Rain doesn't show up in my photos

[edmDusty]

Not sure where to put this but I figure landscape photogs have dealt with rain a lot so here goes.

It's been raining in San Francisco so I've been out shooting in the rain a lot. I'm grumpy that the rain doesn't really show up in my photos. Like these for example:






I got wet, my camera got wet, my subjects got wet. But I can't see any rain.

I fudged some rain in photoshop like in this shot, but I want some real rain!



Any advice how to get the rain to show up in my rain shots?

Thanks
!D

[OsmosisStudios]

Check your EXIF: whats the shortest shutterspeed?

Rain is falling at a rather high-speed, we just dont realize it. You're likely not shooting fast enough to catch it.

[edmDusty]

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/2.0
Focal Length: 30 mm

if you look at this one in full you can see the rain drops. They just don't show up very well.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3413/...938cb90b_b.jpg

[Dodgeinart]

First thought I would say is flash. Off camera flash is great if you have the capability, if not even the pop up if the drops are big enough should show up. If not slow your ss and keep the flash firing until you get the effect you're after. Play with the flash power also may help, obviously watch the highlights reflecting back of the drops.

[FotoMike]

That is exactly what I was thinking...flash. Not sure if this actually works, but I would assume it would. I love the first umbrella shot by the way.

[fletch]

The key to seeing the rain (as with everything in photography) is light. You need so capture some light reflected off the rain drops. Flash definately captures rain droplets when fired at night so I'm sure it would do the same during the day. It might not work if it was a really bright day though but here you could use the sun by getting low with the sun at an angle.

Have a look through flickr for some rain shots and note the settings people used. This will give you a good place to start.

Like here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neloqua/705842280/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrarua/428666071/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariyamboo/2910149357/

[rahsoft]

i know this sounds a bit weird, but if you don't have any rain to pratice, why not try your shower? bear in mind that the waterdrops are heavier, but at least you can play around with flash,shutter speed and aperture.

i did this to see if i could capture with flash ( approx 1/200th was slowest for me)

regards