Hi and welcome to Episode 116 of the Photography Explained podcast.
I’m your host Rick, and in each episode I will try to explain one photographic thing to you in plain English in less than 10 minutes (ish) without the irrelevant details. What I tell you is based on my lifetime of photographic experience. And not Google.
Before I go on I need your help. I need your questions to answer. More on this at the end but please have a think while you listen to this.
Here is the answery bit.
To take photos in the rain safely there are a number of products and techniques that you can use to protect your camera from damage. Some cameras are weatherproof but still need protecting where possible, whereas cameras that are not weatherproofed required further measures to make sure that they are not damaged by rain.
So there are three parts to this
- Camera weatherproof or not?
- Smart working.
- Protective gear.
But before I go into this here is the full question from Terry.
“I’m going to a dog show, it’s at a local country house so the events are outside. It’s mostly gundog-related competitions so plenty of scope for action dog photos. I’ve got up and it looks like rain, I still want to go but my camera isn’t waterproof, any ideas?”
OK – that was the question – now let’s look at the three areas. Apart from not bothering that is….. Just saying……
You can listen to the episode here
Or keep on reading. Or do both. Entirely up to you!
Weatherproof or not?
Some cameras are weatherproof, some not. The same with lenses. Check with your camera/ lens manufacturer of choice, and see what limitations they put on this. You might be surprised/ disappointed.
But we are talking here about a camera that is not weatherproof – that was the question after all.
Does this matter?
Yes – if you get water in the electronics you might kill your camera. So don’t. Protect it like a favourite family member. Protect it as though it is your most prized possession. Protect it with your life. OK, that is going a bit far.
Smart working
You are out photographing a dog show. Now I would suggest that you are not going to be spending all your time taking photos, so when you are not taking photos cover your camera. I have a waterproof coat with enough spare volume that I can get my camera nicely protected within my coat.
A good start. A smart start. That is smart working, keeping your camera protected at all times you are not taking photos.
Talking of taking photos, being selective with what you take photos of will also help. I don’t take anywhere near as many photos as I used to, and as I take fewer photos I also take better photos.
So you might want to think about this and take fewer photos but better photos.
This very one thing will reduce the exposure of your camera to rain.
Turn your back to the rain. Another simple, free thing that you can do is move to where the rain is at the back of you, reducing direct driving rain hitting your camera.
Wear a peaked hat. Yep, this will also help. A hat with a peak will provide enough cover for maybe the camera body. Get a hat with a waterproof peak and even better, but watch out for drips running off the cap onto the camera.
So a few practical things that reduce the problem.
Now let’s look at some gear.
Start with this. Put the lens hood on. The lens hood that comes with your lens is one of the best bits of protective gear that you can own. And it comes with your camera. So use it. I never take a photo without my lens hood on. Never. Why would you?
It won’t fully protect your camera, but it will significantly reduce water hitting that precious front lens element, which is a complete pain as it has to be removed or you get blurry photos.
Rain sleeve
This is what I use. It is a plastic bag designed to cover a camera and lens. They are great for occasional use, which is fine for me. So, if you are going to the odd dog show taking photos you will be fine with one of these, and they cost less than a tenner, and they can give years of careful if infrequent use.
Other rain covers
There are many brands of protective rain covers out there. I have never used one for reasons I will explain later – I just do not have the need.
You know those photographers who are sat at sporting events with their gear covered by all sorts of good stuff – that is the stuff that I am talking about.
And if you are going to go out taking photos at dog shows regularly then this is what you should probably look into getting.
Umbrella
Now. I have a tripod mount with an adaptor for an umbrella. I did not know it was for a lighting umbrella. No, I really thought that it was for a “protect you from the rain” umbrella!
But guess what – with the right umbrella and a bit of creative thinking you can actually mount a “protect you from the rain” umbrella on a tripod, providing excellent protection.
And yes, I really have done this. I really have.
Hire a camera
You could hire a camera of course, but check the rental terms before you do and get one wet!
Underwater housing
Well it will keep your camera dry, but you might want to do this only somewhere where no one knows you. Or for an underwater dog show…..
The talky bit
Another option of course is to just not bother. Well, your camera won’t get wet will it if you sit on your backside at home? No, only kidding. We can’t let the rain restrict us, we have to find ways to work in rubbish weather.
Maybe that is why Terry asked me this question. In England, we are very good at dealing with the rain. We get enough of it. But not in a dramatic way, just in a dull, grey, boring, damp, wet way.
He might be in Oz now basking in the sunshine but he has certainly lived in England where I am now. Maybe he is missing having problems like this….
And guess what – as I write this, yes it is actually raining.
There is always more than one way around a problem, and the ones that I have told you here are ones that I have used in the past. Well most of them anyway.
And what I have told you here is a combination of things that will reduce the chances of your camera getting wet and suffering severe damage.
And if your camera does get wet take out the batteries and memory card, and let it dry somewhere naturally.
One thing that has just leaped into my head – insurance that covers accidental damage, and specifically water damage, is not a bad thing to have.
What do I do?
All of the above. It varies massively. And yes I have attached an umbrella to a tripod. I really have and it worked a treat.
I tend not to take photos in the rain. For my architectural, construction, and real estate photography work I normally work on sunny days only. A challenge here in England. People don’t want their buildings photographed in the rain.
I might be an expert in rubbish weather but thankfully not in taking photos in rubbish weather.
Related episodes
Episode 115 – My Gear Is Covered In Soot From The Great Dorset Steam Fair.
Next episode
Get your question answered.
Get your question answered like Terry did. Or questions. You are not limited to one question here.
This is what my podcast is all about, answering your photography questions. Not mine. So please get in touch with your question, and not only will I answer your question, but I will give you a shout-out in that episode, which is nice. Just head over to photographyexplainedpodcast.com/start.
OK – I’m done
Thanks for listening to my small but perfectly formed podcast. To find out more about my podcast and do stuff to help me check out the podcast website, which is photographyexplainedpodcast.com/.
This episode was brought to you by lots of medication for colds, covid, and flu. And water.
I’ve been Rick McEvoy, thanks again very much for listening to me and for giving me 10 (ish) minutes of your valuable time, and I will see you on the next episode.
Cheers from me Rick
OK – that was the podcast episode.
Want to know more?
Head over to the Start page on the Photography Explained Podcast website to find out more.
And here is the list of episodes published to date – you can listen to any episode straight from this page which is nice.
Let me know if there is a photography thing that you want me to explain and I will add it to my list. Just head over to the This is my list of things to explain page of this website to see what is on there already.
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And finally a little bit about me
Finally, yes this paragraph is all about me – check out my Rick McEvoy Photography website to find out more about me and my architectural, construction, real estate, and travel photography work. I also write about general photography stuff, all in plain English without the irrelevant detail.
Thank you
Thanks for listening to my podcast (if you did) and reading this blog post (which I assume you have done as you are reading this).
Cheers from me Rick
