I have always been a fan of taking pictures of seascapes and waterfalls. I love these dynamic environments and don’t mind getting myself wet while focusing on the subject. The only thing that could hold me back was the intense spray of water I faced when approaching stormy seas or roaring waterfalls. But not anymore. I have found a solution against the limitations it imposes on my photography and I share it with you in this article.
The following photo may look stupid to you. Why did I shoot my umbrella that way? Well, that’s not what’s happening here. The image shows my setup before taking a photo near a powerful waterfall. In the featured video, I share a clip I captured at Kapas Biru waterfall in Indonesia. It only took a few seconds until my GoPro was completely wet from the nozzle. Taking clean pictures in such an environment would be unthinkable without this setting. Let me explain.
Equipment for taking pictures in wet conditions
The photo shows how I attached an umbrella to the tripod when facing the Kapas Biru waterfall. With my camera behind an umbrella, it is not affected by the water jet it produces. What you need for this setup are three parts:
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A sturdy tripod that can withstand the wind when holding an umbrella is required. If your tripod is too light, this setup will be prone to overblowing, even if the tripod is spread wide.
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Get a storm umbrella. I use the Metro umbrella from blunt. It kept my camera gear dry for six years while remaining compact enough for travel.
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The glue between the tripod and the umbrella is a clamp. I use a cheap one Crab clamps from Smallrig. It can be attached to a tripod in several ways, as shown in the introductory video.
Techniques for taking pictures in wet conditions
You may still be wondering how this setting helps to take pictures in wet conditions. Here’s how to use it:
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Use your waterproof cell phone to search for works. If your cell phone is not waterproof, get a cover for it or your camera. You have to know where to set up your camera later. Only scouts can tell you that.
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Gather everything before getting close to a waterfall like Kapas Biru. Then go to the scouting location. Hold the umbrella between your camera and the waterfall by rotating the Smallrig clamp.
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Now it’s time to wet your camera: Loosen the grip and move your umbrella outward so you can fine-tune the composition. Here, a rain cover for your camera can be beneficial.
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Put the umbrella back in place and use a lens cloth with rocket blower to free your lenses from water stains.
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Now you are ready to take pictures. Loosen the umbrella and hold it in your hand while keeping it in place in front of the camera.
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Use the 2-second release timer along with the exposure to take a photo. Before the shutter is released, move the tile out of the camera’s field of view.
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Continue with step 4 and repeat as often as needed to take all the photos you need to produce a clean result.
Even with this technique, you will get water on the lens when taking pictures. But it will only be a few drops in each image. Repeat this process a few times to capture enough source material. Load some images into layers in Photoshop and mask the water marks.
Inference
Taking pictures this way takes more work than taking pictures in dry conditions. But if you want great results, don’t be afraid to put in the effort. The necessary equipment is not expensive, but flexible in how you can use it. In the image above, I show a setup with the umbrella facing up to protect my camera from the rain. The second setup shows the umbrella facing to the side. It protects against the occasional freak wave that hits rocks and splashes on my body and equipment.
Because showing the process is so much easier than writing about it, I encourage you to take a few minutes and watch the introductory video. It will answer most of the questions you may still have. And if you have a different or better setup, please let us know in the comments.
