Rain

2013.08.31.Rain
f/5.6  1/200  ISO-800

The most obvious symbol of rain is an umbrella.  I wanted to use an item that can clearly be associated with rain, not as clichéd as an umbrella, and not to reveal the whole form, leaving more to the imagination.  Also, something that could get wet.  I chose a pair of black wellington boots and experimented spraying water from a hose and taking photos with various shutter speeds.
Although the shutter speed for this image is not especially low, the speed of the water flow and holding the camera by hand combined to create some blur and distortion.  I didn't want a clear, highly defined image, partly because wellington boots are not the most visually pleasing of subjects, and also to make the image original.  The angle of the spray and the blurred streaks give an impression of heavy, driving rain, producing impaired visibility.