Predicting Light... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

04/17/2006 06:36:04 PM · #1

Is there a way to predict how the light will be ahead of time using weather forecasts or other resources?

jiribierie

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/17/2006 06:39:17 PM · #2

ofcourse there is. it depends on what kind of lighting you prefer but usualy its a sunshiny thing. so check out your local wheather forecast to see if the sun will shine or not.
its as simple as that!

lfordhere

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

04/17/2006 06:39:42 PM · #3

Certainly... I use the Farmer's almanac to help determine sunrise and sunset times for weddings that I am shooting where the couple want a sunset shot. It is fairly accurate with the prediction of weather as well, far in advance too.

I think you actually answered your own question within the question... Unless I'm just not getting the question.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/17/2006 06:46:13 PM · #4

Good point.. I sorta did answer it myself..lol.. I see what your saying with the farmers almanac and weather forecasts, but what about predicting the quality. Im looking for a master resource of factors that will change quality of light and perhaps even color temperature. As we know, no sunset is the same and I looking to be more effecient so I can be onscene on the more dramatic times...

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

04/17/2006 06:46:19 PM · #5

As others have posted, sunrie & sunset times will give you a good starting point. Cloud cover is another important factor, and there are good resources to track cloud cover. The linked page is for a resource commonlyused by astronomers, but very valuable to predict near-term cloud cover.
Moisture effects (haze, fog, etcetera) is the next important factor, and for that you'll need to develop a sense for what generates those conditions in the geographical are you're going to photograph in. For instance, I like landscapes incorporating early-morning ground fog, and I know that in my area the ideal times of year are late Spring and early Fall, when nights are cool and moisture levels high enough to produce low-lying fog blankets.
you'll never stop learning how the light is affected by weather, you'll just keep getting better at it.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/17/2006 06:49:05 PM · #6

Originally posted by dustinwilson:

...As we know, no sunset is the same and I looking to be more effecient so I can be onscene on the more dramatic times...

An important point... the qualities of a sunset are affected by several factors, some of them not visible (they're below your local horizon). It's not easy to predict spectacular sunsets, but with some practice you should be able ot obtain a higher "hit rate" at least for your geographical area.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/17/2006 06:53:57 PM · #7

awesome info Kirbic! Thanks a bunch!

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

04/17/2006 06:56:34 PM · #8

Experience helps a lot.

Color and Light in Nature by David K. Lynch, William Livingston

and

Light and Color in the Outdoors by Marcel Minnaert

can also help.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

04/17/2006 08:13:21 PM · #9

I was gonna wade in, but that loudmouth Kirbic has said it all, basically...

I'd only add; when in doubt, set out! Nothing worse than thinking nothing's gonna happen then trying to speed to the scene at the last second and getting there too late. I'm lucky that way; I have good sunset and sunrise locations within 5 minutes of my house...

R.