Image by John Gravett

With the recent stormy weather we've been having, it can be easy to decide not to pick up the camera and head out. But, you could be missing out on some fantastic shots. Find a sheltered spot where you can look out onto a great landscape that's enhanced by the storm, and you should be able to capture some really atmospheric images. 

As landscape photographer based in the Lake District, John Gravett says, 'there is no such thing as bad weather', and this is the attitude you need to have in order to face the storm and get out there. Keeping positive and seeing all the opportunities possible to you is key. It's important to go out with an open mind, otherwise, you're just setting yourself up to be disappointed, explains John. 

Make sure you and your camera are dressed for the weather 

You need to be comfortable when out shooting and the best way to do this is to stay warm and dry. A good waterproof jacket with a deep hood or a wide brimmed hat will be ideal for keeping the water from your face. 

For the camera, ensuring that the camera bag is fully waterproof will guarantee its safety while you're travelling to and from the shooting location. Once there, protecting the camera with an OpTech Rain Sleeve or similar is a cheap and effective way to waterproof your camera for one shoot. If you shoot in the rain a lot then it may be worth investing in a Think Tank cover, basically a waterproof capsule for your camera, but these can set you back a good £100. 

Shooting the scene

Rain can shorten the field of view, obscuring the background of the image and drawing attention to parts of the scene that would otherwise get overlooked. Using a telephoto lens will compress your perspective, making for some images with a real 'wow' factor. 

In rain and overcast weather situations colour can often be dulled so it's often an ideal time to work in black and white. This allows you to focus more on the textures and tones of the scene to make the viewer really feel the weather situation through the scene.