Out of the car wash and in to the sun (photos and tips on rainy day street photography)

With over 4 inches of rain and wind for the last few days we are finally coming out of the car wash here in Portland Maine and the North East, It looks like we will be rewarded this weekend with sun and temps close to 70. I don't mind the rain, I like it for photography, and  I seem to be a little happier when it is rainy, don't get me wrong I love the sun too, but... a rainy city street at night is magical.

My rainy weather street photography setup:

• My LX3 with bare essentials
• Poncho-ed Camera Bag (see photo below)
• Rain jacket
• Umbrella (depending on rain intensity and wind, I find more often than not it just is in the way unless it is pouring buckets.)
• warm socks, and sandals (thankfully it is getting warm enough for sandals), or something warmer if it really cold.
• Rain pants can be helpful if it is cold, but I usually just wear quick drying hiking pants, in warm weather shorts are best for me, as long as I keep my "core" warm and fairly dry I am happy
• A spare Ziploc bag for your camera if shit really hits the fan
• A small towel for your gear and your hands

Tips for shooting in the rain (yes some are common sense):

• Don't be afraid, your camera can take more than you think, with in reason of course
• Use a slightly bigger camera bag, the less that you have to fidget to take your camera out, or put it away the better
• shake the water off of your sleeve before you open your camera bag so water does not run down your arm and into the bag
• If your hands are really wet wipe them off before reaching for any gear
• if you get some rain on your camera don't freak out, just wipe it off
• When you get home take the camera out of the bag for a while to let any moisture dry out.

Here are some photos from the past few rainy days
 

 Waiting for the late bus

(You can buy this one over on my website)

Cameras Ready for the rain

(on the left is my DSLR Bag, on the right is my LX3 bag)

Heavy duty slider freezer bags with the slider cut off, and corners cut off for the strap ends to go through to connect to the camera bag.

Rainy street photography is primarily done with my LX3

Learning how to use an umbrella is like learning how to sail.

I do not like umbrellas, but I did go out and get one the other day (no this one is not mine), they can be useful when photographing in the rain, and for umbrella sailing a canoe or a kayak, but other than that I prefer a rain jacket and a covered camera bag :-)

Through the park

Looking for the sun

Rain Drops

Wet Night Shadows

We are all trying to get by

Keeping track

Happy Spring

Since yesterday was a wash, not weather wise, (it was actually quite beautiful, sunny and 70), but for other reasons I was not able to welcome spring the way I wanted to. This morning I went out and did some meditation, and went for a nice walk to the East end of town. Today's weather was not as nice as yesterday (overcast with sunny breaks and in the mid 40's), but it was more fitting for spring here in Maine.

Fort Williams

Here are a few photographs from a spontaneous trip to Fort Williams from yesterday afternoon. To see my Favorite photo please visit my website

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A Mayan temple, or part of the war machine

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Should the sea catch fire

Old Orchard Beach

Last Sunday a good photographer friend and I went down to Old Orchard Beach for a few hours to photograph, and enjoy a great sunny late winter day. If you would like to see some more please check out my website.

Sea Gulls!!!

Pipes & Bells

Pick a Door

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Chicken

Be Different

A quiet late winter Sunday

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Ooh I see now how this blog thing can be fun

"Half in the bag down in the Old Port"

Like I said I live in Portland Maine, Portland is a small city, though I have heard it said that Portland is a large town too and well . . . I have to agree at times. Living in Portland I do not have a car nor do I really need one (yes it is a pain at times), I walk or use the Metro to get around. I walk every where not only because I don't have a car, but also because I like to walk.

Just recently I set aside my DSLR, and I picked up a little Panasonic Lumix LX3, for my street / scouting camera. Oh I still will use my DSLR, but only when I need it or when I want to change things up. The LX3 is a good street camera with a fast lens, good glass, and small, yes it has its limitations, but it is opening me up to new things as a photographer, because it is not so much about the equipment that one lugs around, But how one sees.

After way too much thought here is my first Post

These streets, street photography from Portland Maine (my current abode for now). Other Photographs, these are some of the photos that do not make it to my website, but that I want to let the public see. Meditations, well this can be just about anything. For my first post I will present some street shots from the last month or so from around Portland.

On the outside

Watching the rain wind at RiRa

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Pine Street

Bus 0530

A Cold Dead End

A rainy side street

Another day done

Burdened

Come play

Does anyone live here

Eastland at sunset

Fire escape shadow

Found Objects & Stuff

I'll take another round

Man in alley

No one can see you cry in the rain

On break in the afternoon sun

Out of Service

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Please wait to be seated

Portland Ocean Terminal

Red White & Blue

Sale

Swabbing the deck

Up Up Away

West End Deli