Rain Room art exhibit -- lens suggestion?

[ahsanford]

All,

I'm off to finally get to the Rain Room exhibit that's been traveling to various US art museums. Basically, via sensors, you can walk in the rain and (more or less) not get wet.

On the odd chance that anyone has been to this exhibit, could anyone recommend the appropriate glass to put on my 5D3? I ask as you only get a limited time window in there to shoot and I don't want to waste any of it changing out lenses.

Rules at this incarnation of the installation: cameras are welcome, but no tripods/monopods/supports and no flash. The sensors are not guaranteed to keep my gear dry, either.

A fast (and sealed) prime would seem to be the best option, but none of those that I own are sealed. I'm leaning towards the 16-35 f/4L IS for sealing, but an f/4 lens will drive atmospheric ISO levels to freeze the raindrops.

Ideas? I don't want to bag up my 35 f/2 IS or 50 f/1.4 for this unless it's absolutely necessary.

- A

 

[niels123]

I don't know the exhibit, but if you don't want to change lenses, why not just go for a fast prime with some plastic and some tape on the lenshood to cover it? If it's only minimal amount of water, it shouldn't be a problem if you have a small towel ready to dry off immediately...

 

[gigabellone]

I agree with niels123: a plastic shower cap secured to the lens hood with some strong duct tape will work fine. I often had water drops on the front elements of non weather sealed lenses (while shooting near seashores/waterfalls) and i had no water leaking inside.

 

[ahsanford]

Just went with the 16-35 f/4L IS as I was not aware how big the exhibit was and I wanted to have width if I was in a tight space.

Now see below. One light source, no flash/tripod/stabilization allowed, and plenty of room. Bad call on the lens.

- A

 

[ahsanford]

The best I could muster was to get deep into the exhibit (I got somewhat soaked, but the 5D3 + L didn't mind), shot wide open + astronomical ISO to chase shutter speed and I played with silhouettes + raindrop bokeh.

Color noise was horrific at ISO 16,000 so I moved to B+W. Not terrible, but clearly this would have been much better with a faster + longer lens. Had I known the room better, my 70-200 f/2.8L IS II from the dry periphery would have been a much better call.

That said, this was a great experience of forcing yourself to think quickly under crazy constraints.

- A

 

[bluemoon]

not sure it's worth complaining as both of those images are GREAT!

pierre

 

[ahsanford]

not sure it's worth complaining as both of those images are GREAT!

pierre

The first one was less an 'image' than it was a heads up for what to expect in there.

(But I appreciate the compliment -- thank you.)

- A

 

[ahsanford]

Here's one more. Much lower ISO was needed as the backlight was extreme here and I wasn't trying to freeze droplets this time.

I stopped down for a 'sunstar' and wanted streaming rain and hoped the IS on the 16-35 f/4L would save me, but apparently 1/5s was a bit too slow even at 16mm. Clearly didn't work as planned -- probably should have stuck with 1/focal length, but you get the idea.

I was gunning for a 'Rutger Hauer replicant on the rooftop' vibe here. I'm not sure my wife appreciated the metaphor. ;D

- A

 

[tolusina]

When supports are not allowed, attach a light nylon rope with a weight on the far end to the tripod socket.
To use it, stand on the rope such that you are pulling up on the camera, tensioning the rope.