MONOCHROME PHOTOGRAPHY

Mastering the Art of Rain Photography

Making the best of a rainy day out in nature

It rains. Again.

When clouds become saturated, raindrops fall onto Earth. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Other times, a sheet of water is pouring down.

Today, it rains on and off. More or less. The weather is moving in from the southwest bringing saturated clouds for the next three days. Knowing it will be rainy makes my life easier. I can prepare myself. I know what the weather is going to be like. I can now decide to sulk and be sad about the last days of summer being flooded, or I can make the best of it.

Since I can’t change the weather but my reaction to it, I’m sure you know which one I picked. Reading and writing are lovely on rainy days, but in between, I do enjoy going out as well.

Usually, when I go for walks, I take my camera with me. Not in the rain though. I’ve had one camera damaged under the spray of a waterfall and another zoom of a lens destroyed with a few raindrops while capturing a rainbow.

I should have learned my lesson the first time.

Rain reminds us that we cannot stop what can’t be stopped. The world will turn, the seasons change, the rain falls, and life goes on.

Now, two expensive yet valuable lessons later, I sit in bed, the window wide open and I point my camera toward the forest. There is no color standing out so I decided to look for shapes and contrasts instead.

Someone mentioned to me a while ago I should take monochrome photographs in the rain. Sure, I thought. But I’m not going for a walk in the rain with my camera in hand.

As I’m listening to the constant dropping of rain onto the trailer roof, I think of all the objects I could capture out there. In the rain. Beginning with raindrops. Those uniquely shaped circles get stretched when sucked by gravity onto Earth.

Yeah, I’d love to go out. Further than what my window offers me.

A spider web is pulling my attention. Fine droplets of water are hanging on the thin silk-like threads.

“The rain begins with a single drop.” — Manal al-Sharif

The rain is slowing down as I listen to the constant dripping sound of water. This could be my chance. While there are still thousands of droplets hanging onto trees, bushes and blades of grass, I could pull out my camera.

As there are still a few raindrops falling from the sky, I grab my favorite multi-purpose item, the sarong, and wrap the lens of my camera. This should be enough.

The land is still as the sounds are dampened. I can hear a few birds chirping in the forest. I’d love to catch a glimpse of them but don’t put my hopes up too high as I know they’re hiding too. From the rain.

Rain isn’t sadness. It simply means the earth laughed so hard it cried.

Since I can’t or don’t want to point my camera to the skies, I look down as I enter the forest. Mushrooms. Another sign or side-effect of the rain. Of plenty of rain.

A cracking sound appears as I step onto one of the branches lying on the forest floor. I see a shadow and a swift movement in the undergrowth. I must have startled a hare. Those large-sized rabbits are home to the woodlands and surrounding fields.

I step through the thick undergrowth watching insects fly off as I brush past bushes. Puddles of water have been built on the forest trail. The gentle drops of falling rain create artsy circles in the water.

While trees are soaking up all the water they can get, I watch busy bees going about their business pollinating thistles in the wettest time of the day.

There is no better smell than earth after a heavy rain.

Still on the lookout for a bird photography opportunity, I hold still and listen to the forest. A silent chirping sounds across from one of the pine trees. An echo appears from the opposite tree.

This is my place, I notice as the rain picks up again. Checking if my camera was still wrapped in the towel, I now stood still searching the forest for a movement created by a feathered animal.

I see leaves moving all around. Every single raindrop causes movement.

Then I see the little songbird. Hopping on one of the lower branches of the pine tree. I point the camera and click. The bird is gone. Identified as a blue or black tit, these feisty birds can’t sit still.

I’m turning back. My first take on black and white photography in the rain was a success, I conclude. Analyzing the images I get new ideas for the next session and ways to improve my skills.

"The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain." — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

How about you? Have you been shooting in the rain before? If so, please share your results with me and if not, then take this as a challenge to test your skills.

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