Rain is hard to photograph because the drops are small and moving fast, so they often blur into haze. What helps most is not just camera settings, but lighting and background.

Best approaches:

• Use side- or backlighting so drops catch the light.
• Place the rain against a dark background so the bright drops stand out.
• Zoom in or use a narrower angle of view to make the drops more noticeable.
• Try fairly fast shutter speeds to render drops as short streaks or freeze them if light allows.
• Flash can help freeze nearby rain, but it may only light the closest drops and can change the look dramatically.
• Include rain cues if the drops themselves are weak: wet pavement, splashes, umbrellas, dark clouds, reflections.

Composition/focus tips:

• Choose an angle where the drops reflect light.
• Include objects at different distances for depth and atmosphere.
• Don’t automatically focus at infinity; try different focus distances if possible.
• Being closer to the rain can help.

In short: to show rain clearly, prioritize back/side light, a dark background, and either fast shutter speed or flash for nearby drops.