Taking Photos in the Rain
While most people dread the idea of traipsing their way through ankle-deep puddles and sideways flying droplets, there is a reward for those photographers will to risk getting a little wet and trying to take photos in the rain. Depending on heavy it is raining—a light mist or a summer storm—and the natural effects that rain produces—heavy clouds, lightning, fog, etc—photos taken in the rain can produce an entirely different look and feel than photos taken of the same thing on a sunny day. The hard part is producing a quality image without letting your camera get destroyed by the inclement weather.
Here are few things photographers can do to make the most of a rainy day shoot:
Bring camera rain gear
Maybe you don’t need the type of weather protection fisherman wear, but you should do your best to keep the camera as dry as possible. There are plenty of camera raincoats available depending on your needs. If you find carrying a rain cover to be cumbersome, or are caught in a surprise shower, a finagled plastic grocery bag can do well in a tight spot. Whatever you do, don’t try to change the lens without some serious protection. Moisture can get inside the camera body or on the lens and ruin your equipment.
Backlighting
One of the hardest things to do may be capturing the rain itself. Sometimes rain just looks grey and flat. Adding a harsh flash would only reflect off the water falling closest to the camera, never reaching very far past the end of your lens. To compensate, find a light source in the background and shoot towards it. This could be a streetlight, window, car headlights, etc. Maybe you’ll luck out and the sun will have a few chances to peek through the clouds, producing a dramatic effect. Just make sure you’re ready to catch the light when it comes! Moving cars and fickle clouds can take your lighting away just as fast as it showed up.
Include visual clues
Windows, mirrors, shallow puddles and the like are all reflective, which can help indicate that it is raining. Again, since rain can come out looking flat and grey, it is hard to see the drops unless it’s during a heavy downpour. But since water has a certain effect on reflective surfaces, including them in your photos is a great way to help you tell your audience that it was indeed raining that day.
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