Cloudy Conditions

[ssshumack]

Hi all! I need some advice. I plan on going out tomorrow and just spend the whole day taking photos. My problem is that tomorrow's forecast calls for a partly cloudy to cloudy sky. Can anyone advise me on what settings (ISO, WB, etc.) and such to use. My ISO options are 200, 400, 800, & 1600. I'm still not wanting to venture on Manual mode just yet. I also have the polarized filter, UV filter, and another filter that's kind of an amber color. Not sure what it's called. (It came in a set of 3 is the reason I have it.) Any help and tips are greatly appreciated! Oh yeah, I'm planning on taking anything from front porches to old tombstones to wildlife. Just whatever catches my eye!

[shutterbug_wannabe]

Well, I love to shoot on cloudy days. Set your WB to cloudy...ISO I would leave at either 100 or 200. Leave your UV/clear filter on your lens all of the time, it protects the actual glass of the lens. If you are deep into the shade you may need to bump your ISO up to 400 or so. Don't be afraid to do this it will help the shutter speed remain higher. Better a little grain than underexposure and camera shake.

What setting do you use if you don't use Manual? Do you use AP or SP? I didn't know you could control ISO and WB in full auto mode?

[sybren]

Will you have a tripod? That makes all the difference - I strongly suggest you take one with you, unless you know in advance you won't be able to use it. If you don't shoot manual, at least use aperture priority (Av or A) mode to keep control over your depth of field.

If you want to have full control over your photos, try picking the shutter speed such that you get no clipped highlights (pure whites), or hardly any at least. You can always lighten up the darker areas later on. Be sure to shoot in RAW so that you have maximal flexibility in that area.

If you get things right, you can create beautiful shots. If there is anything boring, it's an empty, cloudless sky.

[ssshumack]

Thanks guys! I will remember to set WB to cloudy.....I always forget about that. And yes, I will have a tripod with me. It now goes where I go. I have been using the Aperture mode lately, but didn't know if I should use the landscape mode? And I think I can do the WB and ISO with auto mode, but not exactly sure on that. I know I did change the ISO one time, but not exactly sure if I was in auto or aperture. But thanks for the help!

[sybren]

If you're comfortable with Aperture mode, and you're able to dial in exposure compensation, you don't need the "landscape", "portrait", etc. modes at all.