Rain, rain, go away!

October 14, 2009 10:50 AM

I need a good rainy day photography related activity.

I live in Annapolis MD, and have the day off this Friday (9/80 work schedule FTW). I usually like to go on a photography field trip of some sort, but the local forecast (including everywhere within ~2 hours) predicts 70-100% precipitation. Bummer. I wanted to go to the DC zoo to take some bird photos (one of the things I like taking pictures of).

I have some previous photos I can fiddle/work/practice with on my computer to hone my postprocessing skills, but I really look forward to new shooting opportunities, and the 9/80 Friday is A WHOLE DAY OFF!

Any suggestions? Maybe I should find some indoor activities or locations I can take pictures (I am not totally a museum person, and museums are pretty hit or miss with photography being allowed inside). Maybe I should still go to the zoo but stick to indoors? I did the Monterey Aquarium earlier this year on a separate trip, and am not in a rush to do another aquarium soon (Baltimore/DC aquariums are within driving distance). Should I stay local and just venture around town when the weather breaks (my gear is not waterproof)?

I have a 10-22mm lens, 100mm f/2.8 macro, and 100-400 lens (obviously a big gap between 22-100mm at the moment).

posted by kenbennedy to sports, hobbies, & recreation (15 comments total)

Why not gear up for the rain and take some nice, rainy, misty landscapes? Get a good raincoat with a hood and waterproof boots, a rain jacket for your camera, and hit the road. You can even shoot from inside your car if want.
posted by The Deej at 10:54 AM on October 14

Stay inside and work on your off-camera lighting skills?
posted by aabbbiee at 11:02 AM on October 14

Are there any storefronts with awnings or covered porches in a downtown area that you could hang out on? If you don't mind taking pictures of strangers, you could get some candid shots of people running in the rain, without getting wet yourself. I'm a fan of David Nightingale's photography, which frequently features portraits of people he's met while out and about. He's blogged about becoming comfortable asking strangers for permission to photograph them (sometimes after the fact, to preserve the candid quality) and the result is some very cool, very real images. Could be tough to get comfortable with though, if you're new to portraiture and approaching people you don't know.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 11:08 AM on October 14

Photography is allowed in all the Smithsonian museums, with the possible exception of the occasional private collection that is on temporary display.
posted by COD at 11:27 AM on October 14

U.S. Botanical Garden?
posted by JoanArkham at 11:31 AM on October 14

I'd go to the National Zoo anyway. The have some nice indoor exhibits where you can still get good photos. I just took this photo of a lilac-breasted roller at their indoor bird exhibit a few weeks ago on a somewhat rainy day.

If you're willing to drive a bit, you can try venturing out to Skyline Drive, where you could at least take photos from the shelter of your car at the overlooks. The Front Royal entrance is about 2 hours from Annapolis, I believe. The Fall leaves on Skyline Drive are pretty right now, but if it's as rainy as they're calling for there's also a good chance of it being extremely foggy.

Sorry I can't offer more suggestions! I'm a nature photographer too, and there just isn't much to shoot on rainy days if you don't want to get wet.
posted by geeky at 11:55 AM on October 14

Place translucent and colored items over your cameras native or external flash to create colored effects indoors. You may need to increase your exposure level... expect dark results.

If it is literally a rainy day, experiment with reflections off the water on flat surfaces such as concrete.

Freeze a small and interesting object or objects in a pan of water lined with clear plastic, remove the ice block from the pan and shoot the object through the ice, maybe even with the color cast method described above.

Take apart any non-functioning or discarded optical device and shoot through the lenses you have liberated.

Panned exposures with second curtain flash.

Etc.

Etc.
posted by Oireachtac at 12:03 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]

Overcast skies are nature's softbox. I consistently take fantastic shots when it's stormy out.
posted by scarykarrey at 12:14 PM on October 14

Light painting, assuming you have a tripod and a remote. And get some glowsticks and a laser pointer.
posted by chairface at 1:36 PM on October 14

The Masonic Temple at 16th and Sish in DC has an amazing interior. It's a free tour, I believe.
posted by melodykramer at 2:13 PM on October 14

Macros, macros, macros!
posted by Jinx of the 2nd Law at 4:03 PM on October 14

Mushrooms are awesome. They don't run away, the wind doesn't bother them and they're unique and beautiful.
posted by klanawa at 4:43 PM on October 14

Rain is one of the biggest opportunities you can get to take great pictures. If you've ever thought "man, if I could go on safari/be ringside at the world cup/live with miners for a month/be backstage at fashion week I could get amazing pictures" this is actually not a dissimilar situation (Seattle not included). Because not only does rain transform buildings and scenery, it also sends 95% of photographers scurrying indoors.

As a result, the pictures you get are going to be pretty rare. There are lots of pictures of forests at daybreak and of long-exposure waterfalls. There are very few of those same scenes draped in the mist and dripping with water. I'd try any of the outdoor scenes you've been to and think were picturesque, and see them in a new way. If there are pools of water, it's like you've placed mirrors everywhere. There'll be symmetry and reflections galore.

(Also: I don't know so much about DC, but a lot of brightly-lit urban areas look amazing with the rain makes everything reflective. Times Square in NY is the most obvious, but anywhere with coloured lights and black tar is going to look boss).

Just be sure and wrap up your gear!
posted by fightorflight at 5:07 PM on October 14

These suggestions are all awesome. Thanks for the help MeFi.

My girlfriend and I actually just recently went to Shenandoah (and had RAIN!!), had a wonderful time and took some wonderful photos. About the only thing in this list I can't really do is work on my off camera lighting, since I don't have an external speedlight.

I really like the botanical gardens idea, and would be keen to work on my macros. I also like the outdoor-in-the-rain-anyway photography idea, both for landscapes (of which I got some decent drenched type ones in VA) and people/building photography. I think it's time for me to work out how to keep my camera and wide angle lens dry so I can stay outside in the rain. I have a rain cover for my bag, but nothing to let me use the camera in the rain. There has been more than one occasion on which I wish I had one, so I think the time has come.

All the suggestions really are good ones. Thank you.
posted by kenbennedy at 5:32 PM on October 14

A cheaper version of the rain jacket for camera is this:

http://www.amazon.com/OPTECH-RAINSLEEVE-Camera-Rain-Cover/dp/B000RALTSK/ref=pd_cp_p_2

Two to a package for about $8 at any decent camera shop. Definitely workable and cheap enough that if it gets torn or destroyed, you're not out a lot.
posted by jrchaplin at 7:13 PM on October 14