Photos

Beautiful Raindrops Up Close (PHOTOS)

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Matt McDonald's macro photos of raindrops show a less dreary side of Washington's wet weather. The photojournalist has been taking photos since the age of 16. (Matt McDonald)

Even rain can be beautiful when portrayed in the right light, as photographer Matt McDonald of Bellingham, Wash., reveals with stunning macro photos of raindrops.

“These photos show rain in another way than the typical dreary look that tends to make people unhappy,” McDonald told weather.com. “Rain's beautiful when you get that close — and have enough rain gear to stay dry and watch it.”

The rainy Washington weather gives McDonald, who has been taking photos since age 16, great subject matter. “It gets dark around 4 p.m. during the winter and I wanted to come up with some new projects to keep improving my photography,” he said. “Macro rain at night seemed like a unique idea.”

Typically it’s best to shoot macro photos on bright, overcast days when slow shutter speed isn’t necessary, according to National Geographic. But that’s a worry that does not apply to rain photography or to McDonald’s work, because he shoots at night.

Keeping his camera dry, however? That’s another story, and one of his largest challenges.

McDonald took the majority of his photos in an alley behind his apartment in Bellingham. He explained that this work — and macro photography in general — takes a lot of patience and trial and error. “You never really know what you’re going to get.”

This slideshow contains photos taken by Matt McDonald as well as rain photography taken by other photographers.

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