Rainy Day

Alastair Brown · August 18th, 2007, 05:33 AM

Don't see anybody ever mention any tips/tricks for shooting when it rains.
I think this would be a really good point to discuss as it is bound to affect us all at some point.

I'm thinking more in terms of trying to be creative than from the technical side of things i.e. rain-covers etc.

Ferdi Willemse · August 18th, 2007, 06:10 AM

There is a thread going around here somewhere. Basically most people improvise their cover with plastic bags and some people have someone holding an umbrella over their camera. Some people don't shoot in rain at all.

Jason Magbanua · August 18th, 2007, 10:06 AM

some ideas:

1. shooting from the inside of a hotel room, focus outdoors at the rain (with foliage woks best), then rack focus to the moistened window sill, perhaps with the rings positioned there.

2. compose a shot with umbrellas. lotsa umbrellas, predominantly black perhaps with a yellow one sticking out. (with the bridal party or the couple)

3. get ambient audio of the rainfall and use it to lead into the action.

4. reflections on puddles

5. macro shots of raindrops on flowers are also nice.

cheers!

Ferdi Willemse · August 18th, 2007, 11:51 AM

nice tips!

Rick Steele · August 19th, 2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Magbanua

some ideas:

1. shooting from the inside of a hotel room, focus outdoors at the rain (with foliage woks best), then rack focus to the moistened window sill, perhaps with the rings positioned there.

2. compose a shot with umbrellas. lotsa umbrellas, predominantly black perhaps with a yellow one sticking out. (with the bridal party or the couple)

3. get ambient audio of the rainfall and use it to lead into the action.

4. reflections on puddles

5. macro shots of raindrops on flowers are also nice.

cheers!

These are perhaps some of the most useful tips I've heard in this forum in a very long time.

I've only been rained on twice - wish I'd been better prepared (other than staying dry).

Adam Hoggatt · August 19th, 2007, 03:10 PM

I had a rain out a couple weeks ago. All my equipment was covered but it rained and blew so hard it all got wet (nothing was damaged, fortunately). The ceremony was moved indoors but I got footage of the bridal party all carrying umbrellas and wishing the bride and groom well.

Paul J Carey · August 21st, 2007, 12:26 PM

I just shot a wedding a few weeks ago that was outdoors and it rained all day. My first outdoor shoot and it rained. I used a trash bag and black duct tape to make a make-shift rain cover. Some things I learned:

- ALWAYS have a lens cleaning cloth to wipe off the front glass.
- Be careful of the trash bag making any noise in the mic.
- Really, really pay attention to the lens. I had a few shots rendered useless by water spots on the lens.
- There is a positive! Cloudy/rainy days are great for nice, even lighting. My footage came out very well overall.

Dave Blackhurst · August 21st, 2007, 02:12 PM

This is probably the "extreme" approach, but for my smaller cameras (HC7, replaced the HC3) I picked up some used underwater housings (the Sony HCB).

I'm good in a flash flood... or at least my cameras are. These also protect against other extreme conditions (I'm shooting some woodworking video, and live on a windy desert... it's ALWAYS extreme here - a "breeze" is 20MPH... birds fly backwards here most days!).

Obviously underwater housings for larger cameras are expensive, but if you've got small "B" cams (HV20 will fit the same housing, just without the ability to control the cam - the Sony has near full control via LANC), it might be worth considering if you live in an area prone to harsh weather conditions. It's a small investment to be able to shoot no matter what is coming at ya!

Imagine, you can offer your services as "all weather"! Still have to keep the lens clean though...

August 18th, 2007, 05:33 AM	#1
Alastair Brown Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Glasgow/Scotland Posts: 626	Rainy Day - Discuss Don't see anybody ever mention any tips/tricks for shooting when it rains. I think this would be a really good point to discuss as it is bound to affect us all at some point. I'm thinking more in terms of trying to be creative than from the technical side of things i.e. rain-covers etc.

August 18th, 2007, 06:10 AM	#2
Ferdi Willemse New Boot Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 24	There is a thread going around here somewhere. Basically most people improvise their cover with plastic bags and some people have someone holding an umbrella over their camera. Some people don't shoot in rain at all.

August 18th, 2007, 10:06 AM	#3
Jason Magbanua Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manila Posts: 317	some ideas: 1. shooting from the inside of a hotel room, focus outdoors at the rain (with foliage woks best), then rack focus to the moistened window sill, perhaps with the rings positioned there. 2. compose a shot with umbrellas. lotsa umbrellas, predominantly black perhaps with a yellow one sticking out. (with the bridal party or the couple) 3. get ambient audio of the rainfall and use it to lead into the action. 4. reflections on puddles 5. macro shots of raindrops on flowers are also nice. cheers!

August 18th, 2007, 11:51 AM	#4
Ferdi Willemse New Boot Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 24	nice tips!

August 19th, 2007, 03:10 PM	#6
Adam Hoggatt Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 126	I had a rain out a couple weeks ago. All my equipment was covered but it rained and blew so hard it all got wet (nothing was damaged, fortunately). The ceremony was moved indoors but I got footage of the bridal party all carrying umbrellas and wishing the bride and groom well.

August 21st, 2007, 12:26 PM	#7
Paul J Carey Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 66	I just shot a wedding a few weeks ago that was outdoors and it rained all day. My first outdoor shoot and it rained. I used a trash bag and black duct tape to make a make-shift rain cover. Some things I learned: - ALWAYS have a lens cleaning cloth to wipe off the front glass. - Be careful of the trash bag making any noise in the mic. - Really, really pay attention to the lens. I had a few shots rendered useless by water spots on the lens. - There is a positive! Cloudy/rainy days are great for nice, even lighting. My footage came out very well overall.

August 21st, 2007, 02:12 PM	#8
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	This is probably the "extreme" approach, but for my smaller cameras (HC7, replaced the HC3) I picked up some used underwater housings (the Sony HCB). I'm good in a flash flood... or at least my cameras are. These also protect against other extreme conditions (I'm shooting some woodworking video, and live on a windy desert... it's ALWAYS extreme here - a "breeze" is 20MPH... birds fly backwards here most days!). Obviously underwater housings for larger cameras are expensive, but if you've got small "B" cams (HV20 will fit the same housing, just without the ability to control the cam - the Sony has near full control via LANC), it might be worth considering if you live in an area prone to harsh weather conditions. It's a small investment to be able to shoot no matter what is coming at ya! Imagine, you can offer your services as "all weather"! Still have to keep the lens clean though...