The weather can be unpredictable at times and that’s not always ideal for photographers. One of the worst weather conditions to work in is the wind. From a shaky camera and blurry photos to serious damage to your equipment, strong winds can ultimately mess up a photoshoot as well as your expensive camera.
There are steps you can take to neutralize the effects of the wind and make sure it doesn’t completely ruin your shoot.
1. Use a Quicker Shutter Speed
Using a slow shutter speed in windy conditions is a common mistake; it will result in photos with a slight blur. To properly capture the scene, it’s best to use a faster shutter speed. By doing this, you can capture whatever you’re shooting without the blurriness.
Depending on what you’re shooting, you might not want to use a significantly faster shutter speed because that’ll probably require a higher ISO. However, it’s better to have a precise photo than a blurry one.
2. Shoot in Burst Mode
If the subject of your photoshoot is wobbling all over the place in the wind, then shooting in burst mode might be a good idea. When you’re shooting in strong wind, the gusts are random and can come and go, so there’s no way of knowing how many of your photos will be unclear. Your best chance is to take multiple shots and hopefully at least one will come out fine.
3. Use a Tripod
Extremely strong winds can make it difficult for you to stand straight and keep your body steady, that's why it's critical to use a tripod in those conditions. The benefits of using a tripod include photos that don't come out looking like a blurry mess. To ensure your tripod doesn’t blow away too, take care to place it on flat and even ground.
4. Turn On Image Stabilization
Image stabilization is great at minimizing the ramifications of camera vibrations and shaking. You’ll need to turn on this setting if the wind is particularly strong. Once you’ve switched on image stabilization, your camera will be able to make up for any small movements while you’re shooting.
This setting won’t magically solve all your problems, so leaning against something steady and holding your camera as close as possible will help.
5. Utilize Your Camera Bag
Some photographers claim this doesn't help and just makes your photos more blurry, but it’s worth a try. All you have to do is set up your tripod and hang your camera bag from the middle of it. The weight of the camera bag should keep the tripod grounded and steady. A lot of tripod manufacturers even include a hook to make it easier to hang your bag.
6. Use the Wind to Your Advantage
Instead of working against the wind, why not use it to your advantage? Strong wind makes it possible to capture photographs that aren't usually achievable in calm conditions. Reconsider the posing of your subjects and make them face the wind. This will create a lovely sense of motion and generate the same effect as a fan blowing inside a studio.
7. Go to a Different Location
This is more of a last resort tip if none of the above works. Find a place that is better shielded from the wind and can provide some kind of barrier, like a large rock or a tree. Anything sturdy that you can stand behind can help you hide from the strong wind and shoot photos that aren’t completely blurry.
Also, make sure to stay away from sandy or dusty locations; it can obstruct your composition, not to mention, sand will get everywhere.
8. Shield Your Camera From the Wind
Strong wind can cause severe damage to your camera. You might be under the impression that water is the worst enemy of camera equipment, however, sand can be even worse. Knowing how to protect your camera in windy conditions is crucial.
If you can, try to use your body to protect your camera from the wind while you’re shooting. This way, your body will be between the wind gusts and your camera, and hopefully shield it from any dust, dirt, or sand.
9. Keep Your Camera in Its Bag
While you could use your body to shield strong wind, it’s better to keep your camera stored in a durable camera bag until you need to use it. When you’re done shooting, quickly put it back in the bag until you need it again.
10. Avoid Changing Lenses While Outside
Never change lenses when you’re in windy conditions, especially if there’s a lot of sand. Before your photoshoot, pick the lens you’re going to use and put it on your camera before going outside. Changing lenses in windy conditions can let sand, dirt, or debris seriously damage your camera.
11. Use a Lens Filter
How do you protect the lens on your camera in windy conditions? You need to use a UV filter. A UV filter will be able to protect your camera lens from being damaged by sand and dirt. This is an inexpensive way to prevent replacing it or fixing any damage to the front element of your camera.
12. Get a Rain Cover or an Underwater Housing Case
One of the best ways to protect your camera in strong wind is to use an underwater housing case or a rain cover. While the former can get quite pricey, the average camera rain cover is fairly cheap. They waterproof your camera, and when you waterproof your camera, it’s completely sealed, meaning it’ll also be shielded from dust, sand, and dirt.
Don’t Let Windy Days Stop You From Taking Great Pictures
If you’ve ever been outside trying to take photographs in strong wind, you’ll know it’s incredibly tough to capture a decent photo. Windy conditions can make it seem like you’re in an unworkable setting, but there are ways to combat this; the tips we listed here can help you pull off a successful photoshoot in strong wind and keep your gear safe.