Bad Weather Photography

I have to admit to being a bit of a fair weather photographer.

The idea of willingly stepping out in the snow, for example, just to capture images of that particular weather condition never enters my mind!

However, if I absolutely have to be out for other reasons then the camera comes with me. I prefer to wander the streets in direct sunlight so my photographs will have light and shade which can lift a picture and intensify colour or increase contrast, throw things into silhouette, or pick out individual items of interest with shafts of light.

It doesn’t always work out that way of course, especially not in the UK!

On a trip to London a few years ago the heavy rain provided photo opportunities of a different kind as people struggled with umbrellas and attempted to avoid deep puddles. A combination of rain, mist, and grey skies softened the familiar background buildings which emphasised the distance giving depth to this image.

As I was standing under a bridge, the main source of light was behind the subjects, throwing them into silhouettes and enabling their reflections in the puddles which add interest and impact to the scene.

The umbrellas add interest and mimic the line and shapes of the street lamps above. I chose a moment where the moving figures were separated because two or more overlapping figures confuse an image especially when in silhouette.

I was careful to include the cure of the ironwork in the top right-hand corner and the front wheel of the parked bicycle at the bottom to add another element that serves to ‘hold’ the picture in.

The weather conditions contrive to add a mood that would otherwise not exist.

Steve Boyle

You can see more of my images here: www.instagram.com/shoreham_steve www.instagram.com/shoreham_steve