A "Mist" Shot

How to use fog to get great pictures

Some people associate fog with inclement weather. Not me - I say "cool" and grab my camera to create some extremely exciting images. Foggy conditions elicit moody and ethereal feelings. The light is diffused and even, but very flat. Knowing how to take advantage of this is what can make an image successful.

As compositional elements recede from the camera position, so do the intensity of their shape, color, and contrast. By placing a dominant subject in the foreground, it becomes the primary element. All other parts become secondary as they melt into the background in a wash of mist. The mood this evokes is one of solemnness and peacefulness. When created properly, photographs made in the fog tend to be visually soothing.

Shooting in the fog requires precautions to protect your camera from the surrounding mist. Fog does appear in differentiating densities. Therefore its encountered density dictates what is necessary to keep the camera safe. Along coastal areas fog can be so thick it feels like a misty drizzle. At other times it can be a soft layer of moisture thinly obscuring the sun.

The biggest danger of fog to a camera is moisture. Make sure no water builds up on the body. In a thin fog, a periodic wipe with a small towel should be enough to keep the body in proper working order. Also keep in mind to wipe the eyepiece viewfinder, as mist can build up on it. A quick wipe of the front lens element is also essential. Having mist build up on it will magnify fog’s diffusing effect, often to an unacceptable level.

Fog, especially when near larger bodies of water, harbors or coastal environments, can be so thick it’s referred to as pea soup. I’ve experienced this along the Oregon coast and the fishing ports of New England. In situations like this, I protect my equipment the same as if shooting in the rain due to the rapid buildup of water on my equipment.

Fog can easily trick a camera’s meter. Straight metering of fog will create an underexposed image due to the high reflectivity of light. My standard compensation is +1 f stop. Depending upon its thickness, more may be necessary. Bracketing in 1/2 stop increments is beneficial in that different exposures produce different effects.

Fog is most commonly found in the early morning before the sun has a chance to evaporate the mist created by the cool night’s air. In that fog is actually a ground level cloud, as the sun warms it, it dissipates. Listen to the weather forecast. A cool night followed by a semi warm morning are the right ingredients to produce fog. So along with lots of film, pack a small towel and go out shooting.

(Adapted from an article from TakeGreatPictures.com, text and photos by Russ Burden)