Dark Vader

Yes, There's Beauty In A Moody Sky

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

One of the challenges of outdoor photography is that you have to use the existing conditions as they are. You can't change anything. You can't control anything. You can't modify anything as you would in a studio. You can't alter the light. You can't get a landscape to move. You shoot objects as they are. That's part of the joy of photography. You work the angles, you use the light, you choose your viewpoint. And yes, even when there's thick cloud cover, you can find a shot or two.

The first shot (above) in this sequence was taken from Princes Bridge here in Melbourne, looking out over the giant ferris wheel, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Yarra River. It was taken about seven months ago, on a bracing, cold winter morning. I took it at 1/15 sec, F4, ISO 800 and at a focal length of 125mm.


Then I took this second shot (above) with the same settings but with the focal length at 78mm. I'm sure you'll agree that even though it's the same scene, the entire ambience is different because I shifted from horizontal to vertical. I composed this shot to make the most of the sky, and to use the single shaft of golden light reflected across the river.


Finally, I shot this third frame (above) to get the whole scene in, with the focal length at only 18mm. I often get asked if I shoot in a set ratio, say, 10 frames for every one frame that I retain. No, I only shoot the frames I need. On this occasion, I shot only three frames and these are the three that I've posted here.