3 Tips to Keep Your Camera Gear Safe and Dry in the Outdoors
As outdoor photographer/filmmakers, we have an added obstacle in that weather rarely cooperates. This is particularly the case during fall, winter, and spring (my preferred seasons for landscape photography). In this journal entry, I want to discuss how I combat this fact of life and overcome it so that I can still venture out no matter the conditions.
Before we do that, however, I want to share a collection of photos I’ve captured over the years during adverse weather conditions:
My hope is that these images inspire you to make the effort to get outside during all conditions even though that living room sofa is just so cozy on cold rainy days. When weather starts to fog, rain, or storm grab your camera, and get out there for some dramatic and artistic photo opportunities.
Tip #1 - Get the “right” gear ahead of time
Before you click the “add to cart” button, you’re really going to want to make sure your gear is properly weather sealed. It’s a feature in most modern camera equipment, but there are always inexpensive options that lack robust weather resistance. I had a really nice lens in the past that I had to return because it had no weather sealing on the mount (where it attaches to the camera body), and this was just unacceptable for what I do. Since the sensor is mere centimeters away from the back of the lens, even a tiny droplet of water or grain of sand sneaking its way through could cause catastrophic damage.
I chose the Fuji GFX 50S II as my photo camera and the Sony A7S III as my video camera. Both have really professional weather sealing built into them. In addition to that, I always spend a little extra on my lenses in order to make sure they match the outdoor capabilities of the camera body associated with it. It’s no good spending $3-4,000 on a camera body and pairing it with a $200 lens that can’t handle even the slightest drizzle.
By purchasing the proper gear ahead of time (even if it costs a bit more) you should be totally fine in most conditions. Since the equipment you choose to carry will determine the overall success of your shoot, a camera and its lenses must have a level of water and debris resistance equal to the conditions you’ll be facing. Otherwise, abandon the notion that you’ll be an outdoor photographer.
Tip #2 - check your weather app
You can also look outside a window, but if you’re a victim of the digital age, like me, pull out your smart phone and open up the weather app. I have a couple of different weather apps that I will use. (Side note: get one with a radar map so you can see what’s on the horizon as well.) See what the predictions are for the timeframe of your shoot. Check weather.com and accuweather. Don’t even start packing up your camera gear until you’ve done this. Generally, the night before I go out, I will check as many resources as I can and see where they all agree. Based upon their collective predictions, I’ll know what to pack and how bad/good the weather will most likely be.
In the near-ish future, I’m planning on writing a dedicated Journal entry on weather and cloud predictions, so I won’t go into great detail at the moment. Suffice it to say there is a balance between the weather being too bad so that it’s not even worth shooting and so sunny and mild it’s boring to shoot. Again, more on this in a future entry.
Tip #3 - towels, bags, Silica Packets, etc.
My third tip is to make sure you pack a couple microfiber towels (I actually pack three in my backpack and keep one in my vehicle). It should be something with a little loft so it can absorb water. These are the exact towels I purchased from Costco if you’re curious.
A nice backpack or shoulder bag that will protect your camera is a must. I use a Shimoda Action X50 for my camera which is made from water resistant fabric. It’s fantastic and comfortable. I can’t recommend it enough, but I’ve also used other bags in the past that just had included rain covers. Either method is totally fine, but you’ll definitely want something to protect your gear when not in use.
In addition to this, I make sure to toss a few silica packets into my camera bag. DON’T go out and buy them. Just use those little packets that all your gear ships with and call it good. Once it’s been a year or two, change them out. It may not seem like a big deal, but they will really help absorb moisture as your kit dries off in your backpack or bag.
If you’re expecting very wet conditions, an umbrella is super helpful to add to your kit. Get something large enough to cover you and your camera and sturdy enough to withstand high wind. I don’t understand why this is such an overlooked piece of gear. Even if it feels like overkill, buy one and use it in rainy conditions. Do everything in your power to keep that camera dry!
Bonus tip - lens changes are scary!
I’ve stupidly changed out my lenses a couple times while it was raining or snowing. Normally, I advise doing this beforehand in your car, but if the situation calls for it, and you can’t get back to a safe spot to change out your lens, there are a couple things we can do to prevent any issues. Although, none of these are a guarantee you won’t get the inside of your camera wet.
Face opposite the wind
Use your body as a shield
Do the change with the camera sensor facing downward and opposite the wind
Have a dry (DRY) cloth handy just in case your lens mount catches a droplet or snowflake
Once again, my advise is to change any lenses ahead of time while your camera is safe and dry, so don’t take this as my permission to run around swapping lenses out in the middle of a blizzard!
The same rules apply to battery and memory card changes. Unless you are in your vehicle or under an overhang and completely safe from the elements, avoid even opening up these sensitive areas. Last thing you want is for snow or rain to get into any internal camera compartment.
Final Thoughts
In any form of outdoor photography, there is always a chance of being hit by unexpected weather systems. Whether you’re purposely photographing during these inclement conditions or you get caught off guard, having proper gear with you will mean the difference between a successful shoot and a disastrous one.
Just keep in mind that there are obvious times when weather is bad enough that you really should not be going out to photograph or film PERIOD. Use your best judgment to decide whether or not you should be out there. Honestly, there have been several times I packed it out as soon as I could because the weather was getting bad and it became more hazardous than fun.
Now go enjoy outdoor photography with a little more confidence!
-Jude