This weekend’s experiment is to find and shoot some moody images. It’s the best time of year as the seasons change and the mood is tending toward gloomy (Northern Hemisphere) or sunny (Southern Hemisphere).
Weekly Recap
We started this week learning about White Balance and how important it can be if you’re only shooting in JPEG mode. From there I listed out some thoughts that might run through your head while you’re taking a shot.
Next was one of the most important features of any camera, large or small: Exposure Compensation. It helps you make all things right in the world when your camera wants to be average. Hand in hand with Exposure Compensation is reading your camera’s Histogram. It’s a bit funky, but useful.
The week ended with a note about the Rule of Thirds which has been one of the most popular posts yet in this series. Be expecting more of those types of posts in the future in the Creative Ideas section starting soon.
The Experiment
This weekend I want to see some moody photos. Good mood, bad mood, it doesn’t matter.
The important thing is to get out and get shooting! Look for how the light of a scene affects how you feel about it. It doesn’t need to be a fully sunny day, it can be a ray of light coming in through a window. Or a foggy morning with just a hint of activity.
This subject is meant to be open to interpretation so you have a wide swath from which to choose.
Inspiration
I’ve selected some of my own moody photos to help kickstart your creative process.
If you missed any of the Weekend Experiments, you can find them all here.
Questions? Pop ’em like Pez in the comments section below. or email me at peter@peterwestcarey.com.
Photography Basics – A 43 Day Adventure, and its companion 40 Photography Experiments, are series written by professional photographer Peter West Carey. The series are designed to unravel the mysteries of photography, helping you can take better pictures. Subscribe here to receive all the updates and bonus material. Your comments are always welcome.
If you enjoy the series, consider learning photography first-hand on a professionally led international photo tour in Nepal or Bhutan. More information can be found at Far Horizon Photo Tours.