| When dark clouds roll into the sky most | | | | because they are so appealing. Unfortunately |
| photographers run for shelter, but the ones who | | | | some snowy locations where the very rare |
| stay out and brave the weather can sometimes | | | | animals live such as penguins and polar bears are |
| capture the most amazing photos. Bad weather | | | | very hard to reach and require a great deal of |
| can give photographers a chance to capture rain | | | | risk and effort. |
| photos, snow photos, or even lightning photos. In | | | | Bright and white snow can be trickier to capture |
| the world of photography the rarer and harder to | | | | effectively then most photographers think. The |
| capture photos tend to sell for a higher price; so | | | | light readers on cameras tend to see snow as |
| there is a potentially large market for bad | | | | very bright so it sets the exposure for the |
| weather conditions if you are a photographer. | | | | brightness of the snow leaving the background |
| Rain Photography | | | | and other objects almost as dark as a silhouette. |
| When it rains outside the moisture tends to | | | | Most experienced photographers overexpose the |
| create a shiny surface on most materials. In the | | | | snow photos they take leaving the snow as bright |
| cities the rain causes the streets to shine and the | | | | as it is in real life and the rest of the frame |
| buildings to look gloomy. In the countryside the | | | | well-exposed as it should be. Snow can also |
| grass can shine with the right amount of light and | | | | disrupt the camera's automatic white balance |
| droplets of water hanging from branches and | | | | sensor so you should also make sure that you |
| leaves often sparkle. The clouds that accompany | | | | either adjust the white balance to suit the snow |
| the rain also diffuse the available sunlight spreading | | | | or switch the auto white balance mode to the |
| it equally and removing shadows. I have found | | | | snow white balance mode. |
| that rain can create amazing landscape, wildlife, | | | | Storm Chasing |
| and even portrait photos. Animals tend to curl up | | | | There are many serious and adventurous |
| or tuck their heads into their fur in order to keep | | | | photographers that have devoted their careers to |
| dry and warm offering some amazing nature | | | | getting the best photos of hurricanes and |
| photo opportunities. Portrait photos in the rain can | | | | tornadoes that Mother Nature has to offer. This |
| also be very compelling because the light reflected | | | | type of photography is very dangerous but can |
| off of people's faces can often dominate the | | | | also provide some high priced photos that are |
| frame because the rain dampens the light | | | | demanded by magazines and news conglomerates |
| reflected off of surroundings. | | | | all over the country. Extreme storm photos are |
| When it rains you will probably have to use either | | | | one of the only types of photos that can bring |
| a longer shutter speed or a wider aperture | | | | fear to the viewers who have the privilege of |
| because the clouds tend to also block out direct | | | | seeing them. They can also inspire wonder in |
| sunlight. In order to be prepared for rain you | | | | viewers at the destructive power and forces of |
| should have a waterproof bag for your camera | | | | nature. |
| as well as an umbrella or something else that you | | | | Storm photography requires some durable |
| can use to shield the top of the lens so water | | | | equipment and different techniques then other |
| doesn't reach the front of the lens and leave | | | | more normal types of photography. Some |
| water droplets. I also always carry a tripod in the | | | | photographers stay relatively far away from the |
| rain so I can make sure that I can do a long | | | | storm and just have to deal with rain and high |
| enough exposure without having the results blurry | | | | winds. These photographers usually have covers |
| from cold shaky hands. | | | | and lens cleaners that they can use to clear the |
| Lightning | | | | lens of water droplets quickly before they are |
| Many photographers spend hours trying to | | | | ready to take a photo. Other photographers |
| capture a bolt of lightning lighting up the scene in | | | | commonly leave cameras set up on tripods in the |
| their photos. Lightning is definitely one of the | | | | paths of a storm that they can operate by |
| hardest things to capture in a photograph. It | | | | remote control from a safe location. These |
| definitely requires a tripod and often requires a | | | | cameras are put in protective cases and have |
| very long shutter speed. Most photographers try | | | | special tripods that can be drilled into the ground. |
| to capture lightning by using the "bulb" option of | | | | Conclusion |
| shutter speed where the photographer simply | | | | Bad weather should be looked at as an |
| just manually holds the shutter open as long as | | | | opportunity by photographers instead of as a |
| necessary until a bolt of lightning streaks through | | | | nuisance that is avoided. Some of the best photos |
| the sky and then the photographer closes the | | | | that I have taken have been in situations where |
| shutter right after the lightning passes so it is as | | | | there was rain, snow, or wind. I recommend that |
| bright as possible in the frame. | | | | all serious photographers should carry a tripod and |
| Snow Photography | | | | some kind of covering that can be used shield the |
| Snow can change a landscape photo into a winter | | | | camera from wind and moisture if they are going |
| wonderland photo. The whiteness of the snow | | | | on a long trip with unpredictable weather. The |
| tends to add a nice contrast to the normal colors | | | | successful photographers are the ones that are |
| of a scene which makes for very effective | | | | ready and willing to deal with difficult |
| photos. Snow photos can also make for unique | | | | circumstances that other photographers would |
| nature photos and can often sell for a higher price | | | | normally avoid. |