Photograph the Rain: A metaphor for our current political timeline.
When It Rains, It Represses: Photography in a Dark Political Era
Street photography in inclement weather isn’t something you see often, whether it’s the risk to gear, since not all cameras and lenses are weather-sealed, or simply the discomfort of cold, relentless March rain. But with everything happening in the world, stepping into the storm became my way of making sense of it all.
Every photograph in this post was taken with the Fujifilm X-H2 and the Fujifilm XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR lens. The XF 27mm, a true ‘pancake’ lens, is small and unassuming, perfect for blending into the streets without drawing attention.
Life is too complicated not to document the quiet times in the rain.
My photography has always been political, and with everything going on in the world, I usually shoot after therapy to decompress—to let my mind breathe after an hour of getting wrecked by PTSD therapy. It’s a lot to process, but photography helps. On my way to a session, I saw a tweet from our authoritarian president, and it hit me like a ton of bricks—just completely shocked, even though I know his motives.
I’ve photographed a lot of protests in Chicago from 2021 to 2025, and now he’s threatening students and others for using their First Amendment right to organize peacefully? That’s what tyrants do. First off, it’s illegal. And what happens to photographers like me—the ones amplifying voices against injustice? It only felt right to shoot in the cold, wet rain. A perfect metaphor for this fucked-up timeline.
One of the strongest ways to resist authoritarianism is to create, educate, and stay grounded, even when the weight of oppression feels suffocating. When I start to feel that heaviness, I don’t let it crush me—I pick up my camera. I let my imagination take the lead, framing the world as I see it, one shot at a time.
Each photograph is © Adriano Kalin. All rights reserved.
Beautiful B&W work Adriano! Well done 🏆 🥇 💯