Bad Weather Photography – Shooting in the Rain
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 @ 03:05
Most photographers purposely shy away from taking photographs in bad weather, but for a certain breed of us, bad weather presents the perfect excuse to get out of doors with our gear. There are some awesome photographic opportunities that bad weather provides, and while the prospect of snapping away in a rain storm can be a rather unappealing one for most of us, there are some who absolutely relish it.
Bad weather can provide the perfect opportunity to capture wonderful rain photos. Lightning photos too can sell for a premium price since most photographers are not willing to brave the elements to get them. So, there is a potentially huge market for this type of work, and if you have a bit of knowledge and the right equipment, you can make a tidy little profit just getting these types of shots.
Of course, you want to take your photos safely – safe both for you and for your equipment. So make sure to talk to the experts first, and know what kind of gear you need before venting out into bad weather.
If you plan to capture photos in the rain, you will probably need to use either an extended shutter speed or a larger aperture because of the simple fact that clouds block out what little direct sunlight there may be available in these conditions. An absolutely vital piece of gear will also be a waterproof bag for your valuable equipment, as well as an umbrella or some other device that you can use to shield the top of your camera lens so that water doesn't get into the front of the lens and leave unsightly droplets. You might also want to seriously consider a tripod for this kind of work since nothing fouls a photograph up worse than cold, shaky hands making for blurry images.
Working in rainy conditions can present some rare opportunities for great photos – photos that can't be had in any other type of weather conditions. So, far from considering bad weather as a reason to roll over and go back to bed, it should be something relished as an opportunity to grab that camera bag and get moving, and snap off some of the best photographs you'll ever take.
