Let It Rain

The photo "16"(40cm) PRO Camera Rain Cover"
( The 16"(40cm) PRO Camera Rain Cover, n.d.)

If out of the box is what you, as a photographer is aiming for, then give rain photography a try. It is exciting because you’re not taking photographs under the “normal” circumstances. There are many things to think about when working under the rain.

Firstly, will the rain ruin your equipment? Well yes, definitely. So the first step is to protect your camera. There are many ways to protect your camera and one of them is by purchasing a special waterproof case. A camera rain cover, such as shown in the picture is an ideal way of doing a rain photoshoot without having to worry about your camera being affected by water. The 16" (40 cm) PRO Camera Rain Cover is good for handheld or tripod shooting because it is compact and flexible as it is made of Silnylon which is an extremely waterproof, ultralight and strong type of fabric (“16" (40 cm) PRO Camera Rain Cover”, n.d.).

If buying a waterproof cover is somewhat out of your budget, don’t fret because it is possible to make one yourself. I’ve tried and this is from my own experience. All you need is waterproof materials such as a big trash bag, rubberbands, lots of sellotape and invest in a lens hood and lens UV filter. Firstly, cut a hole in the trash bag but make sure the hole is just slightly bigger than the lens hood of the camera. Then push the camera’s lens hood through the hole with the camera inside the plastic bag. Secure the plastic bag around the lens hood with rubber bands and tape over with sellotape to keep waterproof. Lastly , cut a hole in the trash bag for the eyepiece if necessary. There you have it, your very own budget rainproof camera cover. However, even with rainproof equipment it is not advisable to take photographs under heavy downpour unless you’re a hundred percent certain it will not harm your camera.

The photo "Photograph by Jim Ricahrdson"
(Taking Photos In The Rain, 2012)

Jim Richardson is a photojournalist whose photos appear frequently in National Geographic magazine and according to him it is wise to look out for reflections, to backlight the rain and also to be on the lookout for joy and misery (“Taking Photos in The Rain”, 2012). Sometimes reflective shots make for a more captivating shot compared to just normal everyday shots.

If the raindrops are what you’re aiming to highlight, then backlight the rain. This works because light that comes through the raindrops is concentrated and thus making it brighter than the rest of the scene (“Taking Photos in The Rain”, 2012).

If you’re in a group doing a “photo-outing” session or even alone roaming the streets during a travel, just be on the lookout for expressions. There is nothing better than a good portrait that reflects the feelings of those affected by the rain. But always keep in mind that it is best to take the photo in a view which does not identify your subject as not everyone likes to be randomly photographed. If the photograph is for a news story or research, it is alright for a person’s picture to be taken but if the picture taken is close enough to be identified then the picture is not allowed to be used for commercial purposes unless a model release form is signed (Swaney, n.d.).

For basics however, I have only tried inanimate subjects which are the plants in my backyard. In the future I hope to take captivating and beautiful photographs like Jim Richardson but that would take a lot of patience and practice. However for now, here are some of the shots I’ve taken.

Rain makes boring flowers look good

Fiddle with aperture mode to get a blurry background and use flash to highlight the raindrops.

Backlit raindrops always stand out in a shot.

Reference:

16" (40 cm) PRO Camera Rain Cover. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://fotosharp.com/16_rain_cover_w_velcro_opening_.html

16" (40 cm) PRO Camera Rain Cover. (n.d). 16" (40 cm) PRO Camera Rain Cover [Image]. Retrieved from http://fotosharp.com/16_rain_cover_w_velcro_opening_.html

Swaney, A. (n.d.). The Ethics of Photographing People. Retrieved from http://www.montanaheritageproject.org/edheritage/articles/swaney.htm

Taking Photos in the Rain. (2012). Retrieved from http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/taking-photos-in-rain-richardson/

Taking Photos in the Rain. (2012). Photograph by Jim Richardson [Image]. Retrieved from http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/taking-photos-in-rain-richardson/