For most photographers, there’s no better time than the monsoon to cherish mesmerizing landscapes and the beauty of nature in their frame. Shutterbugs and Filmmakers are often seen outdoors capturing the elevated mood that the downpour brings along. Whether you’re using your mobile phone to shoot cinematic footage or making use of your professional gear, these tips will certainly help you capture your best this monsoon:

1. Use your monsoon gear to shoot

You can not only use your umbrella as a prop in your scenes, but also as a way to cover up the extra-bright clouds and prevent your images from getting overexposed. If you are carrying a coloured plastic to protect your gear, you can even use it as a colour filter for your lens to give your shot a little extra hue.

2. Look for water reflections

The best way to showcase rain in between downpours is to leave visual indications of rain. One of the ways filmmakers and photographers do this is by capturing shots by placing the object against the reflection. Get creative with water reflections — the world is your playground with them, quite literally!

3. Catch the action

Rains bring out myriad emotions, some happy, some not so much! Be sure to capture it all whether it is a gleeful child running around, a sulky woman waiting for the bus, or even a playful dog shaking water off its body. Monsoons encourage life; be sure to seize the moment.

4. Visit the most scenic spots later during the season

Nature blooms during monsoon. A lot of scenic spots become home to unique species of flora and fauna due to an abundance of rain. When you visit scenic spots later during the season, you get an opportunity to capture the growth of new leaves, insects, flowers, and so on.

5. Watch out for rainbows and lightning

Rainbow and lightning cannot be spotted throughout the year. So, if you are headed out to shoot, why not keep an eye for the wonders of the sky and make the most out of your time outdoors during the season. Although capturing them is challenging, having a rainbow or lightning as the backdrop to your shots and scenes can make them uniquely beautiful and dramatic.

6. Experiment with White Balance

Yes, it is possible to get creative with the WB setting on your camera. Cloud White Balance setting can turn your photographs into more warm and soothing ones. Similarly add a pop of yellow and orange with Shade WB setting. Experimenting with them can really enhance your landscape photographs, especially during the monsoon.

7. Go Macro

Use the abundantly available water droplets as a supplementary rest to capture life-size images of your surroundings. Place your object 2–3 inches behind the droplet, get in close, focus on the object using a wide aperture, and shoot! The background blur will give your image bokeh effect and help the subject stand out. Zoom in and capture the intricacies of the ordinary cobweb, leaf, flower petal, or even an insect transformed into a piece of art with the water droplets resting upon it.

8. Capture the monsoon in Monochrome

Monsoons are synonymous with drama, so why not let it reflect in your monsoon photography too? Whether you’re using coloured filters, playing with your White Balance settings, or even using your monsoon gear as filter, going monochromatic will add a hint of cinematic mood to your photos

9. Shoot right from the puddles to the skies

Capture the good, the beauty, and the ugly. Everyone captures the scenic views, but sometimes what may not seem so appealing to the eye is sheer beauty to the lens. Take it as an opportunity to bring the most out of your photography skills. There’s beauty everywhere during monsoons, from the puddles and mucky waters to the spectacular skies — find it; capture it.

Other Related Blogs