When the Sky is Dark and Stormy

Lake and Clouds in Scotland

When the sky is dark and stormy, how do you manage the scenic shots? We were near the end of the third week of a five week driving trip through the UK late one May. The days that were sunny were freezing cold, and those that weren’t, were either rainy or a storm had just come through.

Things didn’t improve when we reached Pitlochry, Scotland. This area is known for its rivers and scenic drives, and so one afternoon, after a storm seemed to be breaking, we went for it. At the fish ladder, this scenic vista caught my eye, but how to capture it with its dark and shining glory showing off?

I aimed the light metering square in the viewfinder at the neutral grey in the river, using my telephoto lens to bear down on it, held the shutter half way down and then brought the telephoto back and composed the shot. This time, I left the sky in because the cloud reflections brought the river to life, and one complemented the other.