Adventure Photography: Dealing with the Elements
AMC Outdoors, October 2001
By Michael Lanza
Sometimes the logistics of shooting outdoors erect the greatest obstacles to getting the shot. Herewith, a few tips for successful "outdoor adventure photography."
- When shooting skiers, cyclists, climbers, kayakers, and similar adventurers, scout a location and get ready to shoot before the action unfolds. An auto-focus camera with a motor drive becomes indispensable, and zoom lenses offer more versatility than fixed focal-length lenses.
- If you're shooting water sports or aquatic settings, a hard, waterproof case will protect your camera gear when you're not shooting, and there are also waterproof housings that allow you to shoot in water.
- In any situation where you could lose a camera — like on a cliff or in a river — rig some kind of leash in case you drop it.
- In winter, don't try to keep your camera warm.
- Wear fleece gloves while shooting, and pull on heavy mittens to warm your hands up when you're not.
- When it's really cold, hold your breath while shooting so that your warm exhalations don't condense on the camera and freeze.
- Lithium batteries cost more but last longer in the cold—carry an extra set in a pocket next to your body to keep them warm and fresh.
- When bringing a cold camera indoors, keep it inside a plastic bag or camera case until it warms up, to prevent condensation from collecting on it.
—Michael Lanza is an outdoor writer/photographer who has a B.S. in photojournalism. His images have appeared in several publications, including AMC Outdoors.
