Dull weather is a blank canvas for photography

Light is fundamental to photography, so it’s no surprise that many photographers avoid flat, gray days. But aside from fog, these are my favorite conditions because they offer a blank canvas to create the images I envision. They favor creation over “simply” capturing what’s in front of us.

Take this image of the Pacifica Pier as an example. It was a cloudy morning, the light was soft and diffused, giving me full control over every part of the frame. Below, you can see how many different variations we can create from the original RAW file. If the light had been more… say, opinionated, with harsh shadows, my options would have been far more limited.

Even though I have a vision for the final image in the field, I always try to capture the most neutral RAW file possible. This gives me the flexibility to experiment, not just right after taking the shot, but even years later. I love revisiting old images and seeing what new directions I can take them in.

That’s why I aim for a neutral exposure, even if I plan to under or overexpose the final image. My priority is always getting the shot, but when I have the time, I also try to capture the cleanest file possible. It all comes down to keeping my options open.

It takes a bit more effort to bring life to these flat images, but it’s easy to do in post-processing: with contrast, clarity, and local adjustments like gradients, we can shape the image to match what we envisioned.