An All Weather Sport

I think that we have probably been programmed in certain ways when it comes to making photographs. We are told that the best light is in the early morning and late afternoon. Why even bother taking the camera out under different conditions? The midday sun is anathema. Harsh shadows, bad light! A sunny day is best. Shun the clouds. Precipitation can be deleterious to your cameras. Stay out of rain and snow. Get your subjects to smile. Even if they look like Dr. Sardonicus. They have to smile. 

If we adhered to all this our images would become rather cookie cutter in their "likeness." Really, there are no rules in photography - once you learn the basics of the craft. The object is to create a piece of art. To tell a story from a single moment in time. That moment might be at noon or in a rainstorm. Make the photograph. Tell the story.

A snowstorm is a great time to get out the camera. The big, fat flakes in this photo made the final image look very painterly.
 

 The photo above was taken in Time Square. As I came out of the bus station I noticed that it was raining. This was not in the forecast. But it gave me an added dimension to work with. Colors are more saturated and the wet streets become reflective. 

 It was 15 degrees out with a stiff wind blowing last January when I was shooting this military reenactment at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. Some wouldn't expose their equipment to these conditions. But I shot for about six hours and got some great images. Well worth the frozen feet!

 Some people don't smile naturally. Or they look more natural without a smile. We tried both during the photo session with Mark, above, and I like this shot the best. There is a connection with the subject and the photographer. 
 

A nice candid shot. Unposed. Lindsay was talking with friends and not really aware of the camera. The natural feel of the image and the environment within tells a lot about the subject. 

 Sometimes you have to take advantage of the immediate situation. I was delivering a print job to a client and he was showing me around his small farm. I was shooting as we went. Then his father walked up and I was introduced. I knew immediately that I had to take a few photos of dad. I asked him to stand in the door way of the barn we were in at the time. I went outside and shot from there. I love this image. No smile but a lot of character.