If there is something that reflects an infinite range of colors and shades, that is the sky. No two skies are the same, no two sunsets are the same, nor two sunrises, and although the sky is an intense blue similar to yesterday, the clouds will not be the same. There is nothing as changeable, as versatile or as prolific in colors as him, he is a color palette dream for any artist. And, as if that were not enough, from time to time he leaves us that gift as wonderful as the rainbow, it is flooded with stars or hypnotizes us with the northern lights. The sky is like a vast movie screen in which phenomena occur, one after another.
The shows offered by the sky are so unique, so incredible that more than once you have wanted to portray it, what happens is that later, when you see the photo, you realize that it is so similar to other photos you have of the sky… be? Well, that little inconvenience is more than salvageable, if you keep reading I’ll show you a few different ways to photograph the sky. You stay? Great, I’m sure that in addition to learning you will enjoy the spectacular example images.
And if you want to delve into the nature photography, this is our most complete guide, with tips, tricks and lots of inspiration.
With the sun as the protagonist
A very round and large sun in a photograph is really attractive. The sun cannot be seen because of the damage it does to our eyes when we stare at it, for that reason, being able to see it carefully, calmly and enjoy it is a gift for our eyes. If you want to know how to photograph the sun, be sure to read the article “How to photograph the sun, tips and tricks” and to motivate yourself, here are 25 spectacular examples.
Photographing the stormy sky
The sun does not always shine brightly in the sky, sometimes the storm is looming, but these stormy days are a great opportunity to go out and take pictures. The rage of nature is concentrated in the sky in the form of gray, dense, threatening clouds… that erase the peaceful blue in one fell swoop, contrasting with the rest of the landscape.
Photograph the sky with lightning
When lightning strikes, it does so at such a speed that we barely have a moment to appreciate it. That is why portraying him is quite an achievement and a rewarding effort, since the results are usually spectacular. A thunderstorm is an ideal time to get your camera out of the case and get practicing. Don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t work out the first time, because most likely you won’t make it the first time or the second time. It requires patience, shooting many times, being aware of the right moment and not staring at the beam, you must react to shoot! 😉 These twelve steps will guide you so you can achieve it.
Here’s another spectacular example of lightning. Notice how the image wins out by including the monument and trees in the frame.
Photograph the sky with the rainbow
After the storm there is always calm, that’s what the saying goes. And, furthermore, with that calm comes the long-awaited and joyful rainbow, a most photogenic phenomenon, due to its colors, its shape (curved lines that guide the gaze), its contrast… You love rainbows… and you know!
Or with double rainbow
And if a sky with rainbows is attractive, with two it is doubly attractive!
Photograph the sky as a sea of cotton
Sometimes the sky is dressed in an intense, bright, deep blue, as if it were the sky of a cartoon, and it is also adorned with cotton clouds, white, with well-defined shapes, abundant but not so much as to outshine the predominantly blue. It is in those moments that you can look for something in the lower third of the image that causes a great contrast and that makes the blue bathed in white shapes stand out. Here is an example, you could also use a well-browned wheat field, a valley covered with green “grass”, a field of poppies…
Photograph the sky from the air
If you ever have the opportunity to photograph the sky from the air, you will see that from that point, the clouds are like giant cotton balls floating on an infinite sea and that the result is an image that conveys immense peace and serenity.
Photograph the reflected sky
Surely you have seen countless photographs of a person looking in the mirror… right? And did you know that heaven can too? In lakes, seas, rivers, or even large puddles, the sky is reflected as if it were looking at itself in a mirror, capture that snapshot and you will have a double sky.
Photographing the sky at dawn…
Many times I have commented on the blog that sunrise and sunset are the moments preferred by photographers when shooting. The light offered by both one and the other is spectacular, but if we talk about photographing the sky, these moments are essential. Capturing the sun peeking out of a sky that it illuminates and changes its color from second to second is a truly beautiful task.
… and at sunset
When the sun begins to drop behind the horizon, the sky becomes a spectacle of colors that dance as a prelude to the dance of stars that is about to begin. Until the curtain of darkness closes, take the opportunity to shoot following these tips to photograph spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Photograph the sky with the moon
When night falls, our satellite settles in the sky to make the nights more magical and to give the sky a reason to be photographed. Full, waxing, waning, or new, the moon is a wonderful addition to the night sky that you can immortalize by following these thirteen simple steps.
Photograph a starry sky
And if the moon cannot be seen because it has not yet risen or because it is in its most absent phase (new moon 😉 ), you can take the opportunity to photograph the starry sky and achieve an image as spectacular as this one. If you don’t know how to do it, here it is explained step by step.
You can capture a starry sky as in the previous image, in which the stars appear as dots, just as you normally see them, or you can capture the movement of the earth through them, making them look like curved lines, these are the Star Trails and is achieved with long exposures.
with the milky way
If you include the Milky Way in your starry sky, your photo will be truly spectacular. If you don’t believe me, look at the following image. Surely as soon as you see it, you will want to go out and take a picture of it!
With Aurora Borealis
If there is something truly magical in the sky, it is the Aurora Borealis. That is something spectacular, incredible and great. It is not easy to see it, but if you have the chance to travel to one of the places where it can be seen, you cannot go back without photographing it!!!
Photographing an “Eclipsed” Sky
It is not a phenomenon that occurs every day, but it is one more form of sky photography, and not just one more, an eclipse is really attractive, whether it is of the sun or the moon. Pay attention to when the next one will be! 😉
In black and white
Although I have spoken to you several times throughout the article about the colors that the sky offers you, you cannot forget about black and white. Photographing a sky in black and white can be really dramatic. For this you need to include something else in the frame and above all that there are many clouds. As you can imagine, a totally blue sky, without any clouds, would not be of any interest if you cancel the color.
There are those who collect postcards, others hoard stickers, thimbles, fans, lighters or countless other objects. I propose a collection of skies. Today I have given you sixteen ways to photograph it, now it’s your turn to put them into practice and achieve a large number of different skies. It will serve as learning, but also to contemplate the sky, relax, enjoy sunsets or the sky full of stars waiting for you to make a wish. It is one of the little pleasures in life that we sometimes forget caught up in the rush of daily routine.
If you liked this article, I would greatly appreciate it if you would show it by giving it a “Like” or sharing it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Let’s spread together the desire to contemplate the sky and collect its best moments. Thank you and see you soon!