Look for strong colours to capture attention.

The wet, rainy weather wasn’t very good for our Australia day this year, ruining BBQ’s and street cricket everywhere but as far as photography is concerned you can’t let a little rain dampen your spirits. Just after it rains it seems that colours are brighter and stand out more and everything looks so fresh and clean.

Overcast days are great for taking photographs as the clouds block out the harsh sunlight so you don’t have to worry about strong shadows and highlights and your colours will show up more brightly, resulting in a clearer more crisp shot. You can also have great fun using props such as gumboots and umbrellas and have your subject jumping in puddles or catching them in the rain. By having fun taking the photos you will be able to capture that excitement and innocent play in your shots. It is great for taking photos of children; however it may take a while to convince them that they are allowed to play in the puddles for a change.
Having all the excess water around makes a playground of photo opportunities, if you use you imagination. I took this photo of the girls reflection in the puddle. You can’t see their faces very well but the shapes of their silhouettes makes an interesting and fun shot. Although it is important to remember to make sure that you don’t catch your reflection in the water at the same time and to make sure the water is still so you don’t have the ripples distorting the reflections.

Reflections are everywhere after the rain.

The other good thing about taking photographs during wet weather is that most things are covered in tiny water droplets which make for really interesting macro shots. For example look at this photo of the frangipani. Not only are the colours more intense and dramatic but all the water droplets that are resting on the petals make the shot all the more interesting. You need to get in real close to your subject and make sure you focus sharply so that your photos are crisp and sharp and picks up all the minute detail. Also, when taking macro photos, remember to keep an eye on your background, and if possible blur it out, so that the focus remains on the detail of the subject.

Water droplets add life to your images

As fun as it is taking photos during wet weather it is important to remember that cameras don’t like too much water (unless of course you have an underwater camera). It is okay if a few droplets fall onto the camera every now and again however if the rain gets heavier and more persistent then you really need to get your camera under cover. I found that by wearing a rain coat I can keep the camera out of the weather while I rethink a shot or reposition and then just bring it out quickly when I am ready to take it. However I have a couple of times used glad wrap or a large zip lock bag with a hole cut out for the lens to put my camera in to keep it dry while taking the shots. Might not be a high tech water proof casing but I find it does the job.

A slow shutter speed to capture the rain drops and the strong fence line draws your eye in to the Kookaburra

Don't forget to have fun!

However careful you may be water still finds it way on to your camera so I recommend that you let your camera air over night. All this involves is taking out the battery and memory card (and taking off the lens for SLR’s) and putting it somewhere warm and dry overnight. After that it should be fine to pack away as normal. So next time the rain has ruined your plans grab your camera and take the opportunity to take some fun, interesting and unique photographs.

Amy is one of the team members in the Ballina store. You can see her profile here or drop in and see her and the rest of the team for advice or help.

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