There has been many shots that I wanted to shoot but could not because the background was just terrible. In many situations you cannot exclude the background. When such backgrounds are crummy, pray for fog. Fog acts like a giant blanket that neatly folds over that terrible background and covers it up. Fog separates your subject from the background because the fog becomes the background. Fog can move quickly and disappear fast. Fog also creates a moody atmosphere, so it helps to choose subject matter that match. A dilapidated house or barn works well.

Here are a few tips to help you shoot fog images:

• Identify your shot long before you ever get fog. When the fog comes you will be able to go to your location right away and shoot. I have driven around in fog looking for shots just for the fog to be lifted when I find a good foreground. Have some foregrounds ready and in mind so when you get up to go shoot and it is foggy you know where to go.
• Fog can be deceivingly bright compared to the your foreground. So watch your histogram to insure that you do not clip your blacks (totally black with no detail).
• Wait around. Fog tends to come and go. By waiting around you get to choose when to shoot to have just enough fog.
• Bring your tripod because shooting in fog results in slow shutter speeds.
• Fog can make your image look flat, so use lines to create depth (yes, I know I have spoken about that a lot). In this shot, above, the fence and the placement of the windmill creates distance and takes you to the barn.
• White balance can be used very effectively to make the fog look cold or warm. Choose a white balance that matches what your subject portrays.

Go out and shoot in the fog.