Rain does more than add reflections. It lowers distant contrast, deepens surfaces, changes pedestrian movement, and turns small light sources into repeated color.
Prepare the camera so handling stays simple. Weather resistance helps, but it does not replace careful lens changes, drying, and attention to water around doors and cards.
Choose whether drops freeze or streak
Use roughly 1/250 or faster to hold moving umbrellas and visible drops. Work around 1/60 to let rain and pedestrians carry some motion. The exact result depends on distance, focal length, and intensity.
Auto ISO with Aperture Priority keeps the shutter preference active as streets alternate between open sky and awnings.
Expose the subject, then protect colored reflections
Wet pavement can appear bright while a face under an umbrella remains dark. Judge the subject separately from the reflection and use exposure compensation with intention.
Protect highlight color where it matters, but allow small specular points to clip. Flattening every reflection removes the weather’s energy.
Focus through clutter
Water on the front element, transparent umbrellas, and bright foreground reflections can distract autofocus. Keep the front element clear and choose a focus area that stays on the intended subject.
Continuous autofocus is useful for approaching people; a smaller fixed area can be better for layered scenes where the camera repeatedly selects the foreground.
Edit moisture without turning the city neon
Set exposure and white balance first. Use contrast and dehaze carefully: too much removes the soft distance that communicates rain.
Quiet greens, controlled highlights, and selective local contrast can preserve atmosphere. Let the strongest reflection lead instead of saturating every color.