Article and Images
by John C. Hayes
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© John C. Hayes, Field Contributor Sunset, Kauai, Hawaii. This is the North shore of the Island and is one of the wettest places on the planet. Clouds are in constant play making this a land of explosive sunsets. Pentax K 1000, 28mm lens, Fujichrome Velvia.

I have always been intrigued with clouds. These beautiful formations are whimsical and imaginative and can help to produce powerful imagery. Clouds can turn astounding colors, making skies visual treats that bath the landscape in unearthly shades of reflected light.

Sometimes, the sky is devoid of intense color but nevertheless displays unusual cloud cover. I usually find this situation right after a passing storm when the clouds beginning to break up. The juxtaposition of cloud and sky hovering over the landscape can be spectacular.

I start paying extra attention to the skies when photographing near water. For me, there is nothing more beautiful in nature than clouds reflecting in a river, lake or a tidal pool by the sea. Wide–open spaces such as farmlands and prairies are also excellent locales for photographing clouds in the landscape.

	© John C. Hayes, Field Contributor Nymph Lake—Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. This is a rarity because the wind always seems to be blowing in this locale, but on the late September days this image was made conditions were calm. I just happened to be standing there when the clouds floated in. Pentax K1000, 28mm lens, 2–stop graduated neutral density filter.

Good timing is the easiest to learn. Most of us want to capture the intense color of clouds at sunrise and/or sunset. The key to this is to be early. Allow yourself plenty of time to set up, and you won’t be surprised when the colors start to intensify. Sounds easy, right? Well, maybe.

There have been times when planned out images have not worked out as planned. Early one morning after checking the sky for clouds, I decided to set out to make a previously planned sunrise image. I had just arrived at my location when Mother Nature decided to make mockery out of my careful calculations. In an instant—as if someone had flicked a switch—the sky transformed itself into a mosaic of red, orange and purple that lit up the landscape in front of my like a torch. I immediately went into photographer’s panic not knowing how much time I ad left on the clock. Why don’t zippers on my camera bag work smoothly when I’m in a hurry?

When I finally located my camera, I threw it on my tripod and calculated exposure with a swiftness I was hoping to avoid I was lucky to fire four frames in the span of a minute. And then, as quickly as it had come, the beautiful light was gone and the show was over. From this I learned that I need to arrive earlier, much earlier.

At sunset patience is a virtue. Don’t worry, I won’t cry any teardrop stories about how I failed to wait–out Mother Nature. However, I think it is worth mentioning that if you find an attractive scene, with the clouds being an important element of your composition, don’t even think about packing up until after dark.

© John C. Hayes, Field Contributor Clouds rolling in at Haleakala National Park, Maui Hawaii. Pentax K1000, 30–200mm lens, Fujichrome Velvia.

The last problem is one of a technical nature that you may, or may not want to solve. Through experience, I have noticed that generally there is about a two to three stop difference between the sky and the landscape with sunrise and sunset scene. If there is a great sky and the detail in the foreground is important to the success of the image, use a graduated neutral density filter. It can save the day. Another approach would be to use a film such as E100VS or print film that has more latitude in dealing with contrast situations. I pretty much do filter–less and claim “Artist’s Rendition.”

Wherever we live—whether in the mountains, on the prairie or along the coast—eventually clouds find us. And though on occasion, they may ruin a barbecue, a day at the beach or an outdoor sporting event, they will always find a home in my photographs.

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