You are on location. The scene is beautiful. You have all the makings of a good image, but one element is missing. The missing element just happens to be the most important element; good light. There are too many clouds. The excessive cloud-cover blocks the sun. For the place you are at diffused light just makes the scene look flat. Even with lead-in lines the scene is just lack luster. What do you do?

          It depends! Is the cloud-cover flat and even or is it broken up? Are you on the edge of a storm or is the cloud-cover vast in every direction? Are the clouds moving and if so, at what speed? You are trying to assess your chances of getting good light as time changes things. If the clouds are broken up or if I am on the edge of a storm I simply wait. If the clouds move, especially if they move fast, I simply wait. The light will change, in fact, the light may become very good.

In this scene the light did not offer much at first. The whole image suffered from flat light similar to that in the foreground and to the right. Patience often times pay off. After some time the broken up clouds moved in such a way that an opening in the clouds appeared in front of the sun. The sun shone through and fell just on the right place. It is that very light that makes the image what it is.

          Landscape photographers need to be able to assess what the weather (and the light) is going to do. If the assessment holds promise then wait it out, if not, come back tomorrow. There are many smart phone apps that can help with that. Unfortunately, there is no app to make you more patient. Why not use the waiting time to scout? Yes, go look for more and better compositions.