Shooting in the rain.

L

_larky

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So I just went for a walk with the camera, wanted to try my hand at documenting the area around my house. I discovered two things:

a: suburbia can be really dull and,

b: shooting in the rain is tough.

I didn't take one shot. Why? It was pi$$ing it down. I had my M6 with me, an umbrella. I don't own a hooded garment which is waterproof. I was unable to get anything because of the rain, so my question is do you do it, and how?
 
I do it a lot....I try to find an overhang that shelters me enough to get the shot. Could be a tree, an awning an overhand. Depends where you are. Its seldom perfect especially if there is wind but if the camera is going to get too wet, I just dont shoot. I usually have a soft microfibre cloth with me and use this to wipe the camera down if there are any stray drops on it.


IMG_2377a1 by yoyomaoz, on Flickr


DSC_2003zz by yoyomaoz, on Flickr


DSC_1999 by yoyomaoz, on Flickr


P1030159a1a by yoyomaoz, on Flickr
 
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If you're ready to stop babying the camera, forget the umbrella, take the batteries out and go do some work. Just give everything a good airing out when you get home. - This is what I do.

Other options include investing in a Nikonos or a Stylus epic.
 
Neare: seconded. There is no point in carrying the camera if we are scared of a little water :)

I just shoot. Water tends to evaporate. ;D

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If you're very worried about the M6 absorbing water, you can use a chamois-leather on top of the camera and lens then remove it as little as possible when you are focusing and shooting. Put a filter and lens-hood on the lens to reduce the raindrops soft-focus effect. Squeeze out the rain from the chamois every now and then, and you're ready for anything.

I recall a quote from an army-officer saying something like "we find that underneath their uniforms people are quite waterproof". It's only water after all.
;)
 
wojtek said:
Neare: seconded. There is no point in carrying the camera if we are scared of a little water :)

I just shoot. Water tends to evaporate. ;D

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Depends on what camera. Mechanical camera maybe. A Pro camera / lens that have good dust and moisture seals, yes. But the bottom line is that electronics and water do not mix. Ditto water and optics. You will get away with it......until one day you won't!

Which of course is fine if you are willing to risk ending up one day with a couple of grand's worth of soggy. fungus ridden paperweight. Thats how I feel about it anyway. Its up to everyone to make their own assessment of risk based upon their own risk tolerance and how willing they are to let their gear suffer a certain level of abuse. Some people are happy to have their camera look like its been transported across country in a car with no suspension in the bottom of a bucket of gravel. Hell, some people take pride in their gear looking like its spent a decade in the back of a donkey wagon in Bangladesh. My own preference is to keep mine as pristine as possible - but thats just me..
 
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Rain jacket, and don't worry about the camera. Use a filter.

Maybe try some color film. I love shooting in the rain, fog, or both.

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Roland.
 
Took my Canon 7 and 100mm F3.5 out in the rain today, they got some drops. Wiped them off when I got inside.

The light is often very soft and beautiful on overcast days. That is one reason why I like a camera with a meter, to double-check exposure.

It's hard to sunny-16 on rainy days.
 
Neare said:
Other options include investing in a Nikonos or a Stylus epic.
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This is a good idea, or just pick up something cheap on fleecedBay. For a few dollars a camera can be had that is pretty much disposable. What we spend on candy, softdrinks or other junk in a month or two would cover the cost.

Something else you could do is buy or make a rain cover that will work in anything short of a hurricane.
 
Bear in mind that some cameras are evidently more susceptible to moisture. I used to shoot with a Nikon 801s which was one of their late film camera models and as such was a fine camera. Even a relatively small amount of moisture in the air in the form of high humidity (not even rain) and it could short out. This was a known "feature" of that camera but was fixed by removing batteries for a minute or so and "rebooting" the camera.
 
Put the camera in a clear plastic bag and fasten the open end tightly around the filter with an elastic band. You can also make holes for the strap and viewfinder and seal in a similar manner. Make sure the bag is loose enough to operate the contols, especially the wind-on lever where applicable.

As stated above, dry everything out later.

(An old trick from an old f**t!)
 
wearing such a contraption, all I can imagine I'd photograph is other's reactions, (mostly odd looks, stares, and pointing & laughing).
 
SteveM_NJ said:
wearing such a contraption, all I can imagine I'd photograph is other's reactions, (mostly odd looks, stares, and pointing & laughing).
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That could make for some interesting photos though!
We photographers are strange people:eek:
 
Yes I do it. I empty the water out i.e. shake it off the camera and out of the lens and bash on - yes really!

When I get home I strip the gear and dry and pack the camera with silica gel sacs and place them around the lens which is stood on kitchen roll. All on a shelf in the boiler room (whenever this happens) and after 24hrs all is assembled and off we go again. Obviously it's good to have a back-up set.

So, in short, just crack on buddy; life's too short and the gear is as tough as old boots - yes, really!

Local MP & aide, Machiavelli-ing in the rain:-

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