Dull weather is a blank canvas for photography

The light was pretty flat today. While most photographers would avoid days like this, I actually think they make for anything but boring photography. In fact, other than a foggy day, there’s nothing I like more than a flat, gray, and cloudy sky. These conditions give us a blank canvas to create the images we envision, rather than just capturing what’s in front of us. Especially in the context of black-and-white photography.

There are no bad places to photograph, only bad conditions

I like to say that instead of photographing a location, I capture the conditions. That’s why I often don’t go somewhere, I go there when something is happening.

That was the case for my last trip to Lake Tahoe. I had been there a few years ago, and struggled with the image-making. I knew the place had potential; I just needed the conditions that work best for me.

Several days before the trip, I noticed the forecast: up to a foot of snow in the Tahoe area. I have some of my favorite spots in the weather app, so I’m almost constantly checking the conditions around me.

Of course, long-term forecasts can be little more than educated guesses, especially when it comes to predicting the weather up in the mountains. So, I waited until the last minute to book a room, once it was pretty clear the snow was coming.

Luckily, prices not only didn’t go up... they dropped. Mid-December is low season in Tahoe. It’s cold for swimming and hiking, but too early for skiing and the holidays. I find that when conditions are bad for crowds, they usually make for good photography… and for finding relatively affordable lodging.

I am so glad I gave Tahoe another chance. After all, there are no bad places to photograph, only bad conditions.

How I predict fog

I love fog. Fog is very important for my photography, as it creates the atmosphere and the mystery I look for with my images.

As you can imagine, being able to predict (or at least have some degree of confidence) where and when fog happens can make a big difference. That’s why I always keep an eye on some key numbers that are a good indicator of possible mist.

I use an app called Clear Outside. It’s not a good one, it’s old and hasn’t been updated in years, but I love how simple it is. I can see everything I need in one quick glimpse, with no distractions.

What I look for is:

• Wind: as little wind as possible, ideally no wind at all.
• Rain can create its own fog, but most of the time it will leave you with images that look like they were taken on a cloudy day. Only that you got wet to make them.
• Humidity: has it rained lately? is the ground wet? are there lakes nearby? Here where I live, fog won’t happen if humidity is below 90%.
• Temperature: a cold night followed by a warm day can fill the air with all that humidity present on the ground.
• Dew point: the closer to the actual temperature, the better. It is when these two values are the same that fog appears to be the thicker, at least in my experience.
• Topology: valleys are more prone to fog, as they “trap” that humidity.

This is not an exact science, quite the opposite: predicting fog is really hard. But with the right numbers, and some knowledge about the location, you can have a rough idea of what to expect. And maybe have your camera bag ready to go, just in case.

Photographing a medieval castle in the fog

Come along with me as I photograph a medieval castle on a very foggy morning.

Photography in Glacier National Park

The first stop of my "spring" 2021 road trip was Glacier National Park, in Montana. And I quote spring because what I've found so far (and not just in Glacier) is much colder and much wetter weather than I had anticipated -- not complaining, though, much better than heat!

So, I got to Glacier way too early in the season. Most roads were closed, and most trails were not accesible. Not that I was planning on doing a lot of hiking alone, grizzlies are not something I'd want to mess with.

I still got to see quite a bit of the park. In this video I show you footage from the East side of Glacier National Park, where I spent 3 days. And the images I made there, of course.

I hope you enjoy it.

A day in the snow

We got some more snow, so I went for a walk around town trying to make the most of it.

You gotta love it

Often, I lose track of time when I'm taking photographs. That's usually not a problem, but when temperatures are well below freezing like a couple of days ago, one can face some consequences.

I was so focused on making images that I "forgot" how cold it was. Of course, I was aware of it: the pain in my face was a constant reminder of the hostile environment.

When I grabbed my video camera and tried to talk to it, I could barely move my jaw. A couple of hours outside had numbed the muscles in my face. They were so cold that I almost couldn't talk.

I can't think of any other thing I'd be doing in weather like that, for that long, that isn't photography. In fact, I can't wait to do it again.

I love it.

I had to get out...

Some days are special, those days we can't miss out on. I've talked about that here on the blog and in the newsletter.

Yesterday, I had a chance to put the theory to the test. It was supposed to be a busy day at home, but the snow waits for no one. The conditions were perfect for photography, so I had to put everything off.

It was worth it.

Disappointing my dad

My dad is very good at giving unsolicited and brutal feedback. He's got a good eye for negative stuff and is able to find it in almost anything.

"I'm disappointed, I was expecting more"

Those were his words after watching my recent video from Crater Lake. And even though I will never tell him this, I have to agree with him this time: it wasn't my best work by any means.

On one hand, this was due to the conditions: a boring, sunny and clear day. Timing is everything in photography. No matter how many masters of photography you throw at it, if the conditions aren't right, it's not going to work.

On the other hand, it's always possible to create good images. We just need to find what is that shines under the conditions we've got. I did try with the full moon, with some long exposures, with silhouettes. They are not the kind of images one might imagine from a place like Crater Lake, and that might crush other people's expectations.

I've said this dozens of times on this blog and my YouTube channel, but it's worth repeating: you are one click away from your best image ever. What that image is going to be of, you don't know. Stay open and flexible when you visit a location. Have a few images in mind, but if they don't work, be willing to move on and find something else. In many cases, that will be much better than your original idea. It will be, at least, different and original.

Even if that disappoints others.

When is an image worth risking your life?

A big storm was approaching really quick from the West. They were talking about winds up to 100mph and heavy rain -clearly a time to stay indoors, but nothing to worry about. Then, our phones started to go crazy with a sound I hadn't heard in years, and for very different reasons. Back then, it was an Amber alert. This time, though, it was a tornado warning, the first one I'd ever seen.

As we rushed to gather a few things -cameras included, of course- and went down to the crawl space, I thought about how cool it'd be to make an image of a tornado. Should I shelter or should I just wait at the window, ready to capture whatever might happen in the next few minutes?

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After a few seconds of doubt, I decided to join the others. We sheltered for 15 minutes until the alert expired. An EF-1 tornado touched down some 10 miles away. A funnel cloud did a bit of damage in our local area as it took down a few trees on nearby power lines - we lost power for 24 hours and, as of the time of writing this, almost 5 days later, we still haven't gotten Internet back.

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I'm glad I decided to shelter and not chase the possible tornado. This is one of those cases where an image is not worth risking your life. Capturing that photo would have made no difference.

I can think of just a handful of situations where it'd be worth it, though - scenarios where I'd put myself at risk to take the photo. After all, images have the potential to change the world, if the moment is powerful enough. From the photos of Tiananmen square to the video of George Floyd's death, visual records can spark a revolution and change -or even save- the lives of many.

When it comes to art, though, it's never worth it. It's not only about you - putting yourself at risk might put someone else in danger as well, like a rescue team trying to get to you. Think twice about the possible consequences of making that image.

I've left plenty of images behind because it felt unsafe. Maybe I had to get too close to a cliff, the terrain wasn't stable, it was too windy, or icy, or just too hard to get to. I regret none of those, because more important than getting that one image is to be able to come back tomorrow and get another one.

Please be safe out there, and happy shooting!

Image of the Month, February 2020: "Golden Gate"

Golden Gate is the new Image of the Month for the month of February, 2020.

It was my birthday and we were getting ready to celebrate in this little bar in the Mission. I looked at the TV and saw some fog starting to roll in, and I soon realized that that evening was going to have the conditions I'd been chasing for so long on my previous trips to the Bay Area.

I only had my compact camera with me, and the battery was almost dead. Luckily, the bartender had a charger that I used to get some extra power. I grabbed the camera and ran to get a cab, as I cancelled all the birthday plans for that night.

It was freezing cold on that bridge, and traffic was loud, very loud. It was an evening I won't forget: the scene that unveiled when the lights were turned on in the dark mist was all I was hoping for.

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two sizes

Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

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artist contract

A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.

want to know more?

You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.

Golden Gate is available for purchase here.

Don't let your camera outlive you

While not unexpected, I was a bit surprised to see the amount of concern raised by my video Shooting the Bronica in the rain.

"What had the Bronica done to you to mistreat it that way? Honestly, I didn't enjoy watching this video"

Let me be clear: I'm against camera abuse.

But also, don't forget: it's just a camera.

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Some people like to collect cameras, put them on a shelf and enjoy seeing and touching them. I understand and respect that.

A camera that is not part of a collection, though, is a tool: a machine to make images. And like any other machine, it will eventually die.

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"We must all either wear out or rust out, everyone of us. My choice is to wear out" -Theodore Roosevelt

I do choose to wear my cameras out (film and digital). This doesn't mean I'm careless, but I'm not going to think twice about exposing them to some rain, cold, heat, wind, snow or whatever the weather throws at me.

This wasn't the first rodeo for my Bronica, and it won't be the last. I can't think of a better way to honor it than using it to create beautiful images, so when the day finally comes it can proudly say: "I've done my job".

Boring days are the most important days

Making an image on days when everything falls into place -the right conditions, the right place, the right time, the right mood- is easy. Those days hide a big danger, though: when one of those elements is missing, we might think it's not even worth trying to make images.

I love to make images in the fog or even in severe weather conditions, but most days are just sunny, clear, boring. I have a hard time finding the motivation to get out on those days because I know the chances to make a "good image" (an image that fits my style) are very slim.

Those are the most important days, though, because they are the ones that make you a photographer.

First, they show the world as it usually is - in order for us to see the extraordinary we need to sense the ordinary first.

Second, they force you to think out of the box. In a sense, a foggy day is bad news to me because I usually end up creating something similar to what's worked before. A sunny day, though, is unpredictable: unlikely to generate great images, but potentially the spark for new ideas and projects. It was on some of those boring and flat days when most of my ongoing projects were born.

Image of the Month, January 2020: "Cascade"

Cascade is the new Image of the Month for the month of January, 2020.

This is one of my earliest images -one of my favorites as well-, made in the beautiful North Cascades National Park on a very rainy and dark day. It was well after sunset when I saw this waterfall at full power. One of those moments when nature shows its power and you can't help it but to feel really small.

View fullsize

two sizes

Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

View fullsize

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artist contract

A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.

want to know more?

You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.

Cascade is available for purchase here.

Image of the Month, December 2019: "White Badlands"

White Badlands is the new Image of the Month for the month of December.

I made this image in the remote Badlands National Park, South Dakota, in the middle of a blizzard that brought almost a foot of snow to the park and closed all the roads around. I was probably the only visitor that day, surely the only one in that white and empty campground.

I spent most of the time in the car, waiting for a chance to get out and make some images. Eventually, I was able to get out for just a few minutes, face the freezing temperatures and do some photography. It was so worth it.

There's a video about that day, too.

View fullsize

two sizes

Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

artist contract

A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.

want to know more?

You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.

White Badlands is available for purchase here.

The mountains were calling

Hello from Arco, Italy,

Sadly, we had to leave Austria one week earlier than anticipated due to bad weather. Snow and ice prevented me from doing many of the things I wanted to do there, but it was those same conditions that gifted me with a magical day that made me miss the mountains.

I lived in Portland, OR, for 5 years. While the city might not get snow every winter (we got one big snowstorm in all of those years), the mountains around it are covered in white powder for several months a year. It's easy to find snow even during the summer, if you hike high enough. I absolutely loved it.

I find snow fascinating. I grew up in a place that barely gets any: flurries are scarce, seeing the snow stick on the ground is a once-in-a-lifetime-event. The nearby mountains do get snow but it's short-lived as the warmer temperatures melt it away rather quickly.

Innsbruck got pummeled with snow last Wednesday. The locals might have found it annoying for their commutes, but it was a gift for me: unable to reach the snowy mountains, they came to me.

Placed among giants, it was easy for me to reach high altitudes by simply walking from our place near downtown Innsbruck. I walked in the snow for hours, going as high on the mountain as I could. I knew it wasn't going to last (it's still November, after all) and I wanted to take it all in.

When I left the city behind and reached the forest, it was like being back in the mountains of Oregon. I was once again walking into magical scenes from a fairy tale.

I loved my time in Innsbruck, definitely on top of my list of places to go back to. Next time, hopefully, better prepared for the winter.