Rain. Drizzle. Fog. Heavy overcast. Poor visibility.

Some photographers would categorize conditions like these as unfavorable. In reality, though, "bad weather" can actually be quite good.

While inclement conditions keep many people indoors, they beckon photographers to come on out. It's a good idea to heed the call!

Perhaps you've been reluctant to venture outside (or stay out, as the case may be) when the weather seems less than ideal. I'm hoping I can convince you to reconsider.

If it's unique images you're after (and who isn't?), bad weather can offer some of the best shooting opportunities. Embrace it.

Here are a few things that might change your mind about bad conditions:

• Gloomy skies can create interesting monochromatic scenes.

• Heavy weather is dramatic.

• Soft lighting is even. You can work all day long.

• Colors pop. Autumnal foliage is even more vibrant when the leaves are wet. Drizzle is your friend.

• Fog - one of my absolute favorite things - can completely transform the landscape. Nature is filled with chaos: fog is the great eraser. It can soften or even completely eliminate distractions in the background. It simplifies the scene. While the fact that it is often quite unpredictable can be a little maddening, this is also a tremendous asset. Be patient and you might be treated to some fantastic scenes.

The edges of storms can provide good opportunities to capture interesting conditions: as they're moving out, or when they're getting closer. Keep tabs on what's happening with low and high pressure. Meteorologists are often incorrect when it comes to the actual daily forecast, but the movement of fronts seems to be more predictable.

Be aware of the dewpoint. The weather app I use includes the dewpoint in its hour-by-hour predictions. Fog is created when the dewpoint and temperature are equal or nearly equal. There will be are other indicators, too, which you'll learn once you get to know an area. For example, in Grand Teton National Park you can count on morning fog in parts of the valley after overnight precipitation.

Of course it's much easier to work in inclement conditions if you're prepared. Because many of the conditions we'd label as "bad weather" involve precipitation, keeping yourself as dry as possible is paramount. You'll be miserable if you're soaked. Obviously.

A slicker and rain pants are must-have accessories. Neither is bulky so each travels well. Muck boots can be really helpful. You might not have room for them in your luggage when flying but I'd recommend having a pair nearby at all times if you're closer to home. Just toss them in the back of the car. Mine live there so I never have to worry about whether or not I remembered to bring them.

You won't melt in drizzle, or rain, or dense fog - though these types of conditions are almost guaranteed to create bad hair days. That's a small price to pay.

Your gear needs to stay dry, too. Make sure you have a rain jacket for your camera, and protection for your backpack.

While shooting, check your lens often. Droplets that have landed there may not be visible while you're working but the camera will see and record them. These can be difficult if not impossible to eliminate in post-processing. Use a lens hood to manage precipitation, and carry a microfiber cloth to clean the glass.

Make sure to keep yourself out of harm's way. If you can hear thunder, the storm is close enough that you're in range of lightning. Use your head.

After experimenting with various types of "bad weather" you might discover you don't love working in some conditions, no matter what types of photographs you might be able to make. I get it. I'll shoot in just about anything but draw the line when it comes to heavy rain. Especially when it's windy, the droplets always seem to find a way to my glass and it becomes impossible to stay ahead of it.

Do keep an open mind, though. You can make very interesting photographs when the conditions are less than ideal, and because so many people head inside at the first sign of inclement weather, you may be the only one who captured the scene. Lucky you!

About the Photographs

Since I have a soft spot for fog, I chose two images featuring a lot of it. The first, at the top of the post, was made on a spring morning at the Chicago Botanic Garden (click to see larger). Persistent drizzle and chilly temperatures combined to create dense fog. This scene seemed as if it could have jumped out of a dream. It's an extreme example of simplification: there is absolutely nothing visible in the background, and the bridge becomes more prominent since the trees are rendered softly and monochromatically. The hint of green gave the image a bit of depth so I opted to retain the color.

On this late September day, the first significant overnight snowfall of the season had blanketed the mountains in white and created fantastic fog. Knowing this location would likely be on the outside edge of the opaque curtain, I made a beeline for it and set up shop for what was to become a long morning in the cold dampness. The wait was worth it. Drifting, expanding, contracting - constantly shifting, the fog behaved almost as if it were a living being. I exposed quite a few variations, but as soon as this scene began to take shape I was pretty sure this would be the keeper. The fog hides much of Mount Moran, but enough is visible to provide some context. The vibrant yellow reveals the season. I waited until the fog whose shape mimicked the treeline drifted into position so the two were aligned.

Finally, capturing this storm as it moved through Jackson Hole was a wild ride. Clearly something was brewing on that late afternoon. When it finally arrived, though, it did so rather abruptly - and violently. Oddly, I didn't get wet. Instead, high winds were the issue. It was blowing so hard I had to keep a strong grip on the tripod to prevent it from toppling. The fact that I was able to successfully make a panorama given the conditions surprised me. I was also amazed when I discovered just how angry the sky really was. It wasn't until I began processing the image that I realized this.

In Local News

I mentioned two posts ago about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ruling that grizzly bears would retain protected status, albeit with proposed revisions to the plan which would cede more management authority to the states. While not ideal, this is certainly far better than delisting.

The public comment period on this proposed rule is now open.

If you are inclined to help the bears, I encourage you to make your voice heard. The link below will take you to the USFWS website's page which provides more background on the grizzly bear recovery program. In the middle of the page you'll see the "Submit Public Comment" button.

USFWS Grizzly Bear Recovery Program

I can assure you the states involved (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho) will continue to fight to have the bears delisted, which would pave the way for hunting and trophy killing. The animals need our continued help. Thanks for your consideration.

In other wildlife news, the state of Montana has sued Yellowstone National Park, demanding its bison population be reduced by a staggering 45%.

The executive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition maintains that this action, should it be authorized, could “substantially decrease the genetic diversity of the herd and threaten the population’s long-term viability.”

I wonder whether Montana cares about the long-term viability of the bison. Take a look at what that state has done to wolves since they were delisted; that'll give you a sense of what seems to be the prevailing attitude among the powers-that-be regarding wildlife.

Stay tuned.