Archive for Gear Care
It’s no secret that travel is becoming increasingly difficult. Airports haven’t been much fun for the last 20 years or so anyway. But with the increased security following 9/11 and the more recent attempted shoe and underwear bombers, air travel has easily become the most unpleasant part of any trip.
But normally, the best photography sites in the country are not in our back yards. That means travel – often, by air.
So that raises a question.
Should you trust thousands of dollars in camera gear to the tender mercies of the TSA and airline baggage handlers? Or should you ship your gear ahead of you?
There are pros and cons to either. But first, some full disclosure. In addition to my work as a photographer, I own a retail shipping store (similar to a UPS Store) called Postal Center USA in Randolph, MA.
Not that I expect photographers to flock to me to ship camera gear, but I think it’s worth being up-front. It also means that I can speak with some real expertise on the matter. Read More→
Photography 101: Five Tips For Dealing With The Cold Weather
Posted by: | Comments
As much as it may pain many of us who live in northern climates, the cold weather is finally settling in for the long haul. This time often comes with great opportunities to capture gorgeous snow and ice photos. It also means a little extra care needs to be taken with your camera while you are out in these freezing temperatures. Before you embark on trudging through giant snowdrifts for that perfect pine tree photo, follow a few items to help keep your camera happy.
1. Batteries despise the cold. Batteries may provide you power, but they tend to go on strike in the cold. If you do not have extra batteries for your camera, now is the perfect time to invest in one spare at the minimum. The cold is hard on batteries. You can loose as much as 50% of your normal shooting life while shooting in the frigid temperatures.
There are a few things you can do to help extend battery life while out in the cold. The first is to keep your spare batteries close to your body. This at least keeps them close to body temperature. The second thing you can do is use those hand warming packs and wrap them around your batter compartment. This has a side benefit of helping to keep your camera warm. You are not looking to get things sweltering hot, but any bit of warmth is going to be beneficial when it is -10 outside.
2. LCD screens also despise the cold. As the temperatures drop, so does the functionality of your LCD. Your LCD screens can become extremely slow, inaccurate in color, or just not function all together when you are out in the cold. This means you have to account for a few things. Know approximately what setting you will be shooting with, and then set them before you leave the warmth of your car/home. LCDs going on strike in the cold also mean they may not show colors correctly. Read More→
