Rainy Days & Reflections: How I Capture Cityscapes in the Rain
☔ Why I Love Rainy Day Photography
Most people pack up their cameras when the sky turns gray — but I do the opposite. Rain transforms a city. Colors deepen. Lights reflect. Streets shine. There’s a quiet beauty in watching a bustling place soften under a blanket of rain.
Some of my favorite city shots — especially black and white — have come from days when most people stay indoors. That’s when the city shows a different side: still, moody, and more intimate.
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🏙️ Brooklyn Bridge in the Rain
One of my favorite rainy photos is a black-and-white shot of the Brooklyn Bridge, taken from the Manhattan side during a quiet moment. The rain created soft ripples in puddles, perfect for reflections. The bridge’s steel cables glistened, and the fog wrapped the skyline in a dreamlike haze.
I didn’t even mind getting soaked — it felt like New York was pausing for a moment, and I was the only one paying attention.
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| Brooklyn Bridge on a rainy afternoon |
This is a 15 second exposure thanks to a ND 1000 filter.
📸 5 Tips for Photographing the City in the Rain
1. Chase Reflections
Rain puddles make stunning mirrors. Look for reflections of neon signs, architecture, umbrellas, and headlights. Even subway grates can shimmer in the right light.
2. Protect Your Gear
A simple plastic bag or rain sleeve can save your camera. I keep a microfiber cloth in my pocket to wipe the lens between shots. And always have a lens hood — it helps more than you'd expect. They aren't very expensive and can be found on Amazon. The one I use can be found here. I've also used my rain jacket to protect the camera.
3. Use the Moody Light
Overcast skies mean soft, diffused lighting. It’s flattering for portraits and perfect for even exposure in city scenes. No harsh shadows, just atmosphere.
4. Play With Black and White
Rain often mutes colors — and that’s a gift. Strip away distractions and focus on shape, form, and emotion. My Brooklyn Bridge photo works because it’s in black and white.
5. Embrace the Moment
Don’t wait for the rain to stop. Some of the best shots happen when water’s still dripping off rooftops and umbrellas are being wrestled by the wind. Go with it.
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| I used my rain jacket to cover the camera while I took this picture |
💑 Caught in the Rain Together
One of the sweetest parts of photographing in the rain? Sharing it with someone you love. There’s something unexpectedly romantic about walking hand-in-hand with your spouse or partner down slick, quiet streets, the two of you ducking under one umbrella or letting yourselves get drenched because it suddenly doesn’t matter.
We’ve had spontaneous moments like that in New York, Savannah, and even along the cobblestone alleys of Old Town Alexandria. The kind of walk where you laugh at the downpour, sneak into a cozy coffee shop, and feel like the world’s paused just for the two of you.
Rain doesn’t ruin a trip — it deepens it. It slows things down and gives you a reason to draw closer.
📍 Other Cities I’ve Loved in the Rain
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Savannah, GA — Cobblestone streets and Spanish moss glisten after a storm
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Washington, DC — Monuments feel more solemn under low clouds
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Manhattan — Umbrellas create movement and texture in every shot
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Asheville, NC — Southern charm in the mountains
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| Washington, DC in the rain |
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| The city doesn’t stop for rain — it just slows down enough to notice the details. |
Find this on Etsy.
🧳 Final Thoughts
Rainy day photography takes patience and a towel for your lens — but the results are worth it. Cities feel more alive in the rain, more personal. The light changes, the mood shifts, and suddenly even the most familiar street becomes a story.
And if you’re lucky, you’ll be sharing that umbrella with someone who makes even the gloomiest afternoon feel like magic.
Next time the forecast looks gloomy, don’t cancel your plans. Bring your camera. Chase the reflections — and hold someone’s hand.
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| Empire State Building |
📸 5 Tips for Photographing the City in the Rain
1. Chase Reflections
Rain puddles make stunning mirrors. Look for reflections of neon signs, architecture, umbrellas, and headlights. Even subway grates can shimmer in the right light.
2. Protect Your Gear
A simple plastic bag or rain sleeve can save your camera. I keep a microfiber cloth in my pocket to wipe the lens between shots. And always have a lens hood — it helps more than you'd expect.
3. Use the Moody Light
Overcast skies mean soft, diffused lighting. It’s flattering for portraits and perfect for even exposure in city scenes. No harsh shadows, just atmosphere.
4. Play With Black and White — Or Just a Pop of Color
Rain often mutes colors — and that’s a gift. Strip away distractions and focus on shape, form, and emotion. My Brooklyn Bridge photo works because it’s in black and white.
But sometimes, I like to push the drama further by mixing styles — turning the scene black and white while keeping one striking element in color. A red umbrella, a yellow taxi, or even blue rain boots can stand out like a memory in motion. It creates emotion, tension, and visual poetry all at once.
5. Embrace the Moment
Don’t wait for the rain to stop. Some of the best shots happen when water’s still dripping off rooftops and umbrellas are being wrestled by the wind. Go with it.
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| View of the Manhattan Skyline from Jersey City |
🖥️ Bonus: Editing Tips for Rainy Day Photography
Whether you're processing in Lightroom or Photoshop, rainy photos give you plenty of creative freedom. Here's how I enhance the mood and play with black-and-white + color techniques:
💡 In Lightroom:
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Desaturate Selectively Using Masks
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Use the "Brush" or "Radial Mask" tool to isolate elements like an umbrella or car.
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Desaturate the rest of the image using a B&W treatment, but leave your masked area in full color. Boost the saturation on just that detail for impact.
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Play with Tone Curve for Drama
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In the Tone Curve panel, slightly lift the shadows and lower the highlights to create a flat, filmic mood.
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Add a subtle fade by raising the black point.
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Use the Clarity and Texture Sliders Carefully
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Boost Texture to enhance rain detail on hard surfaces like pavement or metal.
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Add just a touch of Clarity to fog or reflections to make them stand out — but too much can flatten the softness of a rainy scene.
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Split Toning for Subtle Emotion
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Add cooler blue tones in shadows and warm light tones in highlights using the Color Grading panel for emotional depth.
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🎨 In Photoshop:
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Black and White with Pop of Color
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Duplicate your image layer.
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Convert the top layer to black and white (Image > Adjustments > Black & White).
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Add a layer mask, then use a soft black brush to paint back the color from below (like a red umbrella or a yellow raincoat).
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Enhance Reflections
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Duplicate your reflection area, flip vertically, and lower opacity slightly for a cleaner, mirrored effect.
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Add motion blur or ripple filters for a stylized touch if you want to get creative.
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Rain Overlays
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You can use rain texture overlays (screen blend mode) to dramatize the moment. Use Gaussian Blur or lower opacity to keep it subtle.
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Dodge & Burn
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Use a soft brush with Dodge (lighten) and Burn (darken) tools to add dimension — especially on wet pavement, umbrellas, or reflections. This helps draw the eye exactly where you want it.
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🎯 Pro Tip:
Always keep a copy of your original image. Some of the most dramatic edits come from playing and experimenting — but it helps to have a clean slate if you want to take it in another direction later.
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