Chennai Monsoon Gear

Keeping Your Camera Kit Dry and Working Through the Rains

Chennai's main rainy season comes with the northeast monsoon, usually from around October into December. Unlike much of India, the city gets most of its annual rain in these months, often in heavy bursts that can flood streets within an hour. For anyone carrying a camera, the bigger risk is often not a single soaking but the constant humidity that lingers for weeks.

Fighting moisture, not just rain

Damp air can work its way into lenses and, over time, encourage fungus on the glass. A few simple habits help:

• Silica gel packs: Keep several in your camera bag and storage box, and dry them out or replace them when they become saturated.
• A sealed dry box: An airtight plastic container with desiccant is an inexpensive way to store lenses at home between shoots.
• Let gear acclimatise: Moving from an air-conditioned room into warm, wet air fogs lenses instantly. Leave the camera in its closed bag for a while before you start shooting outdoors.
• Microfibre cloths: Carry two, one for wiping the body and one kept clean for the front element only.

Small extras that make a difference

Zip-lock bags are a cheap backup for phones, spare batteries and memory cards. A lens hood helps keep drops off the glass when shooting at an angle. If you don't have a dedicated rain cover, a clear plastic bag secured around the lens with a rubber band can do the job for a short walk. After every outing, wipe everything down and leave the bag open to air before packing it away.

Shooting safely

Waterlogged roads can hide open drains and potholes, so stay on familiar routes and avoid wading through standing water. Follow local weather advisories, and skip a shoot when heavy rain warnings are in force. Some of the best monsoon frames come from sheltered spots anyway: reflections on wet tarmac, umbrellas crowding a bus stop, or temple towers under dark skies.

For inspiration, browse rain-soaked street scenes in our gallery, or look through the albums to see how photographers capture the city's moods across the seasons.