The Kruger National Park, and all of the surrounding nature reserves, are all situated in a summer rainfall region. This is what makes a summer safari a memorable holiday. Everything is a vibrant green, many of the animals are welcoming their new additions, and the air is clean, allowing that rich sunlight to filter through and illuminate the scene in a way that will make any photographer’s heart sing.
But while the days are lovely and warm, there is always the chance of rain, and for this reason, the photographer needs to know how to adapt to the changing conditions and make their art regardless of the downpour.
Rainy photography has a certain magic about it. Such photography can really create a lot of emotion, and it can bring in a special effect that other images, the wildlife ones in particular, lack. And what can really take that wildlife shot to the next level, is that epic shot that includes a bolt of jagged lightning.
To make the most of the conditions, knowing how to conquer the lighting, the exposure, and the composition are just a few aspects to consider when learning how to photograph in the rain. The other side of your preparations has to do with protecting your equipment and making sure that you don’t end up feeling like you’ve just had a shower.
Right off the bat it is important that you bring along waterproof protection for both yourself and your gear, and you should also think about choosing a vantage point that will allow you to still be able to compose a memorable shot all while staying as dry as possible.
Aside from the practical considerations that will keep your gear protected, here’s a couple of tips for getting that perfect shot in not so perfect conditions.
For the most part, having to use the ISO setting is something that most photographers try to avoid because they don’t want to run the risk of having a grainy image. Rainy days often have a darker or dimmed lighting, and so it can be helpful to bump up the ISO to a medium setting, just to ensure that the shot is properly lit.
If you want to capture the falling rain, especially if the goal is to capture individual drops, you will have to use a faster shutter speed, and if you want to mimic heavy rainfall, you can slow down the shutter. When adjusting this setting, keep in mind that the shutter speed will affect the light.
A bigger aperture is going to let in more light and it can also help capture more detail. You can start at f8 and from there experiment with your aperture to see what works best for your image.
Choosing interesting compositions and looking for unique shots, using the rain to emphasis the overall look of the scene, is one way to make your images really stand out from all the rest.
The weather conditions can change in a moment, and when you are working in manual mode, you will have full control over your settings, which will allow you to quickly change them to suit the conditions.
Now is a fantastic time to book a summer African photographic safari. The weather is great and the parks are quiet, and we can take you on a trip of a lifetime.