Saturday, October 6, 2007

Photo Tip: Protect your camera gear from high-humidity

Today I ran into a common problem which can not only ruin your photos, but also ruin your sensitive camera equipment. It was very humid when I got to the park this morning. What's wrong with that? Well, when you pull your camera from your dry, air-conditioned car into a moist, humid environment it will cause water to condense around and inside your camera.

When this happens, if you look through your camera's eyepiece, it will look like your camera is filled with fog. All of your photos will be affected until the condensation evaporates.

Worst yet, the condensation may also form on the electronic circuits inside your camera, which may damage it. And there is no worse feeling for a photographer than to have your camera break on you. I have had a camera break on me twice, and I don't ever want it to happen again!

So how do you prevent the condensation? The easiest way is to keep your camera in its closed bag and let it naturally adjust to the humidity. The warmer, moister air will seep through the bag slowly and the camera will adjust naturally over the next 30 minutes to an hour.

But what if you don't have that long? As a freelancer, I often find myself without that much time, showing up to a location and having to take pictures soon afterwards. Under these circumstances, I unzip my bag partially, but don't open it up. In other words, I make it a little easier for the humid air to get inside and the adjustment to take place.

Usually after 10 or 15 minutes I will take my camera out. If there is no condensation on the lens, then I will turn it on try using it. But if there is condensation, then I wait for it to disappear before turning on the camera. Wiping it off my help the outside of your lens, but doesn't do anything for what may be inside.

What if you don't have camera bag to keep your gear in? For most of you I expect this will be the case. I suggest you wrap your camera with a shirt or a towel, or put it in a purse, handbag, or duffel bag instead before heading out into the humid air. Then follow the same steps as before.

Take care to use these same procedures when going from the moist, humid outdoors into a cool, dry house or building.

Cold weather can also cause problems, especially when going from temperatures below freezing into a warm house, and vice versa. Be sure to follow these same instructions, and be prepared to wait longer before pulling your camera out. The more extreme the different temperatures are the longer your camera will take to adjust.

Let's get this started right!

I have always loved my family and sports, but I stumbled upon my love of photography by accident. The desire to take better photos of my kids led me to where I am today -- a freelance photographer with a love of family and sports photography.

Friends always ask me how they can take better photos, and this blog is one way I hope to help. For things about my wife and kids, see my other blog, The d'Aquin Clan. But for tips about creating better photos, please come here!

For those of you who are sticklers, let me give a little more background. Currently, I am a member of Sportsshooter.com, an online community of professional sports and photojournalists. When I had my own full-time photography business, I was also a member of the Professional Photographers of America. Now, I have a 9-to-5 job that comfortably pays the bills and I do freelance work for fun!