After the storm

Learn to look at rain as the promise of great lighting conditions to come Sunny days define summer, but rain at this time of year shouldn’t dampen the photographer’s spirit. In fact, a good downpour can be a very welcome thing for a number of reasons. Rain rarely lasts all day due to the long daylight hours – and it is the conditions that occur just after the shower that you are waiting for. (For that reason, always take your camera, no matter how unpromising the conditions seem.)

For shots of landscapes and cityscapes, the rain washes out dust particles from the atmosphere – and without these particles, you get less haze and can see further, making this the perfect time to shoot panoramas; you will be able to see clearly for miles.

Watch out too for the dramatic lighting effects you get straight after a summer storm. When the sun comes out, it kisses the scene with golden rays, but the dark clouds in the distance create a grey background, helping to accentuate the colours of the scene. With practice, you can anticipate this happening, and ensure you are in the right place when the clouds break, with the sun over your shoulder.