Do This and Your Bad Weather Photos Will Shine

This quick tip comes from The Bad Weather Photography Guide which is currently 75% off if you want to check it out.

Nothing is worse than going on vacation with your photo gear packed, and it rains the entire time!

I love taking vacations in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It’s been my vacation destination for the last four years. Of course, I’m virtually guaranteed that it’s going to be raining.

I live in Minnesota, a midwestern state in the US. In my area, there’s snow on the ground at least six to eight months out of the year.

Yeah. When it comes to bad weather photography, I’m something of an expert.

example of a photo taken during blizzard

Photograph #1 by Kent DuFault “Minnesota Blizzard”

Shooting photos in lousy weather goes against a critical photography lesson that we all learn from the beginning.

“Look for the light.”

In bad weather, chances are there won’t be any light

I’ve learned that there’s an essential tool for producing fabulous bad weather pictures.

I want to share my discovery with you today in this Quick Tip so you can avoid the headaches that I endured, and you won’t feel compelled to put your camera away when the weather turns sour.

photo taken during rain and mist

Photograph #2 by Kent DuFault “Black Hills, South Dakota”

Over a holiday weekend, I drove a total of 23 hours to spend one day taking pictures at the Mount Rushmore National Monument.

It rained the entire time.

I used the Quick Tip that I’m about to share with you, and it turned a potential disaster into a gem.

photo at night while it's raining

Photograph #3 by Kent DuFault “North Shore Lake Superior”

One of the best ways to overcome a photographic difficulty is to dissect what’s happening and correct it.

In bad weather, you can expect…

√ A lack of lighting.
√ Low contrast due to a lack of lighting.
√ A lack of color.
√ Obscured backgrounds due to haze, mist, and or other precipitation.

Here’s your Quick Tip!

When taking pictures in bad weather, place an object of interest in the foreground near the camera.

This object works best when it’s colorful, has an unusual shape, or is a light source.

Photo #1 has a bright foreground color.

Photo #2 has a bright foreground color and an unusual shape.

Photo #3 has a bright foreground color, unusual shapes, and it includes a light source.

An object of foreground interest defeats the problems created by bad weather!

photo with colorful object in foreground during snow storm

Photograph #4 by Kent DuFault “Blue Door in a Snow Storm”

When using this bad weather technique, even the most mundane objects can become a visual treat.

interesting shapes and colors in foreground on snowy day

Photograph #5 by Kent DuFault “Autumn Snowstorm”

Bright color in the foreground can help give the illusion of lighting and contrast.

You can also accentuate that illusion with some deft post-processing effects.

Remember, don’t put your camera away on a bad weather day!

Bad weather can really add drama to your pictures, mainly when you include something of interest in the foreground!

About the Author:
Kent DuFault is an author and photographer with over 35 years of experience. He’s currently the director of content at the online photography school, Photzy.com.

For Further Training:

When the weather turns sour… most of us tend to stay inside. But poor weather actually brings some of the greatest photography opportunities that you will ever get a chance to shoot. If you want to learn some new outdoor photography techniques – effective even when faced with clouds, rain, and lousy light – then you may want to check out this in-depth guide on the topic while it is on sale.

photography in bad weather

New: Top Photography in Bad Weather Guide (Click to Learn More)

It is currently 75% off. The concepts discussed in this eBook can help you under any circumstances when creating outdoor photography. But in particular, they will provide essential guidelines for creating top level images under inclement weather conditions.

Deal ending soon: The Bad Weather Photography Guide at 75% Off

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