Matching mood to conditions

Does anyone else have a hard time shooting when your mood does not match the weather conditions? I need some dark, dreary, depressing clouds and weather right now, but all we have for the next several days is bluebird skies here in Colorado. Or, the question begs, does your mood even effect your shooting plans? Since we try to bring our emotions to the image, wouldn't that be necessary? Of course, would it be just as hard to be "happy as a lark" and try to shoot in dreary weather? Or, do you use your craft to change your mood, so that even being out practicing, it helps?

Morris, I'm sure you will receive various responses to this, but the variety of differences is no doubt what makes the world spin.
Personally, I've always just gone with the flow. Exclusions might be; off the chart heat in direct sunlight and or excessive winds. Although photographing rocks seems to work just fine even in the wind.
I'm sure we all like the days with good cloud cover that's a bit broken apart and not just flat and dense coverage overall. But, we surely can't change the weather for what it is, at least just yet.

It might be a bit tough to prevent mood swings in various weather conditions, but I try not to get tied up into it too much. Although, I will have to at least admit to complaining about the conditions I've encountered at times, but never given in to a point of not trying to make the best of the outing.

What an interesting thread, Morris.

I usually fit into the "use your craft to change your mood" category. I try to use photography to pull me into the here and now, rather than all the other "not here, maybe there" places filled with monkey chatter.

All I know is that when I can get out to shoot, that puts me in a GOOD mood always!

I feel ya, Morris! I was thinking along the same lines this morning...where are the dark, moody clouds? We have been blessed with cloudless blue skies that many folks would die for, and here we are complaining... Greener grass, as they say.
I notice for myself that once I get out of the car (or house, or bed for that matter) and start shooting, I am immersed in the project of photographing and am in a better mood. It's just a matter of getting started.
We'll see what happens this weekend. I am determined to get out of town for my first quick snoeshoe trip of the year...we'll see how my mood changes then!
Good luck!

Interesting question Morris. Are you saying you've been a little down lately so you need some gloomy conditions to match your mood? Or is someone requesting some gloomy images?
Living in the PNW if I let the weather dictate my mood I'd be in trouble since it's usually gloomy here 8 months of the year.
However, I do get excited when I do get an opportunity to shoot in "Magic Light". Those moments have been rare, maybe that's why I'm not very good at it yet.
I will say this, when I'm moving along a beautiful, serene mountain stream or some other great spot my mood is definitely different than it was before I got out of the truck.

Excellent responses so far. And, I think for me, I have experienced the gamut of what all of you have written to this point. I do find it interesting that shooters around here have actually gotten tired of good weather. At least the ones I have talked with. We all have expressed how we might want the rain, snow, or wind to stop at times, but only photography would have me wishing for clouds.
And yes, Bruce, I am a little down right now for personal reasons, so I find myself wanting the weather to match my mood. I really feel like I could express gloom in a powerful way. But, as life teaches all of us, this will change.
Keep your thoughts coming everyone!

Given that I have to work the important things in life (i.e., shooting pictures) around my day job, I pretty well take what the weather has to offer and really can't say that it necessarily matches my mood, or has to. But one thing I can most definitely say: Photography is the best painkiller I know.

Well my mood is very different when my camera is in hand regardless of weather. I live for crazy, dismal,stormy scenes, and eeire light such as I usually can find in Cape Breton or mid coast Maine (and one day hope to witness in Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland). All others worries disappear when I am out photographing. Wild weather, wild light, moody, dismal scenes make me happy. Wierd, I know, but I am differrent and obsessed with that. I thrieve for those moments I can catch that are different and dramatic..... not just pretty or beautiful though that is OK as well.

Morris, although photography often uplifts my spirits, I find that just as often, my mood dictates what I see and how I see it. I think I prefer this latter mode of being as it allows me to put more of myself into my photography. I also find that I more often see the world in a monotone when I'm in a somber mood. BTW, I'm with ya about the sunny weather here in CO. I'm ready for some storms!

I find a sincere tie between music and my mood, as reflected in my reactions to surroundings. The best example I know was driving in search of landscape images on a great day, image-wise, but finding myself getting more and more distracted and itchy to drive into town and take some socially momentous photos. Then it occurred to me I was listening to a collection of Bob Dylan protest songs! Changed the disc for classical, and in no time I was energized by the great scenics around me.

Same applies to what I'm reading, especially while traveling. Read history or anything else to do with the region you're photographing, and it's sure a lot easier to get tied in.

Good thing you weren't listening to Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Hank.

Good thing you weren't listening to Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Hank.

Amen to that!

I'm not sure what that would put me in the mood to shoot, Lance!
I love to listen to classical when I'm getting ready to shoot, or when I process sometimes, Hank! Cool.

To add a little more to my earlier response, friends and coworkers are dismayed when I tell them "I sure wish we'd get some stormy weather". My attitude toward weather has changed drastically since getting into nature photography and they just don't get it. A perfect day for shooting in my mind would be scattered clouds and/or stormy at dawn and dusk and overcast the rest of the day.

Very interesting thread.
For sure I am more drawn to the darker gloomy time of the year. I know that I am drawn to certain weather conditions more than to others. My favorite shooting time starts september/october. I like it when conditions are moody and melancholic and I feel more inspired to go out and take adventage of these particular conditions. Fog, haze, rain it has an appeal for me. However, after a long winter there is nothing better than to go out and take in all the sounds and scents of spring! This sure puts me in a different mood than I am in November. So I would rather say I go with the flow and try to consciously use the mood the weather and season puts me in, but with some emphasis on the darker side..;-). I don't think I try to change my mood, rather I try to respond to the conditions - if they fit I will try to get some photography accomplished, if they don't fit I may try it but it sometimes does not "feel" right.
If I may add some more thoughts: I think all who have an inner urge to create want to create something that is a reflection of our soul, personality character etc. Certain conditions fit better to accomplish that. Different persons go for different conditions and I think a photographer would rather wait to find something that matches his intention rather than trying to force himself to get into a different mood. At the end of the day I think this also defines personal style to some extent.

A valid topic and one of interest Morris.

I think Didl hit on some good points about mood and photography which in most ways follow along with my thoughts. For me, I have a limited time to photograph so I usually try and shoot in overcast, rainy, foggy, more dramatic conditions. If it is bright sunny outside I usually am not out shooting and thats not saying comps and shots can't be found because they certainly can.
Photography is entirely about mood and style and for me and I often link my imaginations to shooting.
Example, well I feel like photography takes me to a magical world away from the stresses and cares of life. I know we all get them but there are times when things just "click" photographically when shooting and those are special times. I do try and put myself in the right conditions that match my style and sometimes things don't work and thats ok. Your imagination can drive your creative spirit and absorbing nature can open up secret shots. I admit most times Im rushing to fit in a shoot because of time restraints but it is those times that Im relaxed and allow nature to soak in and dictate my feelings that are most enjoyable.

Thanks Morris

I agree with the main thrust of the thread and often plan a"landscape" photgraphy trip based on weather, approaching or breaking storms are the best for my taste, ah sky, clouds and light shows. However if your into wildlife or floral then your confined to certain times of the year and you have to take what comes. Now is the times of winter swells and I hear the ocean calling.


Paul

It's an interesting topic - it really depends on why you shoot? When I am just out there making image at my own pace - for my own portfolio - w/o any target in mind, I follow my mood and artistic instinct. But for the last year, as I have been shooting for my book "50 Amazing places near NYC" - I had to ditch that approach and be more tactical and productive. It's hard to be like that and still produce good images - but I learned how to do it. For example, I had to shoot frames that captures the essence of the place I am visiting - so instead of shooting whatever I like, I kept thinking what's special abt the place. Sometimes that "special" or "essence" can be captured in less than dramatic light or mood. My mood, almost always, gets better as I hike and find subjects and light - so I am always happy out there

get used to the blue skies Morris--cause theres more on the way this sucky Fall...

In a word, yes. You often hear about making lemonade out of lemons but speaking for myself, I can't do it. If I'm not in the right mood, I won't even take the camera out.

Guy

I cannot quantify which particular set of conditons or mood I must have for successful photography, but I sure know it when it happens.

Like Guy, if it isn't working for me, the camera will stay in the pack. If I try to force the issue, I wind up with stuff more suited to the round file than the printer.

--P

Very interesting...when I travel to photograph I like to emerse myself in the history of the area before hand.Starting with this knowlege has more effect on my mood than the weather conditions. During a shoot I am always pulling myself back in time...trying to visualize the area like those who lived there 50, 100, or 1000 years ago. This adds a novel perspective and keeps me interested and entertained, so my mood is usually up. Having a healthy intrest in history helps with this approach.
Joe Rogers

Joe,

Your comment contains a lesson that I will put into practice. The lesson is, immerse oneself in the place where you are making photographs; in short, 'be here, now.'

--P

One thing not mentioned is the influence of great work by prior photographers. I find that whoever I've been looking at recently influences how I see the same area. We travel in the Southwest for several months a year, and our truck is stocked with a library of classic books I really enjoy. But it comes at a price.

While I don't look for the same tripod position used by the greats, I do find myself looking at the locations in a "different light." The end effect is that it's a lot more difficult to shoot. That's a good thing in keeping me from merely documenting a scene, but it makes me much more selective about what I shoot, as well as how and when. If I see something unique, I'm quick to shoot. But blah lighting and stereotypic viewpoints get a yawn rather than a click.

I'm ALWAYS happy and jacked up when shooting! But even if I was depressed I think the image would be the same. Although I will say if I was tired and depressed I may be less creative in my compositional options and creative approach and would maybe have less images in a shoot to draw from...