Monsoon - Nikon School Blog

By : Nikon School Blog | 29 Jul, 2016 | 58

If the seasons were to compete for being the favourite of photographers in India, monsoon should win easily. Monsoons are the lifeblood of India. Much of the country's economy, cultures and traditions revolve around monsoon. After braving the intense heat of the summers, the whole country prays and eagerly waits for the blissful showers that infuse new energy into everything alive. And how can photographers miss this great opportunity?

Monsoon opens up a Pandora's Box of opportunities for photographers. Cloudscape hunters start their hunt for that perfect, never seen before cloud shot. The grey monsoon sky creates dramatic vistas, often lit partially by the sun after or before showers. Monuments look fresh after being bathed in the rain, the dramatic dark sky providing a perfect background.

Insects become very active during this season. It's a great time for macro buffs to spot the tiny denizens of our gardens and forests and capture their activities with the Nikkor micro lenses. You may have to use higher ISOs to compensate for the low light when you go close to the subject.

Flowers, leaves and trees look their best after they're washed by the monsoon rains. Parks , gardens, and even roads lined with trees look more attractive than ever.

Moments are what make monsoon most special. Everyday life suddenly stops when the showers start, and the photographer gets his moments. People enjoying the rain, someone trying to open an umbrella, someone running towards a shelter, kids splashing water in puddles, monsoon gifts us many such moments.

Though we often associate dullness with rainy days, monsoon is also about vibrant colours. The umbrellas, the raincoats, peoples' clothing, flowers, the sky and the grass, all make up an amazing kaleidoscope of colours. Rain makes the colours appear more vibrant and the dark surroundings add to the contrast.

Monsoon is a great time for shooting portraits, as the light is soft and diffused by the clouds. The golden hours are still the best, but you can also shoot immediately after it rains, to get the best light and saturated backgrounds.
	Raindrops, both falling and the fallen can make great frames. Watch out for them whenever it rains, and afterwards. Use slow shutter speeds to show rainy streaks or freeze the raindrops using fast shutter speeds.

It's a good practice to under-expose images a little to get the perfect contrast in case of cloudscapes, landscapes, and flowers. It is best to set the picture control to Neutral to get maximum details in the shadows and then adjust contrast using Capture NX-D.

Shooting in the rain may make you worry for your equipment. Using a rain guard for your camera and lenses is recommended. Additional protection during rain can be provided by your raincoat, poncho, or rain protected camera bags.

This year's monsoons have arrived. It's time to head out with you camera and lenses and capture the amazing monsoon moments!