The ability to photograph in the rain is useful for every photographer, if the bad weather forces it, or if you want to take original pictures yourself. To get a photo masterpiece, you need two components: technical literacy and the use of the peculiarities of rainy weather.
Technical nuances
Getting the most out of wet weather requires learning how to set the correct shutter speed and aperture. There are no uniform rules here, in any frame you can play with the settings and get several completely different, but attractive pictures. You need to feel what effect is right for you, and this requires practice, practice, and more practice. Therefore, feel free to experiment, taking into account the following nuances:
- A slow shutter speed (1/30 or 1/60 second) conveys motion. You will be able to show the movement of drops, swaying branches, the breeze blowing away sparkling spray and much more. Do not overdo it, or the drops will simply disappear.
- You can stop the droplets by setting the shutter speed to 1/1000 second. In this case, you need to set the ISO correctly. Even in clear light conditions, you will need an ISO of 400 and higher, and even more in dusk.
- Use a telephoto lens. The quality of the shot will improve and you can avoid splashing if you take a close-up shot (use the zoom).
It is also necessary to protect photographic equipment from moisture. You can take pictures from under a raincoat, use an umbrella, an underwater case, or wrap the camera in a plastic bag (even if the case is sealed). When using an umbrella, choose a dark color so that it does not reflect on wet surfaces and in every drop.
Benefits of rain
The rain transforms everything around. Birds and animals are less active, you can film them on branches or wires, under awnings and in other shelters. If we talk about people, then they show emotions and feelings that are usually hidden deep inside. Therefore, shoot these emotions, not the rain itself.
Take advantage of the rain to get unusual shots of city streets and squares, which are usually crowded with people. At this time, it is unusually calm here, and you can take original pictures. When looking for interesting angles, don't forget about puddles, fountains, ponds and rivers. Drum rolls, reflections and silhouettes can be the highlight of the composition.
Pay attention to the peculiarities of nature immediately after the rain. Firstly, the air at this time is very transparent, and colors, halftones and contours are unusually clear. Secondly, wet surfaces reflect light. Refracted rays of the sun or flashlight shine in every curve, so all objects appear three-dimensional and the photo appears almost convex.
Immediately before the rain or immediately after it, you can catch both the bad weather and the sun in the frame. Such a contrasting composition will make the scene more dramatic and produce an impressive shot. It is also worth catching the rays of light directly during the rain. Shooting against a light source, each droplet sparkles, filling the photo with inimitable charm.
