Rain, Rain

JamesJWeg

Saturday I shot a soccer game, and it rained the whole game. Just wondering, how good of shots would you expect to get in the rain? I had a lot of problems with motion blur and focus issues. The motion blur was due to my personal fobia of higher ISO's. I think I could have gotten 50% more good shots at ISO 400, but I stuck to 200. Here are a few that I like ok, but overall I am not at all happy with the days shots, 95% are junk. Here are a few blurry samples of the days shots.







Edit: Does anyone know of a good umbrella system for shooting in the rain? I am tired of the way I have been doing it.

James.

Frog Lady

You're braver than I am, shooting in the rain. I keep my gear safely ensconced w/in the confines of the car if it looks like rain at the game (but then, that only happens 2-3 times per year where I am:D)

I have used higher ISOs w/ what I think are good results. While I don't shoot in the rain, I have had early AM and/or very cloudy games and the higher ISOs have worked well. The pic below was at ISO 400 on a very overcast day (one of the few we did get rain - and hail). Also, while I was still getting familar w/ my (then) new 20D, I shot a game at 800 (or 1600 - I forgot to reset it from the night before) and, out side of a bit of over exposure, they looked pretty good.

good luck w/ a better umbrella (or you could just move to sunny So Cal)

cheers,

C.

KMCC

I was photographing rugby and lacrosse this past Saturday in a steady rain.

One of the other regular photographers that I see at these games showed up with a large tripod (I think it was actually a light stand) that he had rigged up to hold a large beach umbrella. He set that up and stayed under it.

I, on the other hand, was more mobile using my tried and true home-made, all weather garbage bag camera protector.

JamesJWeg

KMCC wrote:

I was photographing rugby and lacrosse this past Saturday in a steady rain.

One of the other regular photographers that I see at these games showed up with a large tripod (I think it was actually a light stand) that he had rigged up to hold a large beach umbrella. He set that up and stayed under it.

I, on the other hand, was more mobile using my tried and true home-made, all weather garbage bag camera protector.

We were shooting in the same rain storm, I have been the normal large umbrella route and I like mobile, I am thinking of buying a real rain cape, just wondering if anyone uses them.

James.

blob

JamesJWeg wrote:

We were shooting in the same rain storm, I have been the normal large umbrella route and I like mobile, I am thinking of buying a real rain cape, just wondering if anyone uses them.

James.

Another photographer I know uses one successfully. The one I've seen recommended is from FotoSharp

StevenV

KMCC wrote:

I, on the other hand, was more mobile using my tried and true home-made, all weather garbage bag camera protector.

same here, though I made mine from a big roll of plastic and some scotch tape. for what it's worth, http://miltonsports.smugmug.com/gallery/870264/2/39292956 was in the rain.

David Stevens

Personally I am afraid to shoot in the rain with my digital gear. :

ian408

Whether your gear is or is not weather resistant, carry a towel to wipe it off
occasionally.

You can find reasonably priced covers from companies like Lightware or
Kata or use a plastic baggie/garbage bag. Regardless, do try and keep your
gear as dry as you can and avoid changing lenses when your gear is damp.

Embrace the high ISO. For sport, shutter speed is often the driver. If
you want a high shutter speed, you need to adjust aperture and ISO. Want
DOF too? Then the only option is to adjust ISO.

Your first shot is ok (face is in-focus), the second out of focus. The third
looks a bit under exposed-the meter is fooled by the dark jersey. Maybe a
plus one or two thirds?

Ian

zed

Yea, don't be affraid to bump up that ISO. 400 would have been much better and I'll bet you wouldn't notice any noise. Nice thing about digital...could even go to 800 for a few shots just to see. I use my own custom rain cover. Clear plastic with some velcro and pull cords (kind of like a bungy cord). Velcro the plastic to the lens hood and bungy it around the back of the lens. Works really good. Take some care when you make it (if you do) and you will be happy with it. These cameras are tougher than you might think.

Jeff

gsgary

In the UK we have to use high iso, this was taken at 1600 with 10D,i have heard the 10D is not good at high iso don't think this is too bad though

Awais Yaqub

hey nice captues james !
and others