How can I photograph falling rain so the raindrops are visible?
Asked 7/16/2011
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2 answers
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I want to show rain actually falling in a photo, with the drops visible before they hit the ground. The main problem is that raindrops often seem invisible unless there is a suitable background or lighting.
What kind of background works best for this? I live in an industrial area, so buildings and walls are the most obvious option, but are there better natural or urban choices?
Are there other techniques for making falling rain show up clearly in a photograph?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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In Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure", he recommends that in order to simulate falling rain, you use a garden sprinkler, and exposure time of 1/60 sec. Shoot your subjects backlit for best results.
This video shows how it's done.
Originally by user1024. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1024
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The key is usually lighting more than the background. Raindrops show up when light catches them, especially with side light or backlight. Trees, dark walls, streets, or architecture can all work as backgrounds, but if the drops aren’t lit, they may still disappear.
Good options:
- Shoot in rain near streetlights at dusk or dawn.
- Use side lighting or backlighting so the drops sparkle.
- Heavier rain is easier to capture than very fine rain.
- A shutter speed around 1/60 s can help show streaking rain rather than freezing it completely.
If you want to practice or simulate the effect, a garden sprinkler can work well, especially with backlighting.
You can also suggest rain indirectly with other visual cues, such as drops on the lens creating distortion, but for visible falling rain, the most important factors are strong directional light and a darker or uncluttered background.
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