I quite often try and pick days with nice light for photography. Alas, living in the UK, dull weather is never to far away, particularly through late autumn to early spring when it can persist for days on end. There’s nothing that puts me of going out with my camera more than a flat grey sky. But should it?
The two pictures published here today were taken on the same day in Cleethorpes at the end of December last year. When I arrived the sky was bright and clear and strong contrasty light was present. However, as the day progressed, clouds began to gather until they pretty much filled the sky. By the time I set off for the drive home the light had diminished considerably and it was raining.
Yet, despite this and my normal preference for good light, it’s the second photograph made in the supposedly worse conditions that I like the best. It just has bags more atmosphere. I guess the different composition of both could be having some effect, but I don’t really think that’s the reason.
Maybe I should just embrace the grey.
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken on 28 December 2023
Steel City Snapper photography 
I’d go for the dull one, too. The light is better for the subject; the brightly lit version looks flatter.
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Thanks Nigel. I need to stop seeing overcast days as a barrier, and just get on with it whatever the conditions.
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I really like the overcast one. When it’s dreary, I get excited and reach for my Holga 120 WPC. I can’t even explain why. I often think, when I take it out for a shoot, that I would love to see what you can do with a pinhole camera!
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The Holga is a great camera for these sort of conditions. The quirkiness of it’s lens is a boon.
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