Blue Skies are the Best…
"The sky is an infinite movie to me. I never get tired of looking at what's happening up there." - K. D. Lang
One of the things I think about every week is when am I going to get out to make photographs? It takes a lot of planning around my personal and professional life, and also around the weather, and specific times of day that may just fit my mood. The truth to the matter is I am able to photograph clear blue skies through every season, more than a brilliant golden sunrise or sunset. Why is this a problem though? Ever since I took up photography, I have heard only the worst reactions to harsh light and plain blue skies. The truth to the matter is…I love them! I love how much contrast all natural surfaces are shown off with a lightly clouded, or totally clear blue sky. It’s also usually the time of day I feel the sharpest, when I can spend as much time as possible not worrying about getting back to work, or about the light that is warmly bathing my scene disappearing as I do during sunrise or sunset. Whether on top of a mountain, sitting on the coast, or if I am sitting in the backyard taking in a nice warm day, blue skies are so enjoyable, and put really anyone in a great mood, I am absolutely convinced there is always something to photograph!
Focus:
I have been collecting some of my favorite blue sky images with this blog post in mind for months now. I had a few different scenes in mind and I was so much happier capturing those scenes in photos. Wintertime made for quite an adventure capturing the photos shown below. Cold hands do not subside because photos are being made in the middle of the afternoon, but the addition of snow makes for bright, reflected surfaces that need to be tamed. Still with bare wooded areas, and frozen rocks, the textures of interest are outstanding!
Icy Portland Head
Lens: Sony 20mm F/1.8
Apeture: F/8
Shutter Speed: 25s
Focal Length: 20mm
ISO: 50
Filter: 10 Stop
I have visited Portland Head countless times, which photographer in the greater Portland Area hasn’t? But one photo I have always imagined is a lovely long exposure as the tide is coming in before sunset, during the winter. I climbed down these slippery rocks on a negative temperature day, and waited about a half hour or so to be rewarded with these stunning scenes. With the shadows taking over in the cove I was perched in and the waves crashing on the far walls, I set my camera up from a low perspective and let the icy rocks in the foreground show off the entire scene!
So many places that seem ordinary all year round take on a new look and feel when winter rolls in. At the end of Fall stick season usually rolls in which means rich green fields turn brown and the usually thick leaves from wooded areas become sparse. When snow accompanies this scenery I think some of these ordinary locations go wildly rich with a light dusting.
Snow Field
Lens: Sony 70-300 F/4.5-5.6
Apeture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/320s
Focal Length: 217mm
ISO: 50
One of the great treats of Winter 2021, although we hand long runs of brutal cold, was a few mornings of frozen trees and branches. I stood in my window one morning, looking at the thermostat out my window and contemplating whether or not I wanted to brave the storm. When the light broke past the tree line behind my neighbors’ house, I noticed the glint and glimmer of ice reflected off the tree branches. The decision was made for me. I grabbed my camera. poured my coffee into a travel cup and carefully sauntered around my neighborhood with my telephoto lens, isolating every ice covered surface that was getting shown off by the shimmering early morning light!
The walks and active times weren’t isolated to my neighborhood. I pushed past my fear of freezing temperatures; my wife and I found a new lovely shared experience in winter hiking. Fortunately, living in New England, there are endless well maintained winter trails that bounce around the coast. But the truly best experiences are along slopes. Since the trees along the trail on the way to the peak of a hike are not obstructed by leaf covered trees, the entire hike is bursting with stunning scenery not visible during the Summer and Fall.
Barn Slopes
Lens: Sony 85mm F/1.8
Apeture: F/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/800s
Focal Length: 85mm
ISO: 100
This horse stable was perched on top of a gentle slope, serving I am guessing, as a pasture for the horses. In the distance to the left that mountains were just catching the remnants of sunrise light. The rest of the sky though was this interesting shade of blue and the clouds were sharp lines in the sky. Beautiful motivation for the hike ahead!
Still I do love a good coastal walk. Southern Maine has endless spots along the water to indulge that need to mess with moving water. I do love an oppurtunity for a long exposure photo, but the sweet splash against the jagged Maine coast makes for such a satisfying foreground to a clear winter sky.
Drive East and you are sure to hit all sorts of beautiful accessible craggy coastline in Maine. The different times of day you make your way to areas on the edge of Down East means I am surrounded by an audible and visible pleasures to snap. The photo below is from a February morning trip out to Pemaquid, after a stormy day. Usually, folks visit this sport to take in the lighthouse nearby, which I do enjoy, but this scenery was way more up my street!
Back Splash
Lens: Rokinon 35mm F/1.4
Apeture: F/3.2
Shutter Speed: 1/1000s
Focal Length: 35mm
ISO: 100
These waves spent the morning reminding the rocks they have a worthy opponent. For the first time in about 10 sunrise shoots, I not only picked the correct morning to get out, I also found an ideal location! The timing was on point; that hour or so just after sunrise where the light truly feels as concentrated. But for the air, you could be tricked into thinking a late February morning is offering a kiss of spring.
Funny thing is the blue skies do not end here. Like I said in the begining, a clear blue day with the ideal foreground filled with contrast can create stunning sharp images. The sort of things that can take one out of each precise moment. They are literally everywhere…
One of the tricky things about winter days is finding reasons to get outside, fill the lungs with crisp fresh air and with nothing growing in sight, finding beautiful places to set my lens on. One of my favorite things to do is find how the shadows work between all the brick buildings. It’s not just a winter activity, but, when there is limited sunlight, my favorite time to get out and about may be when the sun is at its harshest.
Early Bloom
Lens: Rokinon 35mm F/1.4
Apeture: F/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/2500s
Focal Length: 35mm
ISO: 100
Speaking of walks, getting through the neighborhoods during springtime is a great opportunity to take on photography experiments in places that are familiar. I find when I am not trying to figure out how to photograph a place, when the scenery comes naturally, I can focus more on executing. Motivated by warmer days in March and May created photos similar to this one.
That attraction so salty air is so necessary. I can’t imagine life without being able to access the coast. Blue skies are super, and when you match the set with a rolling blue ocean the rich textures near the water and things like Lichen come out so sharp and bright!
A cloudy afternoon is just outstanding. The harsh light available in afternoon light is great if you find place to soak up all the shadows the natural contrast is endlessly attractive. A solid foreground and some subtle details in a sprawling scene is a great way to take advantage of a big bright sky.
Green & Gold
Lens: Fujinon XF 18-55 mm f/2.8-4.0
Apeture: F/11
Shutter Speed: 1/30
Focal Length: 21.4mm
ISO: 320
And so, one of my latest favorite shots was executed between the reeds in the middle of this marsh, fighting off the swarms of bugs that were inquiring about my late afternoon activities. Sunset was creeping in quickly, and while I would usually embrace this sky going golden. I was in love with all the contrast and rich colors from these blue skies.
Meter:
Its funny where inspiration comes from. It will come as no surprise to anyone that I certainly borrow from many of the outstanding photographers who put their work out there. These artists always deliver their blue skies. They have their niche’s, but they both share one particular familiarity - they shoot with film. Something about film photography and it’s finality always garners a huge amount of respect from me. It’s the next intriguing element of the photography artform I wish to delve into. I can’t wait to learn more from them both!
Stephen Wells:
Instagram: @stephen.wells
Stephen is a man of many hobbies and undeniably committed to mastering whatever he tries. He loves everything analog, and will wax lyrical about his favorite artists over a few beers anytime he can.
He’s become a good friend of mine, and I am looking forward to getting out to shoot with him often in the years to come. I first noticed Stephen’s surfing photos. He often has a shot or two of friends crushing waves with a blue sky and the sun blaring through.
Stephen also helped me get over the hurdle of starting to shoot film, and there will be mention of him in future blogs for sure!
Ray Larose:
Instagram: @ray.larose | Website: https://sqid.ink/
Ray’s work is striking to say the least. Always filled with colorful, beautifully lit tones. It almost feels as though he has never taken a bad photo. All his shots are composed in stunning fashion, and nothing seems ordinary after looking at the shots he takes.
You’ll notice quickly that he spends his time around town, likely strolling down an alley or along the busiest street you can think of in whatever town he is in, showing off the scenery for that day in absolutely stunning fashion.
Expose:
So, what’s next? I made a total change to my camera gear this summer, I also spent a lot of time exploring what I really like photographing. My minamilism has not taken a back seat and I feel like I am honing into a few new fun tricks. Still the adventure continues to find places and scenes under all kinds of conditions to show of the endless amount of learning and sharing associated with photography. As usual stay tuned to see how it all goes.
Follow along on my Instagram to see how this is going, or pop over to my gallery to see a few of the shots I am particularly proud of!
Thanks for stopping in…
Warmest,
Stanley
