There has been plenty of rain in the UK already this month and for those keen on photography, it can soon become somewhat frustrating. And this frustration is the same for those who have a photography assignment to complete. I am happy to be patient for one day, perhaps even two. But when the rain continues into a third day, with the weather forecast suggesting that it will be here for quite a while yet, I then start to become restless. It’s then a case of “I just have to go out and take some photos!” It is without a doubt much better to take photos when it’s dry, but sometimes needs must.
How to take photos in the rain
It is essential to protect your photography equipment when taking photos in the rain. If you have a weather-sealed camera then you’re good to go but if not, rain covers are effective at shielding equipment from moisture. Umbrellas are not only useful for shielding people from the rain, but they can also protect our photography gear. Plastic bags are a good alternative. It’s also prudent to take a microfibre cloth, or two, with you. This will enable you to clean and wipe the lens and camera body on a regular basis.
It is also important to protect yourself as we don’t want to be catching a cold or any other illness. Warm waterproof clothing is recommended, plus another umbrella, this time for personal use. This will help you to not only avoid any unwanted disease but also to stay warm and comfortable. There’s nothing worse than walking around in wet clothing that is seeping through to the body. And you certainly wouldn’t want to be taking photos at that point. It is also advisable to wear gloves as these will also help to keep you warm and will also help to give you much better control of the camera when it’s raining and cold.
There are many negatives to the fact that it’s raining but there are positives as well. It enables us to get creative, for example, by capturing reflections in puddles and windows. These can make for impressive shots. Raindrops on various surfaces such as window panes can add to the texture and mood. Setting a slower shutter speed can help to blur the raindrops and aid in capturing movement. But even better is using a faster shutter speed as this can have the effect of freezing the raindrops in mid-air to create a truly awesome photo.
It is worth taking the photographs in manual focus. This is because autofocus often finds it difficult with low contrast when it’s foggy or raining. If you are interested in capturing moving subjects then it is beneficial to use the continuous focus mode.
With regards to the types of camera lens to use when it’s raining, a telephoto lens enables you to shoot from quite far away and avoid the camera becoming too wet.