Weather for Dummies

None of us wants to be called a dummy! So why does a series of books with such an apparently demeaning title sell so well (along with another publisher's Complete Idiot's Guide to . . . series)?

It seems to me that one reason for this popularity is that the books in this series are deliberately, and sometimes even overly, clear about their subject. The slogan "A Reference for the Rest of Us!" (R) tells us what they are about. They do not assume that you know anything at all, other than how to read, follow, and learn. You can pick up a book simply because the topic seems interesting and learn something. By carefully introducing technical terms or jargon, using a conversational style, and flagging the margin with guide notes, the series makes it easy to learn a complex topic. This probably upsets some people who have various vested interests in maintaining authority that comes from creating an aura of mystery about their field. (As an aside, I have many older textbooks and academic readers that have printed notes in the margins setting out the sections and noting ideas, so it's hard to claim that this is degrading of the state of knowledge.) At the same time, if you are knowledgeable about the topic at hand, you can still find something new. The books are also a great reference.

A book that I found useful in amateur radio pursuits, especially storm spotting, is John D. Cox, Weather for Dummies (2000); here I want to cover some aspects of this book that relate to photographers.

It's set up very much the same as the other books in the series: a guide to weather for the non-specialist. Photographers who work outdoors don't need to be weather specialists, but they do need to have a grasp of what it is all about.

Two areas of concern are probably immediately obvious: one is safety, and the other is light control. You probably know that it is not safe to be standing outside — especially with a tripod — in the middle of a thunderstorm. But there are other dangerous weather situations. Knowing more about them will help you keep safe. As well as knowing what kinds of clouds foretell danger, it's useful to know how they will affect the light. Some clouds are great diffusers; others are light thieves.

Another part of light control is the variation of light through the day that comes with the seasons. The book discusses the variations in earth's orbit that spur seasonal changes. It also points out how large-scale trends affect patterns and how much remains to be understood. With that in mind, you'll understand why some times of the year are better for some kinds of photos. In turn, you can plan for more effective work.

Photography, just like weather and radio propagation, involves some science. And photography is also, just like weather and radio operation, an art. It's important to understand the science, and how it affects what we do. It's also important to keep in mind that there is a human element that varies and is creative as the science is applied. Without one, we cannot fulfill the other.