Just because the sun isn’t shining, you can still get creative with your photography! The lighting may not be perfect, but rain, snow, and sleet introduce a whole new range of challenges and opportunity for capturing wonderful images. Grab your umbrella, and join us after the break for some stunning examples of rain photography, and a few tips on how to shoot your own!
4 Tips For Shooting in the Rain
Hit the Streets
When the rain starts falling, the streets take on a completely different appearance. The umbrellas come out, overcoats are thrown on, and people hurry to their destination. You’d think that this might lead to a dreary, uninteresting scene, but this isn’t necessarily the case!
You can capture the classic “sea of umbrellas” shot, focus in on individual people, or increase your shutter speed to better illustrate the idea of everyone rushing to get out of the rain.
Alternatively, try a different perspective as in the image below. Find a high vantage point, and just wait for a scene full of bright, vivid umbrellas!
Get Outside, and Get Wet!
The classic portrait is often taken in perfect lighting conditions, with carefully chosen lighting, and a beautifully made-up model. Throw that over-used scenario out the window, and head out into the rain!
People behave incredibly naturally when out in a torrential downpour; they giggle, cringe, and embrace the surreality of the situation. It’s the perfect chance to capture natural expression, and a memorable portrait.
Of course, you may be lucky enough to capture someone really appreciating the rain. The below image exudes relief, thanks, and praise that rain has come to this person’s world:
Get Cosy
If you’d prefer not to get completely drenched, we’ll let you off with this option – stay inside, open the curtains, and stare out a rainy window. Everyone can empathise with this wonderful, cosy feeling, and it’s the perfect backdrop to a moody portrait of someone looking into the distance.
If you’d prefer not to go with such a cliché, try photographing another object with a “rainy window” backdrop to convey a different set of emotions. It’s an easy way to experiment with rain photography, without the inconvenience of actually being in the rain…
Above All, Keep Your Camera Dry!
However carried away you become with the wonder of a downpour, don’t forget that your camera won’t appreciate the rain as much as you do! Make sure that you have someone holding an umbrella for you, or buy a waterproof case for your Digital SLR (there are plenty of different ones available!)
50 Remarkable Rain Photography Examples
Raining….
A walk in the rain
Raining AgainSoho ghostly meetup
Whitechapel
Rach in the rain
Umbrella Day
Stormy Days
A Magical Main Street
Tango Sepia
Art 38 Basel
Amsterdam
Ombrelli per una mostra su Amedeo Modigliani
A Buddha in the Rain
Road man
When it rains…
Rainy and hot
Walking in the Rain
Paper Boats
Catching the rain
Prairie Magic
Pink Rain
Sun.. stay here.. Please!
Rain
Walk on a rainy day
something coloured in front of a grey sky
Falling rain on leaves in the gutter
In the Rain in Tokyo
Nothing gonna stop me now
Islington
Rainy walk
Hit, Miss, Hit
British summer
de dos en dos
Still More Rain On Yonge
Fall(en) Leaf
Rain
Spiders Web
City rain
[no rain]
Fake Rain Drops on a Leaf
Walking home in the rain
Frozen Time
Shrimpboat After the Rain
Hawaiian Rainy Bokeh
Rain Kiss
premisas y conclusiones
And It Could Rain For Days
It’s going to rain
Descending Temple Steps
Share Your Own Rain Photographs!
I hope you’ve left feeling inspired to get out in the rain, and take your camera with you. We’d love to see some of your own images shot in the rain, so feel free to leave a few links in the comments below!