16 Dec 2017 The beauty in bad weather
Story and photos
by Linda Henderson
Welcome to January. The weather is cold, and the sky is gray and brooding. A cold rain or snow may be in the forecast, so what is a photographer to do? Go outside and take pictures!
Bad weather can provide an excellent opportunity to capture amazing pictures. The phrase “bad weather” is enough to send most people inside, but if you know a few ways of protecting yourself and your camera, dark and stormy weather may render dramatic and bold photographs.
Protect yourself
The only safe place during a thunderstorm, or worse a tornado, is inside a substantial structure or tornado shelter. I know it has become popular to video a tornado with your smart phone, but you are risking life and limb. When I photograph stormy weather, it is only from the edges of a storm front, and I am with a trained weather spotter.
Dress for the weather
Bring clothing for cold, wet, dry and hot because you never know what you will need. Check the weather forecast before heading out and carry your smart phone so that you can receive severe weather alerts.
Protect your equipment
Moisture is the No. 1 enemy to your camera’s electronics. If moisture gets trapped inside the camera, condensation and eventually mold will form, destroying the camera.
To prevent your equipment from coming in contact with water, keep the camera in a waterproof case till it is time to take the shot. A camera rain sleeve may come with a new camera or may be available for purchase. If you want to DIY, use a plastic bag or gallon-size Ziploc bag and a rubber band. Place the camera inside the bag, cut a hole the size of the lens in the end of the bag and secure the bag to the lens with a rubber band. Make sure the bag is big enough to completely cover the lens and the camera. Shower caps (like those found in a hotel room) can be used to protect your camera.
Another easy fix for protecting your camera from rain is an umbrella. Not only does it keep your camera dry, but it can be a great photo prop.
If all else fails and you and your equipment get caught in a deluge, turn your camera off, remove the batteries and put the camera in plastic with cilica gel packets (those little packets come in new things and say “Do Not Eat” on them) or uncooked rice. Doing this will help to dry condensation in your camera and prevent mold from growing.
After each time you use your camera, make a habit of cleaning you equipment. Use micro fiber cloths and towels to remove moisture from the outside of the camera. Use an air-blower brush to remover dust from the lens. The cleaner your gear is kept, the longer it will last.
Most cameras will work from 15 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The problem with high temperatures is the risk that chemicals within the batteries will be damaged. Cold temperatures drain the batteries very quickly. To avoid problems, never store camera equipment in your vehicle during hot weather, and during cold weather, keep your batteries in your coat pocket.
Never place your camera face up in direct sunlight. The lens can act like a magnifying glass. Sun rays could burn or damage the camera’s sensor.
Subjects that I enjoy photographing during bad weather include: clouds, lightning, water reflections, rainbows, snow and fog. If you enjoy taking pictures of small things, you might consider raindrops.
Clouds make dramatic moody images. Storm clouds make a perfect backdrop for photographing buildings of all kinds. Shooting just a forbidding gloomy cloud bank by itself can be boring, but composing your image with the clouds behind a subject can add drama to a picture. Gathering or departing storms may produce phenomenal light especially if it is combined with a colorful sunrise or sunset.
Another thing to remember: The morning after a storm may produce a wonderful sunrise.
Departing thunderstorms that occur close to sunset or sunrises may have the possibility of a rainbow appearing. Rainbows happen when sunlight and rain combine in a very specific way. So if the sun unexpectedly breaks out following a storm, race outside with your camera because you may have photo opportunities arise.
Fog makes for a high impact shot. A little bit of drizzle and moisture in the air can make colors appear more saturated. The backdrop of fog also helps to hide distracting backgrounds and isolate your subject.
Fog is likely to occur when cool air passes over a warm body of water or wet land. Morning fog makes a very impressive backdrop as the sun rises higher in the sky and the fog evaporates. Shoot fast because the fog disappears very quickly. Autumn is a good time to photograph fog because the already rich fall colors are enhanced by the overcast and wet conditions.
Reflections are a great way of adding extra special element to your photographs. They act as a mirror and reflect the subject. They multiply the impact of beautiful colors or textures. Reflections can transform a scene with flat light into an interesting image. Anytime I am around water, I am always looking to see if the colors of the sky, shapes of clouds or objects on the bank are being reflected onto the water. Try to compose your picture so that the sky is not in the photo, especially if the sky is gray and dull.
In the 501, we do not get many snow days, so it if you want to capture images with snow you have to take advantage of the opportunity quickly. Snow adds texture and highlights details in nature. For great snow pictures, capture the snow while it is fresh. Foot prints and melting snow do not add to the image. The cleaner the snow the prettier the picture will be. Look for contrast in the setting. A mound of white snow is uninteresting, but a red barn in the snow or an evergreen tree with newly fallen snow on its branches — that could be a beautiful image.
Snowy landscapes look good in both sunny and cloudy skies. Most landscape images look best with white fluffy clouds, but the contrast of blue skies and white snow can be stunning. Slightly over expose snow scenes. That will keep your snow looking white rather than gray.
Before you go outside to shoot, let your camera come to the temperature of the outside environment. You might store it in your vehicle the night before. If you bring your camera from a warm house directly to the cold outside, condensation will develop in camera and in the lens. Warm your camera gradually after a day in the cold. This will also help to prevent water droplets from forming in your camera.
Bad weather can be challenging especially to landscape photographers. We are at the mercy of the weather, but if you brave the elements, you can capture unique and extraordinary photos. The best part of bad weather is often when the weather breaks, the light can be spectacular and will yield amazing masterpieces.
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