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Photo Tips & Techniques

Let it Rain Article rating: 8.88

With April showers just around the corner, it’s time to discuss how to capture great shots made in the rain. While heavy rains certainly keep many photographers from taking out their expensive gear, there are things that can be done in less severe weather that otherwise would keep them from making photos. It’s a matter of knowing how to protect your gear and staying dry to enable you to keep shooting. It’s understanding what subject matter can be photographed to net you great images. It’s knowing what settings to use to reveal the falling rain. If you decide to venture out, make sure to take along a large, heavy weight plastic garbage bag that can quickly be placed over all your equipment in the event of a downpour.  

(© Russ Burden)

Subject Matter: For those of you who prefer to not run the risk of taking your gear out while it’s precipitating, “rain” shots can still be made. One of the end results of all good rains is lots of puddles. In that puddles make great reflections, use them to your advantage. Walk around them to see what inverted images appear interesting. Don’t just view them solely from a standing position. Crouch down to your knees and watch how the angle of what’s reflected changes. If you’ve never done this, you’ll be surprised just how much the perspective shifts. When you find the best height, set up your tripod and fire away. If you’re a bit more adventurous and have your gear protected from the rain, find a puddle in which the drops are falling to get the added dimension of the splashes. Think about shooting from the protection of your car to keep everything dry.

     (© Russ Burden)

Protecting Your Gear: It’s essential to keep your gear dry. This applies to the barrel of the lens, especially if it’s a zoom. If rain falls on the barrel and you zoom from a telephoto position to a wide shot, as the lens compresses, the water is transferred into the inner dimensions of the lens making it more difficult to dry out. It also applies to the camera body. While many cameras have seals to protect them against moisture, if too much builds up around the shutter or other buttons, it has a greater chance of seeping in and shorting out the electrical components. Lastly, it applies to the front element of the lens. If drops fall on it, they’ll degrade the image imparting a lack of sharpness to the picture. Keep a moisture absorbing cloth handy and periodically wipe the front element to prevent this. A clear plastic bag rubber banded around the camera will help keep it and the lens dry. Use a clear one so you’ll be able to see the controls. There are professionally manufactured rain covers that fit specific body/ lens combinations. If it’s your intention to become a rain shooter, I recommend you look into them. Google “camera rain covers’” and you’ll be directed to a plethora.

The Light: While I’m a firm believer in seeking out dramatic light, images made in the rain often lack snap due to the flat and gray skies associated with it. To help offset this, make sure you shoot in RAW so you can tweak the colors in the computer without doing damage to the pixels. Additionally, shoot with a white balance of cloudy or shade to help warm up the tones. A bit of plus compensation will help bring up the lighter tones to add a bit of punch to the contrast. If possible, try planning the shoot around the time the storm is forecast to break. The edge of a storm does bring dramatic light. In addition, you may be treated to a rainbow if it coincides with early or late light. Should the sun make a brief appearance while the rain is falling, quickly look for a subject that has drama if backlit. The falling drops will be illuminated from behind providing a striking appearance to them. Try using different shutter speeds to create longer or shorter raindrop streaks in the photo.

To learn more about this topic, join me on one of my Photographic Nature Tours. Visit russburdenphotography.com and click on the NATURE TOURS button for more information. Also, pick up a copy of my new book, Amphoto’s Complete Book of Photography. You can purchase a signed copy directly from me or visit your local book store or Amazon. Contact me at rburden@ecentral.com to order your signed copy

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I have taken shots in puddles but never thought of taking them other than from a standing position. Will try it next time. Posted by: Sandy Eckhardt Apr 18, 2009 @ 12:24 AM EST

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