I used to think sunny days were best for shooting film, but a cloudy afternoon in Denver proved me wrong

My rolls from a bright day came out washed out and flat, but the overcast shots had way more color and less harsh shadows. Anyone else find that cloudy weather actually gives better results with certain film stocks?

2 comments

2 Comments

bettyhunt9d ago

You mentioned sunny days giving washed out results and that really hit home for me. I used to be the same way, always waiting for bright sun before I'd bother taking out my camera. But after a trip to the coast where I shot a whole roll of Portra 400 in heavy overcast, I was shocked at how punchy and vibrant the colors came out. The greens in the grass and the blues in the ocean just popped without all that harsh contrast ruining everything. Now I actually look forward to those flat, gray days because I know the colors will hold up better.

joseph4485d ago

Yeah, that rings true. I had a buddy who did the exact opposite thing - he only shot on overcast days for years, thought sunny weather was the enemy. Then he went to the Grand Canyon at sunrise on a crystal clear day, shot a roll of Ektar 100, and the rocks turned out so red and orange they looked fake. He said the shadows were too dark but the highlights were fine. Now he mixes it up depending on what he's after. Weird how one good roll can totally shift your thinking.