by Stephen Canning Here's How to Take Great Pictures of the Big Blue Sky
How to take stunning photographs of those blue-sky days.
Follow the sunny 16 rule to get the proper exposure on a sunny day. First, set your camera's aperture to f/16. Next, set your shutter speed to 1/film speed. For example, if your film is ISO 200, set the shutter 1/250 or if your film is ISO 400, set you shutter speed to 1/500.
Although the blue sky will usually not be the subject of a photograph on its own, its beautiful color can form the stunning backdrop that many shots need. A great way to bring out the rich color of a blue sky is to use a polarizing filter. This is an inexpensive accessory that screws onto the end of your lens. You will get the greatest effect with a polarizing filter if you are shooting pictures at 90 degrees to the sun rather than towards it or away from it.
If you are in the city, choosing the right day to photograph can make all of the difference. During long periods of clear weather, the sky will often be made hazy and gray due to smog. The morning just after a rainstorm will often have the clearest air and will show you the beautiful deep blue color you are after.
