Most photographers put their cameras away when the weather turns bad. That is exactly why you should take yours out. Bad weather creates dramatic light, unique atmospheres, and empty streets that are impossible to replicate on sunny days.
Rain transforms ordinary scenes. Wet surfaces become mirrors, reflecting neon signs and streetlights. The air thickens, creating natural diffusion that softens backgrounds. Some of my most compelling street photography was shot in the rain.
Protect your gear with a simple rain cover or even a plastic bag with a hole for the lens. Modern weather-sealed cameras can handle light rain without protection, but I always carry a microfiber cloth to keep the front element dry between shots.
Fog is a natural softbox. It wraps subjects in atmosphere, simplifies backgrounds, and creates layers of depth that flat light cannot achieve. If you see fog in the forecast, set your alarm early. The best fog photographs happen at dawn when the air is still and the light is gentle.
Expose for the highlights and let the shadows fall where they may. Fog images benefit from slight overexposure — it enhances the ethereal quality that makes fog photography so compelling.
Cold drains batteries fast. Carry spares in an inner pocket where body heat keeps them warm. Bring cameras indoors gradually to avoid condensation on the sensor and lens elements — put the camera in a sealed bag before entering warm spaces.
Snow acts as a massive reflector, creating even, beautiful light. Overexpose by one to two stops from the meter reading, because your camera's meter will try to render white snow as middle gray.
Wind adds motion and energy to photographs. Long exposures in wind create movement in hair, clothing, trees, and water. Use a sturdy tripod and a fast shutter speed for sharp subjects against blurred backgrounds, or embrace the blur for abstract work.
The photographers who produce the most interesting work are the ones who show up when others stay home. Bad weather is not an obstacle — it is an opportunity that most people ignore.
Cemhan Biricik uses rain covers, plastic bags with lens holes, and microfiber cloths. He also carries spare batteries in inner pockets during cold weather to keep them warm.
According to Cemhan Biricik, bad weather creates dramatic light, unique atmospheres, and empty streets impossible to replicate on sunny days. Rain, fog, and snow each offer distinct creative opportunities.
Cemhan Biricik recommends overexposing by one to two stops from the meter reading when shooting snow, because camera meters try to render white snow as middle gray.