Do you like to shoot in the rain?

[foc]

Where I live, if I didn't shoot in/before/after the rain, I'd never take a photo.

 

[Pieter12]

Sometimes right after a storm

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Crappy iPhone snap of a print: North Pacific Cannery near Port Edward on BC's north coast from a 4x5 negative.

This was made on graded paper before I started pin registered masking...the textures in the foreground planks could be improved significantly.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Dramatic thunder and lightning was mentioned on an earlier post. That was almost every summer afternoon in our high country. Of course, you don't want to be crossing a pass or up on a peak under those conditions, or in the middle of a lake in an aluminum boat, or out on some bald prow of a hill. But with some common sense travel timing, it is one of the great joys of mountain travel to witness. And talk about the evening light when the storm breaks up!

What is not so entertaining is when the sky suddenly goes black all around you, and you're up on some high point, and you hear the air somewhat Rice Krispies crinkling, the hair on your arm stands up, you small ozone, and worst of all, there's a strange glow around your aluminum tripod. Run downhill as fast as you can - don't walk - and leave the tripod behind. Back when I still used an aluminum tripod, I'd leave it about 50 yards from my tent at night. When picking a campsite around timberline, look around to see if there are charred trees or not from previous incidents. Lighting is fairly predictable.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The only time I've photographed in the rain, is when I'm caught in it... otherwise a big no! I will however, don ski-doo pants, gloves and a toque, and gleefully drag the big camera out when it's snowing!

 

[eliadesqu]

I enjoy shooting immediately after rain. Something about the world glows with a fresh liveliness.

 

[loccdor]

I've enjoyed reading all the responses, this week here is all rain and it's been fun to go out in it. I know people who hate the rain and will never come with me in such conditions. I'm not very fond of strong winds unless it is very warm. My favorite is the gentle, steady rainfall with still air.

Regarding lightning, I've done a few long exposures of it from behind a window, but being outside for it is another level of dedication and intensity.

I am in the market for a good pair of waterproof pants. Haven't got around to buying them yet.

 

[slackercrurster]

Do you like to shoot in the rain? What precautions do you take?

I really like, for example, the extra-deep color from autumn leaves and plants when they are wet.

You also have softer lighting conditions, so that more temperamental film stocks become easier to use.

For extended or heavy rainfall it's either an umbrella or a plastic camera covering. The umbrella is a poor choice in wind. A filter and lens hood help, too.

Or perhaps you are the type to just let the rain hit the camera?

In light rainfalls with small cameras I'll often just put them in a belt-mounted camera bag and take them out briefly to use them, before wiping them with a cotton cloth and putting them back. After the outing things are left to dry for a few days before storage. I've had some leather ever-ready cases develop mold, but no lenses did.

I want to shoot in rain and snow more often. It's more interesting and you can see things that are rare in nice weather. You typically have the place to yourself and animal behavior is different, too. Reflections and shininess can also be a subject.

Yes, used to. I'd use an umbrella for street work. It was not something I looked forward to, just did it sometimes. I'm not much for landscapes. I did a project of people jumping melted snow puddles and such across from St. Patrick's Cathedral NYC. I will have to dig them out someday and finish it up. The cameras they got nowadays are water resistant...some.