Tips for Photographing in Windy Weather
By Sara Kempner
It’s no secret that photographers are a bit of a different breed. We tend to embrace elements and situations that others avoid for the sake of a good photo.
I found myself thinking about this as I made a last-minute drive to the west coast of British Columbia. The reason? Forecasts called for high winds so I thought I’d go attempt some big wave photography. While out there, I did get some big waves, but also had to contend with the high winds which can pose a few obstacles for photographers.
Below are some tips that I’ve compiled for photographing in windy conditions.
Photo by Sara Kempner
Using a tripod
Using a tripod can help you if you’re wanting to utilize a slower shutter speed, or if you’re using a longer lens and are having trouble holding it steady in the wind.
-Use your heaviest, sturdiest tripod. There are times when you want to carry a lighter tripod but if it’s windy, shoulder the extra weight to provide more stability.
-Make sure your tripod is really secure or weighed down. I sometimes use my camera bag to weigh the tripod down, but if it’s windy enough to cause your bag to swing, avoid this.
-Use your body to shield your camera and tripod from the wind if possible.
-Take your camera strap off if you use one. The strap can flap around in the wind, causing unnecessary movement on your camera and tripod. At the least, use an elastic band or hair tie to bunch it up and reduce movement.
-Use the thickest, sturdiest legs of your tripod first.
Photo by Sara Kempner
Safety for you and your gear
- Once you have your camera out, make sure your bag is fully closed and in a secure location.
-Be really aware if you’re in a wooded area, especially if it hasn’t been windy in a while, or there’s snow in the trees. I tend to avoid wooded areas when it’s really windy as trees and branches can fall at any time.
-Wear gloves! Wind can be extremely cold on your hands, even if the air temperature isn’t that cold. Having gloves on can help prolong your shoot.
-Take extreme precaution when changing lenses, especially if you’re in an area with sand or dirt.
Photo by Sara Kempner
Photographing in the wind
-Use a slower shutter speed to capture movement so that viewers can feel it in your image. Foliage, clouds and water are all great things to capture with a slow shutter speed.
-If your subject is something that’s moving in the wind, use burst mode to try and capture it at the perfect moment.
-Turn your image stabilization on.
Windy days can be a great time to capture unique images so don’t shy away from getting out there! Keep yourself and your gear safe but enjoy the photographic possibilities created on blustery days.
Sara Kempner is a freelance photographer based on Vancouver Island, B.C.
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