Most people head for shelter when the rain comes. Pro's drive in as the others leave. We are always seeking drama. We seek something different; something that others cannot or are not willing to shoot. We are out in rain, snow, hail, you name it. Here is an image taken of rain:

So how do we maximize our chances of getting a great image when storms threaten? Firstly, place safety first and follow the safety guidelines given by the national weather service. Here are some tips to help you get exciting rain and weather drama images:

• Make sure you and your gear are safe. I use an umbrella that is permanently in my camera backpack. When the rain is more dangerous for my equipment due to coming down too hard with wind I use a waterproof dry sack to place over my gear while I wait it out. I also make sure that I stay dry with waterproof rain clothing.

• Use a longer shutter speed to accentuate the rain. The rain shows better with longer shutter speeds.

• Use a wide angle lens to include more of the sky; that is where the drama is.

• Use a telephoto lens if the storm is further away. The storm needs to fill the image.

• If there is foliage close to you or featuring in the image and there is wind (which you usually have), you may need to back off on the slow shutter speed. Choose a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the movement of the foliage. Do not be afraid of noise, just push your ISO higher. Even if there is a bit of grain in your image, grain does not look as bad when it is with stormy clouds.

Enjoy getting rain and weather drama images.