Tips For Shooting In Wet or Damp Conditions
BY
Photographing
in wet or damp conditions is a mixed blessing. The opportunities are
often enormous; in a constantly damp area, the flora can be beautiful. A
good example is the Inside Passage of Alaska, where lush, old-growth
forests are common. Or a photo journey to a place like Costa Rica (I’ve
never been there, but it’s on my “bucket list”).
But, working in these conditions requires some additional care so that
our photography equipment will not be affected by the constant moisture.
So what are we to do?
Play Weatherman… Will it Rain?
Before heading out (especially to an unknown location) check out the
weather conditions as part of your pre-trip preparation. Using a website
like Weather Underground,
you can find out what the typical temperatures, rain/snow amounts, etc.
are for the area during the time of your expected visit, as well as the
actual weather forecast. If rain looks likely, prepare for the trip
with rain in mind.
Keep Your Equipment Dry
First, regardless of conditions, use a photo backpack or shoulder bag
that is waterproof… you never know when rain may develop! When shooting
in wet conditions, I always use some kind of protection to keep my
camera/lens dry. I usually use a waterproof nylon cover that fits over
my camera body/lens. It has adjustable elastic at both ends, allowing me
to tighten it down in heavy rain, or to loosen it to make adjustments
on my camera or lens.
But, no need to get fancy, or spend a lot of money. You can easily use
small trash bags to keep the equipment dry (I always keep a spare handy
in my photo backpack); and you can punch a hole in the closed end of a
small trash bag so that it will slide over the lens. Just add a rubber
band to keep it firm around the lens hood and you’re in BUSINESS
!
!Storing Equipment in Damp Conditions
When I’m in a damp location (i.e., along Alaska’s Inside Passage, on a
weeklong boat trip) and the equipment is not being used, I always store
my equipment in my photo backpack, along with a moisture-removing
“mini-dehumidifying” canister. These canisters are small, lightweight
and work around-the-clock, pulling moisture out of the air (or off
delicate equipment).
These devices are inexpensive, work well, and can be regenerated (i.e.
moisture can be pulled back out of them for re-use) when placed in a
convection oven for the required time. These can be purchased where GUN SAFES are sold (I get mine from Cabela’s, but most gun dealers should be able to get them).
are sold (I get mine from Cabela’s, but most gun dealers should be able to get them).Drying Wet Equipment (Exterior Surfaces)
Ok, so you’ve worked at keeping your equipment dry, but still MANAGED to
get water on the body or lens. What do you do? Well, the first thing is
to use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away the excessive moisture on the
exterior surfaces. I always carry some clean, dry pieces of old cotton
t-shirts in my “cleaning supply” bag, and use these for both removing
excess water and for cleaning the glass on my lenses (with a suitable
lens cleaner). Most anything that will absorb moisture can be used in an
emergency.
to
get water on the body or lens. What do you do? Well, the first thing is
to use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away the excessive moisture on the
exterior surfaces. I always carry some clean, dry pieces of old cotton
t-shirts in my “cleaning supply” bag, and use these for both removing
excess water and for cleaning the glass on my lenses (with a suitable
lens cleaner). Most anything that will absorb moisture can be used in an
emergency.Oops, Water Inside My Equipment!
What should you do if you get water inside the camera or lens? This is
much more serious and it is likely that you will need professional
services from either the manufacturer, or from a reputable camera
serviceman. But there are some immediate things that I would recommend
you do:
- First, remove all the exterior moisture that you can
- Remove the CAMERA BATTERY
- If
excessive amounts of moisture may have entered the camera body or lens,
place the body or lens inside a sealable plastic bag, along with A DEHUMIDIFYING
- As soon as you can, have the manufacturer or qualified repair service person assess your equipment
Don’t Let the Weather Stop You!
Some of the most wonderful landscape images are made in inclement
weather, so don’t decide to stay indoors because “it looks like it could
rain.” Instead, go outdoors ready to shoot, but be prepared for bad
weather! You might even capture that ever-elusive shot that others won’t
get (because they stay indoors)!
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Loaning
and borrowing photographic gear has always been a delicate subject,
especially among photographers who are also good friends. It involves a
lot of trust on one side and responsibility on the other. The value of
the tools is fairly high most of the times and that makes things even
more delicate. I’m not in any position to judge whether it is right or
wrong to loan
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