Most landscape photographers chase golden-hour light and clear skies, but sometimes, bright blue skies and sunsets can get boring (trust me, I live in a city with 300+ days of sunshine). Some photographers, like William Patino, thrive when the weather turns fierce. That’s lucky, considering he lives in New Zealand, where there is no lack of rain.
William believes that torrential rain, howling winds, and brooding storm clouds create some of the most compelling and emotionally charged landscape images, and after watching this video I’m inclined to agree. His experience proves that bad weather doesn’t ruin a shoot, it transforms it. For those willing to brave the elements, stormy conditions offer unparalleled drama, unique lighting, and a rare sense of solitude in otherwise crowded locations.
Why Bad Weather Makes for Unforgettable Photography
Many photographers pack up when the rain starts, but William sees storms as an opportunity. The dynamic interplay of wind, water, and shifting light creates scenes that simply don’t exist on calm, sunny days.
Motion and Energy
Unlike static golden-hour shots, stormy landscapes are alive with movement. Waves crash against rocks with violent force, waterfalls twist and spray in the wind, and fast-moving clouds create ever-changing compositions. William compares it to wildlife photography, you must be ready at any moment because the perfect shot appears and vanishes in seconds.
Mood and Atmosphere
Overcast skies diffuse light evenly, eliminating harsh shadows and allowing for smoother tonal transitions. The resulting images have a cinematic quality that is rich with depth and emotion. The muted colours and brooding atmosphere can convey a sense of raw power or quiet solitude, depending on how you frame the scene.
Solitude and Focus
Popular photography spots are often overrun with tourists, but bad weather clears the crowds. William recalls shooting in Milford Sound during a downpour, with only a handful of others on the boat. The absence of distractions allowed him to focus entirely on the landscape, waiting for those fleeting moments when the light and motion aligned perfectly.
Essential Gear for Shooting in Storms
Protecting Your Equipment
Rain and salt spray are a camera’s worst enemies, but with the right precautions, you can keep shooting without worry. William always carries multiple large microfiber towels—small ones, he says, are useless because they soak through immediately. He drapes one over his camera when not shooting and uses another to constantly wipe the lens. A lens hood helps minimize water droplets, and a rain cover (or even a plastic bag in a pinch) can shield the camera body.
Choosing the Right Lenses
William switches between lenses frequently when shooting in storms. A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) is ideal for capturing expansive scenes, such as waves crashing against the shore with misty mountains looming in the background. Meanwhile, a telephoto lens (70-200mm or longer) allows him to isolate distant details—like a single waterfall being torn apart by the wind—and compress layers of rain and fog for a more dramatic effect.
“I never stick to just one lens in these conditions,” William says. “If you have two camera bodies, it’s even better—you don’t want to waste time changing lenses when the light is changing every second.”
Clothing and Personal Comfort
Staying dry isn’t just about comfort, it’s about endurance. William wears a high-quality waterproof jacket with sealed seams, waterproof pants, and gloves that allow enough dexterity to adjust camera settings. “Once you accept that you’re going to get wet, it’s liberating,” he laughs. “Fighting it just makes you miserable. Embrace the rain, and you’ll last longer out there.”
Camera Settings for Stormy Conditions
Prioritizing Shutter Speed
Since stormy conditions often involve movement, both from the subject (waves, wind-blown rain) and the photographer (shooting from a rocking boat or uneven ground). William always shoots in manual mode to maintain full control. His first priority is shutter speed.
“You need at least 1/400s to freeze motion,” he explains. “If the wind is really strong or I’m shooting from a moving boat, I’ll push it to 1/500s or faster.” This ensures sharp images, even when the elements are working against you.
Aperture and ISO Adjustments
With shutter speed locked in, William opens up his aperture (typically f/2.8 to f/4) to allow as much light as possible into the sensor. Since most stormy scenes involve distant subjects, depth of field isn’t a major concern.
For ISO, he keeps it moderate, between 200 and 800 to balance exposure without introducing excessive noise. “Modern cameras handle high ISO much better than they used to, but I still prefer to keep it as low as possible,” he says.
Shooting in RAW
Stormy conditions often produce flat, low-contrast images straight out of the camera. Shooting in RAW gives William the flexibility to recover shadows, adjust white balance, and enhance details in post-processing. “These files usually need more work than a sunset shot, but that’s where the magic happens,” he says.
Creative Techniques for Stormy Landscapes
Capturing Motion and Energy
William’s favorite storm shots are those that convey raw power. He looks for wind-swept waterfalls, where gusts send cascades of water sideways in explosive sprays. Timing is critical. He watches for patterns in the wind and anticipates when the next strong gust will hit.
Waves are another dynamic subject. Instead of using a slow shutter speed to blur the water (as he might in calmer conditions), he opts for fast shutter speeds (1/1000s or higher) to freeze the moment a wave crashes against rocks, sending plumes of spray into the air.
Working with Flat Light
Overcast skies can make scenes appear dull, but William uses this to his advantage. The diffused light eliminates harsh shadows, making it easier to retain detail in both highlights and shadows. In post-processing, he enhances contrast subtly, using local adjustments to brighten wet rocks or darken stormy skies. “The key is subtlety,” he says. “You don’t want to over-process, just enhance what’s already there.”
Embracing Minimalism
Stormy weather often reduces visibility, creating natural layers of mist and fog. William uses this to craft minimalist compositions, where distant peaks fade into the haze, and only the strongest elements (a lone tree, a jagged cliff), remain sharply defined.
Don’t Wait for Perfect Weather
William’s most important lesson? The best shots often come when you least expect them.
“If you only shoot in perfect conditions, you’ll miss so much,” he says. “Some of my favourite images were taken in pouring rain when most photographers would have stayed inside.” So next time the forecast looks grim, grab your gear, embrace the storm, and see what magic unfolds.
