Mood and atmosphere

When we consider that a photograph is simply a piece of paper on which an image is formed by chemical and dyes, it is remarkable how many subtle qualities it can possess. A feeling of depth, distance, form and texture can all be conveyed most lively by a good photograph. Perhaps the most elusive quality which a photographic image can convey is that of mood. It’s elusive because it depends upon so many different things. The subject itself may impact a strong sense of mood. However, an atmospheric subject does not guarantee that a photograph will necessarily convey the same mood.
Factors like lighting and image quality can enhance or destroy this, often, indefinable quality. Lighting is crucial since it helps to establish the tonal range of image. It would be hard to convey a sombre mood when a scene was lit by bright sunlight with sparkly highlights, just as a happy mood would not be created by a subdued shadowy lighting. A high key image which consists of primarily light tones and pastel colours tends to create a soft a romantic mood, like a misty atmosphere for example.
Low evening sunlight and dark stormy skies make for low key images which rich tones and colours, which may be enhanced by choosing a viewpoint and framing the picture to emphasize the darker areas of the scene. Shooting into the light also creates this effect, particularly when the image is slightly underexposed. The romantic and light hearted quality of a light toned picture is more likely to be found on days when the sky is overcast or hazy with a soft indirect light and no deep shadows.
The colour quality of a photograph will also have a significant effect on its mood. A scene where bright saturated colours like red and yellow will help to impart a lively happy atmosphere like wise a more subdued colours like green and blue and purple tend to produce a more restful and introspective mood.