Advice on how to take a certain shot

Phate · 24 Jun 2007 at 23:40

Hello all,

Right, I've thought of a very good shot that COULD look awesome!

But I need advice.

The subject in question is - The London Gherkin - see below

Right, when you get hard rain the building looks something quite spectacular, as the water just runs down the side so it looks like a huge waterfall -

The kind of picture I'm after is with a 10-20mm standing from the bottom of it about 40 yards away look pretty much straight up with a exposure of about 5 seconds, or a IR pic with a much longer exposure.

But if I try this during hard rain - my camera and lens is going to get soaked.

Is there anyway I can prevent this?

Thanks

ChroniC · 24 Jun 2007 at 23:42

piece of very clean glass, or an umbrella positioned out of picture but against the angle of the rain.
Difficult.

Actually the glass would cause droplets to get in the way.

Phate · 24 Jun 2007 at 23:45

I was thinking of buying a waterproof casing for the body atleast then perhaps constructing a custom lens hood which is taller on one side to try and block from the rain...

Along with an umbrella....hmmm - thanks for your suggestion

seaviewuk · 24 Jun 2007 at 23:46

I'm sure there are more elegant solutions but how about a plastic bag taped around your camera and lens.

You would need a lens hood too.

GeX · 25 Jun 2007 at 00:03

a bloody big fan?

Phate · 25 Jun 2007 at 00:07

GeX said:
a bloody big fan?

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 25 Jun 2007 at 00:37

So basicially you are asking for that shot to be captured with a milky flow of water running down it?

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 25 Jun 2007 at 00:46

Sorry. you want to know how to protect your gear! Miss leading thread title!

You don't have many options since a 10 - 22 will show just about anything around the lens

Basically. Your gonna have to let part of your equipment wet.

My advice. If you have two tripods (one for your camera) (another one raised high and tie an umbrella to it to give you working space. Next. cut open a bin bag and wrap it around your lens (like a sock, but not tight since you need AF)
with a few tight elastic bands tie this to the end of your lens to try and make it sealed. Your gonna want to use a UV filter on the end of the light screwed in TIGHTLY as this is probably going to get wet.
The only problem with this is that your getting water on the front of the filter meaning that blobs will ruin your shot. There isnt really a lot to recommend as like I said. these UWA lenses pick up just about anything at the end of the barrel. Even its hood twisted on too tight picks up.

To be honest I think your idea is asking a lot too. I think your idea sounds great in your mind but in practice its prob not gonna really work out.

Phate · 25 Jun 2007 at 00:55

Thanks for the advice Fstop - will let you know how I get on

Nicos Rex · 25 Jun 2007 at 11:50

Shooting almost straight up into heavy rain? With a 5 sec exposure to boot!

I fear that you will find it very difficult indeed.

My "thinking outside the box" suggestion is to beg, borrow or steal the use of a Nikonos and get a big umbrella to keep the lens dry whilst praying for a favourable wind.

wez130 · 25 Jun 2007 at 15:22

and also, i may be wrong, but surely a IR shot won't work unless there's some sunshine about as the cloud's blocking the Infrared rays and that's what an IR filter picks up?

The reason i think this is coz i thought maybe lightening might look good in infrared so i set my camera to bulb and did about 60 second exposure, no lightening happened and nothing showed up in the image either.

Messiah Khan · 25 Jun 2007 at 15:25

wez130 said:
and also, i may be wrong, but surely a IR shot won't work unless there's some sunshine about as the cloud's blocking the Infrared rays and that's what an IR filter picks up?

The reason i think this is coz i thought maybe lightening might look good in infrared so i set my camera to bulb and did about 60 second exposure, no lightening happened and nothing showed up in the image either.

There will still be IR light about, just much less, so you'll have to up the exposure time considerably.

Mint_Sauce · 25 Jun 2007 at 16:19

you need a big piece of glass that spins really fast, any rain landing on it would instantly get thrown off leaving you to take the picture...

You might get arrested for being weird though.

Messiah Khan · 25 Jun 2007 at 16:20

Mint_Sauce said:
you need a big piece of glass that spins really fast, any rain landing on it would instantly get thrown off leaving you to take the picture...

You might get arrested for being weird though.

Or arrested for killing people when you big sheet of spinning glass flies off.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 25 Jun 2007 at 16:23

or you would need a slanted piece of glass with a constant thin flow of water going down it. Problem with this is, you would be in a science lab

Messiah Khan · 25 Jun 2007 at 16:25

Or somehow make an optically neutral filter in the shape of a cone, so the water would just run off to the sides.

Nicos Rex · 25 Jun 2007 at 16:55

How about a wind machine to blow the rain away before it hits the lens?

syke · 25 Jun 2007 at 17:17

Or take it when its summer and ask if a helicopter can drop one of them water bucket things on top, that they use for Forest Fires

.

On a more serious note, Fstop11 has a good idea.

dirtybeatfreak · 25 Jun 2007 at 23:44

Mint_Sauce said:
you need a big piece of glass that spins really fast, any rain landing on it would instantly get thrown off leaving you to take the picture...

You might get arrested for being weird though.

lol!!
i can just picture it aswell, mummies making thier kids cross the road away from the wierdo with the spinning glass thingy.

TheAlex · 25 Jun 2007 at 23:52

Surely you can manipulate the weather via electromagnetic radiation to just centralise a storm over the building?