Recently, I went out to take pictures in the coldest conditions so far this season. I was bundled up from head to toe in layers of clothes and still froze! It made me think about my camera gear and what should be done to take care of one’s camera gear in cold weather. Going from extreme weather changes can be hard on your camera and lenses. It’s important to acclimate your gear to the temperature shifts. One thing you can do is spend some time, if possible at least 30 minutes, outside with your gear enclosed in your camera bag (so it can slowly cool down to the temperature outdoors) perhaps hiking to your photoshoot location. This will prevent moisture from getting into your camera from abrupt environmental changes. While out in the cold, your battery will drain quickly. It’s important to bring spare batteries if you plan on being outside for any length of time. To keep them from draining, keep your batteries close to your body for the warmth. When it’s time to leave the shoot location, remove your memory card from your camera, then seal your gear in a freezer bag and zip it into your camera bag. Leave it in there to acclimate back to the warmth of your house. Again, you’ll be avoiding moisture from penetrating the bag. By taking the memory card out before packing away your camera, you’ll have access to your images to work on them in your post-processing software, without disturbing your camera. Keep yourself and your gear safe this winter but have a wonderful time!
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Have you ever gone out to a photoshoot with a preconceived notion of what you wanted to get for your shots? I have. On the day that I took this particular shot, I had planned on a sunset shot. I had the image pictured in my head. I knew exactly what I wanted. BUT circumstances did not cooperate (as often is the case)! I got there hours and hours before sunset. Sure, I waited. And the beach was crowded with people waiting for the sunset—messing up my planned photograph. There was NO way that my planned landscape picture was going to happen with all the people buzzing around!! I could’ve given up. Thrown in the towel. But no. Given that I was at my location early, I decided to play! I got out my lensball and played until sunset. I don’t usually take images in the middle of the day, but I used the conditions that I was given. My advice… You have to be flexible and open about what you’re going to shoot when you go out—otherwise, you may never get any images. Rarely do all the circumstances align so that you get the perfect conditions for a photograph. Relax and have fun. Be prepared to try things that you may not have expected to try. Who knows you may find something you love! Something I love to do, but I find extremely frustrating is bird photography! I love to do it because I love to be in nature…listening to the sounds and getting lost in every movement & the peacefulness of it. BUT it is, for me, extremely frustrating trying to predict the movements of the birds—capturing the best photograph without disturbing them or getting too close, thus causing them to fly away! I know it’s my inexperience, lack of knowledge and impatience. All things I think I could grow to love even more with time. I’ve watched, in awe, as a seasoned pro can identify a bird as it flies quickly by over our heads. She notes its striped wings and unusual shaped tail feathers. I, on the other hand, see only a dark streak as it crosses the sky. She calls out the scientific name, gender, and common name. While all I think is, “Oooh, look! A bird!” She’s looking for the spectacular, while I just want to find something that has wings and will sit long enough for me to photograph! I’ll take a picture of a common sparrow, seagull or catbird (I had never even heard of a catbird until I started doing this!) They all fascinate me. Now I want to look up the birds that I photograph and learn what they are. I haven’t studied them, yet, but I know that will come. So, if you decide to give bird photography a try. Along with your camera gear, I would recommend that you pack your patience, your curiosity and your patience! Go out expecting to get in touch with nature and have some fun! |
What Is This Page?Since I love photography and teaching, I thought I would start a Blog page and share how I take my images, what I was thinking and about me. Categories
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