Overcast
Daylight when clouds block the sun and the whole sky becomes a giant diffuser. Light comes evenly from every direction, so shadows are very faint and soft, and it is hard to tell where the sun is. Skin looks even, but low contrast makes the image flat and calm. The color leans slightly cool.
How it feels
- Calm
- Melancholy
- Peaceful
- Matter-of-fact
- Lonely
When to use it
- Nordic-style dramas
- Funeral scenes
- A gray seaside
- Outdoor portraits
In the movies
Not to be confused with
- Soft Light
- An overcast day is soft light made by nature. Soft light is a broader term that also covers soft light made with fabric or reflectors.
- Blue Hour
- Both have few shadows, but blue hour is blue light after sunset.
- Golden Hour
- The sun is low, so it is warm with long shadows. The opposite of overcast, the light has a clear direction.
Prompt
Keyword
overcast daylight
Descriptive
Overcast daylight. Soft, even, shadowless light from a grey sky, muted cool colors.
Try these combinations
Wide shot + overcast: a lonely seaside
Wide shot, overcast daylight, a grey beach, a woman in a long coat walking alone, muted colors
Medium shot + overcast: a funeral procession
Medium shot, overcast sky visible above, a small funeral procession in a quiet village