To photograph rain and stormy weather, shield your camera with a rain cover or a simple plastic sleeve, shoot from a sheltered spot when possible, and use settings that make raindrops visible. Backlight and a dark background help rain show up. The ranges below are general baselines, and your camera’s manual is the best source for its weather resistance.

How to Photograph Rain and Stormy Weather With Your Camera

Protect Your Equipment

Weather resistance varies a lot between cameras and lenses, and even sealed gear has limits. Check what your manual says and treat it with care.

  • Use a purpose-made rain cover or a clear plastic bag with a hole for the lens and a rubber band or hood to hold it.
  • Attach a lens hood to keep drops off the front element.
  • Carry several microfiber cloths and a small towel.
  • Change lenses indoors or inside a vehicle rather than in the rain.
  • Keep spare batteries warm and dry in a pocket.
  • Shoot from doorways, awnings or windows when you can.

Camera Settings to Begin With

  1. To freeze drops as sharp points, use a shutter speed of about 1/500 or faster.
  2. To show rain as streaks, try 1/30 to 1/60. Slower speeds look more like soft lines.
  3. Use aperture priority at f/4 to f/8 for general scenes, or wider to blur background drops.
  4. Raise ISO as needed, since stormy skies are dark. Check noise on your screen.
  5. Set exposure compensation to minus 0.3 to minus 1 stop for dramatic skies, and watch the histogram for blown highlights.
  6. Focus on a subject within the rain, since autofocus can lock onto drops near the lens.

Lighting and Composition

Rain is hard to see against a bright sky and easy to see against something dark. Position yourself so the rain is backlit by a street lamp, a window or the low sun peeking under the cloud.

  • Include umbrellas, reflections in puddles and wet pavement for color and mood.
  • Look for people moving through the frame to add a story.
  • Shoot at dusk, when headlights and signs reflect on wet surfaces.
  • Try black and white for moody storm clouds.
  • After the rain, look for clearing skies, steam and bright light on wet leaves.

Dry Out Afterward

When you get inside, wipe the exterior, remove the battery and card doors only after everything is dry, and let the camera sit in a dry room for a while before packing it. Moving from cold, wet conditions into a warm room can cause condensation, so keep the camera in its bag at first to let it warm up gradually.

FAQ

Is it fine to use a weather-sealed camera in the rain?

Seals reduce the risk but do not make a camera waterproof. Check what the maker states, and still use a cover in heavy rain.

Can I photograph rain with a phone?

Yes, but protect the screen and ports, wipe the lens often and avoid heavy downpours.

The Short Version

Cover your gear, choose a sheltered spot, backlight the rain and pick a shutter speed for the effect you want. Dry everything gently afterward.