Backpacker Magazine – March 2010

Shoot Photos Like a Pro: Photo Survival Guide

The outdoors can be tough on a camera, so be prepared with this survival guide.

by: Steve Howe

Tags:
• Gear
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• Skills
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• Digital cameras
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» Pack 2GB of card space per day if you’re shooting a lot of RAW images. Bring even more if you’re after action or people photos and will be firing in continuous mode—or need to capture just the right expression or position.

» Shield your camera from mild precipitation with a freezer or garbage bag. When not in use, keep it dry in a roll-top drybag (we like models from Pacific Outdoors and Granite Gear).

» If your camera gets wet anyway, revive it by putting it in a zip-top bag with a desiccant packet or a dry paper towel. Suck the air out, close it tight, and keep the package warm overnight to force moisture into the absorbent items.

» Even with waterproof cameras, condensation from cold, humid conditions can form inside the housing. Put cameras and gear in a zip-top bag before leaving a warm house or tent. That way, drops will condense on the bag, not your lens. Remove your camera when temps equalize. This also works when you’re going from the cold outdoors to a warm tent. Don’t blow on the lens, or you’ll create more condensation.

» Subzero temps require three to four times the battery power of summer climates. Swap alkalines for lithium batteries, which last longer and work better in the cold. When they’re not in use, keep all batteries warm in an inner pocket or sleeping bag, or rubber-band a chemical handwarmer around them.

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