoors and photograph flowers, buds and leaves smothered in raindrops. Water droplets add interest, scale and sparkle to shots. Droplets can act like tiny lenses, magnifying and refracting their surroundings. Don’t just focus on natural subjects.
18 Star trails
Cloudless spring nights are perfect for shooting star trails. Select a location free of light pollution and locate the position of Polaris (the North Star) – an app like Photopills will help. Fix your camera on a tripod and use a wide-angle lens. Set a large aperture and high ISO, and focus on infinity. It is best to capture a sequence of 50-200 shorter exposures (opposed to one long one) using an intervalometer. Finally, stack your images using photo-editing software to create your star trail.
19 Try infrared
Contrasty light and green foliage suit infrared photography wonderfully. Blue skies will be rendered black and foliage turns white, creating an otherworldly look. The cheapest introduction to infrared is an IR filter, like a Hoya R72. Exposure time will be lengthened, so a tripod is a must.
Although tricky to anticipate, mist is most likely to form over large bodies of water, in valleys and over floodplains