When water droplets or ice crystals are suspended in the air near the Earth’s surface, fog is the result. Fog is essentially a low lying cloud. The way a cloud and fog differ is based on elevation. Clouds are found at higher levels and are more broad based while fog is the result of locally created moisture from lakes, rivers, streams or coastal ocean waters. It can be thick and soupy or thin and airy. Both forms can produce dramatic results in a photograph. 

Exploit the Mood: Fog photography is all about capturing the mood of the location. In that its density often varies by the minute, no two moments will be the same. Watch as it rolls in and then recedes. Be cognizant of the important elements of the composition and wait until they are more prominent. As the fog rolls in like a wave, be aware of what’s hidden and what’s exposed. Keep your eye up to the viewfinder in that the moment at which everything comes together may be short lived. This is especially true if the sun peaks through. It will highlight varying portions of the composition and you want to make sure its illuminating the key elements.

© Russ Burden

Protect Your Gear: Fog can be thick or thin. The thicker it is, the greater the potential to build up condensation on your camera, lens, tripod and front element. Carry a chamois to wipe down the front of the lens if any moisture or water droplets build up. If condensation accumulates on the filter, the image will lack contrast and the focus will appear soft. Periodically wipe down the camera and to prevent water issues. This is especially true if the fog is created by salt water. If you are in an environment where salt water creates the fog, be sure to wipe down all your gear with fresh water on a damp rag to prevent corrosion. I also carry a shower cap that some motels provide that I place over my camera and lens that adds a layer of protection.

© Russ Burden

Nail It: Fog has many moods and they can be further enhanced via the exposure at which the image is made. The darker the exposure the more ominous the mood. With this in mind, I strongly encourage you to bracket your exposures as you’ll also be bracketing the mood of the photo. Post processing can further enhance the effect but it’s essential that your exposures are nailed to pull the most from your files. If the sun filters through the fog, be careful of blown out highlights so watch for blinkies and check your histogram often. If the contrast range gets excessive, shoot a bracket and post process using HDR software. Finally, in that fog tends to produce flat conditions that lack contrast, be sure you place your focus sensor on a spot that can detect its use. If the conditions are very flat, you may need to switch to manual focus.

© Russ Burden

To learn more about this topic, join me on one of my Photographic Nature Tours. Visit russburdenphotography.com and click on the NATURE TOURS button for more information. Also, pick up a copy of my book, Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography. You can purchase a signed copy directly from me or visit your local book store or Amazon. Contact me at rburden@ecentral.com to order your signed copy.