The Weather Network SUCKS!!!

Hi,

I have never been paid and can not afford Photography School, what I tend to do is volunteer in exchange for rights to use the photos in my portfolio (which is not yet done). This morning I was invited to a funeral to take photos. (its not a funeral for one person particularly its a memorial for those lost to addiction, for example Jane and John Doe) they offered to pay me and feed me for lees than an hour service.

BUT this morning the weather channel had alerts for my region of severe thunder storms, so I called to cancel since its an outdoor event. AND wouldnt you know it not a single drop of rain falls from the sky. Now Im not feeling very pleased with my decision this morning to cancel.

What is your approach to expensive gear and weather warnings.

Unless it's pouring rain at the scheduled time - go anyway.. never know if it will rain, how long, and how widespread...

Most weather forecasters don't know what the weather was yesterday!!

The weather channel rarely gets it right.

yea no doubt, I guess photography has a certain amount of risk involved, depending where you put your self of course and if you know what your getting into. I guess I could just hold an umbrella with one hand and shoot my camera with auto in the other hand. Lesson learned. Seems pretty simple now but dark grey clouds and trees blowing over in the wind ... it did look like a storm any minute kind of thing, now I feel a little silly tho, just looking for some reassurance it wont happen next time.

I always carry zip locks with me, just in case.

Dori wrote: I always carry zip locks with me, just in case.

very practical next time Im at Mart I will get the biggest bags

I find it more entertaining you trusted the weather channel.

You silly billy you, you were invited to take photos and you should have turned up, even if there was a hurricane forecast, weather people are notorious for getting it wrong, these people wont turn to you next time and you could end up with a reputation for being a fair weather photographer, wrap yourself up and wrap your camera up, a clear polythene bag with an elastic band to seal it on the lens, simples.

I know, I cant believe I trusted the weather channel either, I worked at a Marina for 3 years as a supervisor and kids would always call (its drizzling outside do i still have to come to work?) Now Im the one whining. As I mentioned the winds were pretty strong and the sky was totally overcast, I guess my main issue is I dont have a car right now, I was volunteering at the jazz fest this past june and we had terenchal rains, someone s blackberry got wet and wouldnt work, she couldnt even get a break from her cell provider they offered her new phones to buy. With all that all I could think of was "Oh No I cant get me only camera wet."

I have communicated and thuroughly appologized to the organizers, they said no big deal they only needed one shot anyway and were able to get it with a handy point and shoot and they told me not to worry its all over now.

This is the weather channels first victory to keep me sheltered but I promise it will never happen again, as a matter of fact if I get a new camera body like I have been planning on i will use my canon 1000D in the most horrific snow storm this coming winter, and i will win you all back I promise

All this hate towards meteorology astounds me.

These guys are trying to predict the future and honesly (in HK at least) they do a pretty good job.

I can't comment about the weather channel though... maybe they suck.

As for wet weather.

With my camera I don't worry too much, it's weather sealed as are my lenses. I might put it in a ziplock bag if it bucket down, but a little rain doesn't bother me at all.

If I owned a Canon 1000D like you eryck I'd be more worried. The seals on that are pretty much the glue holding it together.

For my video camera, I bought a special cover for about $150USD. That camera costs about the same as a D3s + 70-200 2.8 VRII + 24-70 2.8... so I'm not gonna risk getting it wet (since I'm pretty sure it's not so weather sealed... ).

Weather forecasting is not an exact science. Believe me, I wish it was. Pay attention to the actual warning first: A "storm warning" means a storm exists and is heading your way. A "storm watch" means the conditions are favourable for a storm to materialize. Also be aware of the fact that a thunderstorm can develop even if there is no warning as the warnings are only for the severe variety.

Having said that, when do you decide to go? Or not go? Think about where you will be doing your shoot. If a storm suddenly develops, is there shelter nearby that you can get to quickly? If so, don't cancel the shoot, knowing you can take shelter.

As good or bad as meteorologist are, most of their forecasts are based on history. For example, a 30% chance of rain means 3 times out of 10, similar conditions in the past have resulted in rain. Don't put your full faith in a weather forecast, but keep what they said in mind and use your own judgement based on observation, logic, and chance.

If you are using an SLR, don't fear the rain too much because they are quite water resistant. I've been using mine in the rain for years without a problem. Last year, I photographed a bike race and it poured down rain most of the day. Again, it never effected the camera ... just don't change lenses!

It sucks that you missed an opportunity but use it as a lesson learned for next time.

I am a weather fanatic. I am terrified of tornados and have been struck by lightning twice (seriously, I have) so I have a very strong need to know what's coming at me. I'm not afraid of lightning but I do respect it. I know that lightning can travel up to 50 miles from the storm and, by the time you hear thunder from an approaching storm, you're already in danger.

I do a lot of bike riding at night and I love to ride in the rain. Even if there are storms around, I will still go out but, I first need to check "The Weather Network's" website. I don't look at the forecast, I use the radar map to see what's coming. This gives a precise location of the storms. And when I go out, I always have a lightning detector with me. I gives off an alarm if the lightning is getting closer. I also have a weather station on my roof that monitors everything else.

Did I mention I'm a weather fanatic?

The only time I wasn't able to avoid a thunderstorm while I was out was when one suddenly started right above me. There is always that element of chance. Mother Nature can be a b***h at times.

This is the radar of a line of thunderstorms (from a different website) that I was nervously watching come towards me the other night:

eryck wrote: Hi,

I have never been paid and can not afford Photography School, what I tend to do is volunteer in exchange for rights to use the photos in my portfolio (which is not yet done). This morning I was invited to a funeral to take photos. (its not a funeral for one person particularly its a memorial for those lost to addiction, for example Jane and John Doe) they offered to pay me and feed me for lees than an hour service.

BUT this morning the weather channel had alerts for my region of severe thunder storms, so I called to cancel since its an outdoor event. AND wouldnt you know it not a single drop of rain falls from the sky. Now Im not feeling very pleased with my decision this morning to cancel.

What is your approach to expensive gear and weather warnings.

I'm trying to figure out why the heck did you cancel? So what, the weather called for thunderstorms. Have you never took your camera out in the rain? for normal rain pictures, for lightning shots? If you have, why would shooting a funeral in the rain be any different. Don't blame the weather. This is all your fault. You were afraid of getting the camera wet, so you cancel. Rain during a funeral would be good. It will show even more of the sad emotion that people have during funerals. The cloudy, rainy day will give mood. You canceling, ruin it.

I would have been there in a heart beat rain or shine to get those shots.
When it comes to being a photographer, you should be there...unless you are in the hospital or extremely bed ridden. It doesn't matter if it's a paying job or because you want to be nice to shoot it. If you were suppose to photograph an event, you should show up.

BTW, the weather changes every minute.

eryck wrote: yea no doubt, I guess photography has a certain amount of risk involved, depending where you put your self of course and if you know what your getting into. I guess I could just hold an umbrella with one hand and shoot my camera with auto in the other hand. Lesson learned. Seems pretty simple now but dark grey clouds and trees blowing over in the wind ... it did look like a storm any minute kind of thing, now I feel a little silly tho, just looking for some reassurance it wont happen next time.

Buy yourself a rainsleeve or use a plastic bag if you are that worried about rain on a camera.

Scotty wrote: I find it more entertaining you trusted the weather channel.

Yea, I find it sad, very sad that he trusted the weather channel, instead of creating memories.

eryck wrote: I have communicated and thuroughly appologized to the organizers, they said no big deal they only needed one shot anyway and were able to get it with a handy point and shoot and they told me not to worry its all over now.

Needed one shot or not. You were asked to do this. You could have went, took that one shot for them, but shoot more for you. Because believe it or not, afterwards people would ask if you got a photo of this or that, that they would like to have.