After the deluge

The winter in London has been nothing but wet. It’s been unrelenting downpours and stormy gusts to render umbrellas practically useless.

I visited my local park recently, camera in hand and with a specific goal in mind. But the heavens opened and I returned home to protect my gear from the wet.

I went back to be greeted with another downpour, but this time I was prepared. The shower passed and I witnessed the magic of surfaces and plants dappled with droplets.

The rain isn’t all doom and gloom. It produces a lot of beauty and inspiration for the lens.

Click first image to launch the gallery

And here’s a happy post-script to an afternoon drenched in a west London park. A resurgent sun produced this effect, which can only warm the soul.

Tags: downpour, droplets, London, macro, nature, photography, rainbow, raindrops, Ravenscourt Park, water, weather, wet leaves, wet surfaces

27 thoughts on “After the deluge”

Laura Bloomsbury on February 24, 2014 at 13:11 said:

Your images make the drenchings all seem so worthwhile.

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 24, 2014 at 13:13 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Laura! I’m not sure they excuse the devastating floods, but there is beauty in the droplets.
  
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Marianne on February 23, 2014 at 21:59 said:

Nice work Mike! Once my crazy work calms down I too shall dust off my wee neglected camera. I suspect I don’t have to worry about the rainy season finishing soon! :) nice colours in the first pic btw, great stuff!

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 22:11 said:
  
  Thanks Marianne :) I allowed my camera to get slightly damp which is probably not advisable. I hope you’re back to your own lens very soon!
  
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smackedpentax on February 23, 2014 at 19:18 said:

Superb photoset Mike…you have captured the freshness which is only there after a downpour.

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 19:20 said:
  
  Thank you very much, James. We’ve seen far too many downpours this winter, but this experience restored my faith in its beauty.
  
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RobynG on February 23, 2014 at 18:51 said:

Magical indeed Mike! Beautiful photographs!

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 18:54 said:
  
  Robyn, thank you very much :) It’s taught me to think differently about the rain.
  
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biankonera on February 23, 2014 at 17:53 said:

These are so beautiful!

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 18:00 said:
  
  Thanks so much! You had your boring wait in the parking lot, I got caught in the rain :)
  
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  - biankonera on February 23, 2014 at 18:03 said:
    
    We sure make the best of the circumstances we get :)
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 18:09 said:
      
      Definitely :-) You can make something out of nothing.
      
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      - biankonera on February 23, 2014 at 18:35 said:
        
        That’s called magic :)
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 18:37 said:
        
        It’s good when it happens, usually when you least expect it to.
        
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Sheila Creighton on February 23, 2014 at 14:16 said:

Beautiful!

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 14:17 said:
  
  Thanks so much, Sheila. Don’t knock the rain!
  
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Mark Simms on February 23, 2014 at 12:09 said:

Beautiful images Mike…..some of these deserve a post on their own.

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 13:10 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Mark :)
  
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bbuljore@aol.com on February 23, 2014 at 11:29 said:

Greetings! Yes, Yes, & Yes!!

Have a look at this, Mike http://explore.saatchiart.com/motion-photography/

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 13:17 said:
  
  Thanks for coming by. Hmmm… motion photography is a new one on me… might be something to explore!
  
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ckponderings on February 23, 2014 at 11:28 said:

Beautiful images… I love the way the raindrops seem to come in twos in a lot of the shots! Obviously carefully planned… ;)

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 13:11 said:
  
  Cheers Richard! Yes, I planned getting wet, having to hide my camera in my coat pocket (somehow) and ruining a pair of shoes in the mud!! :-)
  
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dianaed2013 on February 23, 2014 at 11:08 said:

How inspiring – what a great idea – the weather has certainly curtailed any enthusiasm for outdoor ventures hasn’t it!

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 11:11 said:
  
  Much appreciated, Diana. Yes, you’re right. I wouldn’t want a wet camera, but this can be done between showers!
  
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MaldivesDreamer on February 23, 2014 at 11:02 said:

I love these photos!! Such beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing :)

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- mikeosbornphoto on February 23, 2014 at 11:09 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Irene :) They’re not quite as vibrant as Maldivian colours, but they certainly hold their own beauty.
  
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  - MaldivesDreamer on February 23, 2014 at 11:13 said:
    
    Yes they certainly do :)
    
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