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10 tips for taking beautiful images in the rain
Most of us prefer the comfort of warm and dry weather to take photographs but very often at this time of the year you are greeted by cold dreary days, cloudy skies and not a little rain.
Actually, wet weather photography works out better than you hoped – not just in spite of the rain but actually because of it.
So, armed with a different appreciation for rainy days we offer ten tips for taking pictures in the rain that may help you make the best of wet weather conditions and produce some memorable photographs.
1. Use a Golf Umbrella
A golf style umbrella for taking pictures in the rain compared to typical, smaller umbrellas is large enough to keep all of you and your gear dry (including a larger telephoto lens), and they tend to be better constructed to withstand some wind.
A clamp to attach the umbrella to the tripod combined with a bit of wind sends vibrations down into the tripod and results in a softening of the images at many common shutter speeds.
So, slip the umbrella shaft inside your tightly zipped jacket and tuck the bottom into your belt or waistband.
2. Hand-Hold Using Image Stabilization
Sometimes you just want shooting to be free and spontaneous.
With the prevalence of optical image stabilization built into many lenses, as well as image sensor stabilization on most mirrorless cameras, hand-holding is much more effective than it used to be and can produce very sharp images.
Raising ISO to enable a faster hand-holdable shutter speed when needed works well. And in the rain, it can be needed quite often.
3. Use a Raincoat Instead of Umbrella
There are times when it’s more efficient to use a raincoat instead of umbrella. Tuck the camera inside when not taking an image (or use a rain cover on the camera/lens combo for further protection).
4. Photograph From Inside Your Vehicle
When your chosen subject can be seen from the side of the road, photographing from inside the vehicle can be a viable option and one that effortlessly keeps you and your camera gear dry.
5. Minimize Lens Changes in the Rain
When photographing in the rain, leave the photo bag in the car and take just the camera with one lens out into the elements.
Zoom lenses work really well here.
6. Small Accessories Can Make a Big Difference
A few little things in your camera bag can add up to making a rainy day shoot more enjoyable. Always attach the lens hood onto each of the lenses. A large, soft cloth (not the typical thin microfiber cloth) is something to dry off any rain on camera and lens.
7. Use a Weather App to Track Storms
A good weather app on your ‘phone will allow you to view the projected cloud path, and the latest default weather app in iPhones often shows an estimate of when a drizzle will end and a lull begin.
Having information about what the storm is doing will help you maximize your shooting opportunities.
There are a lot of good weather apps out there, and everyone has their favourite.
8. Watch for Special, Photogenic Conditions
A rainy day often brings additional conditions that benefit photography, sometimes in a quite spectacular manner.
Waterfalls that are otherwise small or dry will be full and beautiful during and after rains. Autumn colours will be deeply saturated, and rocks and earth that may normally look dull will have new-found richness.
A rainy day can produce fog-like conditions full of atmosphere, or you may see breaks in the clouds where sunbeams stream down. Keep watching for rainbows, lightning, hail, etc. These special weather conditions can bring the drama we photographers crave. They’re a bonus to a day that began with just rain.
9. Optimize Your Post-Processing
Photographing in the rain can produce images out of your camera that appear dull and lack contrast and punch, so compensate in the post-processing to bring the images back to the full life you saw when you made the composition.
Add some extra contrast, clarity, and vibrance above normal and this makes a big difference when rainy conditions give a flatter image. Shoot in RAW, not in-camera JPEG, to give yourself the widest latitude for post-processing work.
Often a rainy day with the misty atmosphere looks better converted to black & white during post-processing. A black & white interpretation can make the right scene really sing.
10. Adopt an Attitude of Adventure
We all desire comfort and sunshine so you’re not usually thrilled when it’s raining. When you adopt an attitude of adventure and positively engage with the conditions you can see better the opportunities available and make the most of them.
Conclusion
While rainy days can seem dreary and at times make you want to sit by a roaring fire indoors, they hold great potential for producing beautiful photographs. Armed with these tips and ideas for taking pictures in the rain, you will most likely be rewarded for pushing out of your comfort zone and engaging with the weather conditions. |
