Keep That Digital Camera Dry!
September 29th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
Sometimes you’re on vacation, or hanging around home, and it’s raining. Maybe you like to go to the beach or out boating or hanging out around the pool with some wildly splashing people.
In all cases, you might have a problem if you want to take pictures. It’s not good to get your nice digital camera all wet. Electronics and water generally don’t mix well.
Keeping Your Camera Dried Out
So how do you keep your camera dry? No, the answer it not Depends!
If you take pictures a lot in a wet environment, there’s protective gear you can buy for your camera to keep it dry. Check out Calumet Photogaphic (Free Shipping over $75!) and see if there’s a specific waterproof case for your camera model.
There’s just one catch to all this. You have to use a waterproof camera casing a lot to make it worth the money. For instance, a waterproof case for a Canon Powershot runs a couple hundred dollars. But if you enjoy taking pictures in wet environments, it can be a camera saver and a lot of fun.
Are You Crazy? That’s Too Much Money!
Hey, I said you needed to take a LOT of pictures to make it worth buying protective waterproof casings for your camera. So what if you just need protection to keep your digital camera dry once in a while? Say you’re on vacation and it’s pouring down the rain but you still want to get some pictures.
Don’t despair, there’s a cheap solution!
Buy a clear plastic bag and keep it in your camera case for such emergencies. If you’re away from home and can’t get one, look and see if there’s one of those little disposable shower caps in your motel room.
And if all else fails, swipe a bag out of a little trash can. You can cover all your camera but the lens, and just periodically wipe the lens clean.
Whatever method you choose, be sure to keep that digital camera nice and dry!
Just In Case, Get A Camera Case
September 25th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Protect Your Digital Camera!
If you didn’t buy a case when you got your camera, go back to the store and get one right now. Seriously. A good case will keep your camera safely stored when not in use. This is especially important when traveling, even on a short car trip, and absolutely imperative with air travel. A good case will cushion your camera from the bounces and jolts of travel.
A case also has the virtue of keeping your camera goodies all in one place. Extra batteries, memory/storage cards, lens…. it’s easy to misplace them. Keep them all together in your camera case and protect your camera at the same time.
All Kind of Cases to Choose From!
There are all kinds of bags available these days — backpacks, shoulder bags, sling bags, pouches, rolling cases, beltpacks, rolling cases and soft or hard cases. It all depends on where you’re going with your camera, and like most things, a matter of personal preference. Do you like backpacks more, or a shoulder bag, or a case hanging from a belt around your waist?
If you want to get an idea what all the different kinds of camera bags are available, go poke around the Lowepro site. They’ve been making quality camera bags for around 40 years, and are a top name. They have compatibility charts that allow you to see which bags your camera would fit in that they have available. It’s a great place to get a feel for what’s available out there.
If you see one you like, check out Calumet Photographic - It’s Where the Pros Go! They carry Lowepro cases, their own brand of digital camera cases, and many other top names like Domke, Lightware, Pelican, and many more.
These are all on-line, but you can also go to any good camera store and check out what’s available there also. Many other retail stores carry bags, so if you want a cheaper alternative, try someplace like Best Buy, Sears, or even Walmart.
Like most things, you get what you pay for and a higher priced bag will generally have a better quality construction and last longer. However, a cheaper bag might be all you need. The main thing is just buy one.
Cause you camera will get bumped and jolted and beat around. So… just in case, buy a case.
Thanks For The Memories!
September 22nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Memory Cards For Keeping Those Memories
Last year I took a dream-come-true cruise to Alaska. One of the shore excursions was a train trip up to White Pass Summit. I was so excited!
I had a memory card with lots and lots of space. Ginormous amounts of gigabytes. I was good to go! I just knew I’d have some really great pictures of all that super scenery, and stood out on a tiny little platform for hours in cold and often rainy weather snapping away. I filled that card with what I was sure were memorable photos.
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Corruption Happens
Well, I thought wrong. While the scenery was indeed breathtaking, but what really took my breath away was when I tried to load the pictures onto my computer. Up popped one of those nasty “ERROR” messages informing me the computer could not access those files.
Yep, just like a lot of politicians, the files were corrupt. Nooooo! There was no way to access them, so all those wonderful pictures were gone, gone, gone.
So while it doesn’t happen often, cards can and do go bad. That’s why it’s better to buy two smaller cards for your digital camera than one humongous card. For instance, if you’re looking at buying a 4-GB card, get a couple of 2-GB cards instead, or even four 1-GB cards.
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s cheaper to buy a huge bunch of gigabytes on one card. But if that one card goes bad, there goes ALL your pictures. And what happens if you lose or break that one card? Don’t make the same mistake I did. It’s better to have part of your pictures than none of your pictures.
The Bottom Line
Pay attention to the moral of the story and buy more than one memory card. Two cards are better than one cause some photos are better than none!
Don’t Forget The Batteries!
September 19th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
When you get into digital photography, you’re naturally all excited about your camera. However, there are some other things you need to think about.
A power source is one of the most important concerns for your camera. Digital cameras are an electronic piece of equipment, so you need to provide a steady power supply or your camera just flat out won’t work.
That’s why you have batteries! (I know, I know, you already figured that out!)
Don’t Miss Anything!
Well, here’s something else to figure out. How do you keep from missing any great shots because you tried to take a picture and discovered the battery was dead? Zip, zilch, nada, no juice to turn the camera on.
Trust me, it’s a real bummer to miss a great picture because the camera battery died. The easy solution is to always, ALWAYS, have extra batteries in your camera case. It doesn’t matter if you use rechargeable or regular batteries, you need at least one spare..
The Cold Is A Concern
Camera batteries and I have one thing in common - we hate the cold! When you’re outside taking pictures during cold weather, batteries die fast. Digital camera batteries just don’t last as long when they get cold, so if you’re out there throwing snowballs and taking pictures, it might be better to have a couple of extra batteries.
So Spend The Money Already!
Yes, I realize batteries are expensive, but it’s worth spending a little extra money to keep from beating your head against the wall because a dead battery made you miss that once in a lifetime shot. (Batteries are cheaper than visits to the Emergency Room.)
Now get out there and buy an extra battery or two if you haven’t already, and keep them handy!
Capturing The Creatures Of The Night – Night Photography
September 16th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Night photography is a little more difficult than daytime photography in that you have fewer light sources to use to make sure that the picture is captured properly. You also have the problem of camera shake which will cause your picture to blur. Let us look at a few of these terms in order to understand night photography a little better.
How A Photograph Is Captured
With traditional photography, the film used to create your photograph is coated in a substance which is delicate to light. Once you click the button to take the photograph you’re opening the lens to allow the light to come in. This light and the substance on the film react and, in effect, the photograph is actually burned onto the film.
Day Photography
By using the above explanation, you can say that the lighter the scene is, the shorter the amount of time you need the lens open. The more you leave it open, the more the light will burn the film which will result in your photograph being over-exposed or too white.
Night Photography
Again by using the above explanation on how photographs are captured you can say that the darker the scene is, the longer you need the lens open. This is because it will take longer for the light to burn the film. Your body characteristically shakes and because the lens is open for so long this can cause ‘camera shake’. This is the same with digital photography, the longer you leave the lens open, the more light is allowed in to make the picture.
Camera Shake
Ever thought you had taken the perfect photograph, only to get it back and it is blurry? This is due to camera shake which is caused by your body shivering while the lens is open when you take the photograph. As you aren’t holding the film steady the light source is moving, burning the film and creating a blurry image. This is easy to fix by using a tripod, which is a must in night photography.
Shutter Release Cables
These cables are necessary if you do not want any camera shake. They attach to the button you use in taking the picture and will ensure that the camera is spotlessly steady when the lens is open, taking care of that nasty blur that will appear in your night photography. Of course, you still have to have the camera steady by using a tripod or setting it down on something which isn’t moving.
Night photography requires a little extra patience, but with your digital camera and the right settings, you can get some great photos.
