Inspiration Needed - post photos shot on rainy and/or overcast days

[Mike Buckley]

Great photos, Bobo.

As for personal protection, hire an assistant that has a very large umbrella.

[andrewaxford]

Hi Christina,
i took this one last week in the rain and with the fog! I entered it in a mini comp and won so i think that shows that people love the overcast conditions.
ps those pictures from wendy are awesome inspiration.

[Mike Buckley]

Everything about yours is gorgeous, Andrew. Great use of empty space!

[Brownbear]

Thank you Andrew.. Yes, indeed a magnificent photo and wonderful to know that you took it in the rain (and fog). Congratulations.. well deserved. I too, am inspired by Wendy's photos, and now your photos too...

[kdoc856]

Beautiful shot, Andrew. This turned into a most excellent thread.

[Brownbear]

I forgot to ask for recommended settings for rainy day/overcast photos, which I presume would need a higher iso and larger aperture, slower shutter speed than on bright sunny days? Anything extra I should know for when it is raining heavily? thank you

[andrewaxford]

I forgot to ask for recommended settings for rainy day/overcast photos, which I presume would need a higher iso and larger aperture, slower shutter speed than on bright sunny days? Anything extra I should know for when it is raining heavily? thank you

I wanted a shallow depth of field so i used my 50 mm lens at f1.8 and 1000 sec at iso 200.

[Mike Buckley]

Christina,

I would use aperture priority and Auto ISO. The aperture would be configured to whatever depth of field that you want. The Auto ISO would be configured to the maximum ISO that your camera deals with well enough with regard to noise and configured to the minimum shutter speed that is appropriate for the situation. After capturing an image, I would check the histogram. If a different exposure is needed, I would adjust the exposure compensation accordingly and retake the image.

[Brownbear]

Thank you.

Andrew it is interesting that you chose such large aperture? All the feedback I've received always pushes me towards using a smaller aperture for more depth of field. I love your photo... what can I learn from it ie; why did you choose a shallow depth of field? To make the buffalo (?) stand out more?

As always, thank you Mike... I always check my histogram now, thanks to you and others on this forum... I'm still struggling with auto iso but I'll keep trying.

[rpcrowe]

I spent a week on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska and it rained every day. I was able to shoot because I had a Kata Rain Cover for my camera and lens.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...4W9GZTYKRCBBZ4

The Kata allowed me to shoot despite the rain. Although the OPTECH Rainsleeve is a decent cover and is quite inexpensive; IMO it is better as an emergency cover and is not sturdy enough for day-in and day-out use.

Opteka has a cover which is less expensive than the Kata but, I don't know about the quality. Many pieces of Opteka gear are fairly marginal in quality...

BTW: Sometimes inclement weather can provide decent landscape views...

[Brownbear]

thank you... lovely shot

[Bobobird]

@ Andrew
That is ONE awesome shot and well deserved the comp win.

@Mike
Thanks for the recommendation. Have passed it on my wife who is our HR manager.

But while pondering the raincoat question, it dawned on me that I had the solution at hand all the time.

Check this out
http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-se...AdIdZ338658659

Forgot I already have one. For now problem solved though not much use in gusty conditions. There is still hope for Mike's big guy.

[ScoutR]

I've found it useful on rainy snowy and even foggy days to have an extra UV filter and some lens cleaning cloths along. Cleaning lenses is hard out in the field though, so I've found just changing the UV filter fixes things right up (find somewhere sheltered to change it). If I had more money I'd take along as many as I could. I guess I should get one of those camera raincoats. Right now I just use a tubular plastic bag that works pretty good to keep the camera dry. I've been out in some pretty nasty weather and at those times I always manage to get rain mist or snow on the front of the lens.

Well Christina, I think you've got some pretty inspiring and unique ideas here. Great thread! and I too am getting a lot of inspiration from the shots that have been posted. Reflections and wet feet, floral close ups with water droplets, people in the rain, people watching the rain....Who needs the sun anyway.

Wendy

[ScoutR]

That is Awesome

[Bobobird]

Forgot to mention why I use just the hood and a towel over the camera and lens.

This tip was given to me by a seasoned photographer/journalist who worked mainly in the tropics before retiring.

Of course this means that only the zooms would work due to their longer hoods. Pretty good at keeping out rain or snow. Towel because raincoat material tends to get slippery when wet.

[rpcrowe]

Wendy, a lens hood, especially a deep lens hood like the one for my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens will often keep the rain drops off your lens.

I always carry several squares of old Tee Shirt material packed in a plastic bag in a pocket of my camera vest. The material is great for cleaning/drying lenses and is cheap and readily available...

Another accessory which is not usually thought of for wet weather is a monopod. The monopod will stabilize the camera for slower shutter speeds. This can be handy because the light is often lower during inclement weather. Of course, a tripod will do the job of stabilizing the camera even better but, it is more bulky and not as easily carried...

Something that is seldom mentioned is adequate rain clothing. Photographers living in the Pacific Northwest usually have the proper rain gear but, we folks in Sunny Southern California forget that the sunshine in other areas is often in liquid form. I like a hat with a brim which will keep the rain off my eyeglasses. Proper footwear can also be a help by keeping your feet dry and preventing slipping on slick surfaces...

[Mike Buckley]

I'm still struggling with auto iso

If there is anything in particular that isn't making sense to you, just mention it.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Wendy, and all.. The plastic bags, towels, cleaning clothes, hats with brims... etc... all great tips for the budget conscious..

And it's great to know others are enjoying this thread, too

[Bobobird]

Thanks Richard. Good call about the monopod. Really useful as a 3rd leg especially in gusty conditions. And can be used as a walking stick as well.

Anyone considering venturing out in our kind of frigid cold weather - take baby steps, ease yourself into it and keep yourself within easy reach to your car. Tell family where you will going to and make sure that you have cell coverage.

Never ever go to some wilderness without full preparation and not properly fitted out.

[Mike Buckley]

Never ever go to some wilderness without full preparation and not properly fitted out.

That means never go alone. If you're alone, you're not fully prepared or properly fitted out.