The Well-Dressed Photographer - Summer
Outdoor photographers shoot year round. That includes the hot summer. You may be surprised to learn that the best way to tolerate the heat is not to strip down to your skivvies. Instead, using the right products and wearing clothing designed to face the challenges of summer will help you keep your cool. Safety First One of the first concerns to being outside is exposure to the sun. Not only will it age your skin more quickly, sun can cause skin cancer. Everyone's skin can be damaged by prolonged exposure to sunlight. Fairer skin, higher altitudes, central latitudes, mid-day exposures and summer months can shorten the time it takes to sustain sun damage. Sun exposure is intensified when reflected by water, sand or snow. But heat and brightness do not indicate UV intensity. Damage can occur on overcast days, too. A new statistic, the UV Index, is now cited on weather reports to help people gauge their exposure to sunlight. The higher the number, the more quickly damage can occur. You can do many things to protect yourself from damaging exposure to the sun. First, minimize unnecessary time in the sun. Sit in the shade and go inside during the middle of the day when the sun is too intense for the best shots, anyway. When you are in the sun, add layers of protection with sunscreen and clothing. Sunscreen Protection One of the main items in your summer wardrobe should be sunscreen. While you won't find it at the chic clothing store, it should be considered your outer layer when trying to avoid too much sun. Sunscreen lotions or sprays are made of chemicals that absorb ultraviolet rays before they penetrate our skin. Sunscreens have an "SPF" factor (sun protection factor) that compares your skin's vulnerability to burning with and without the sunscreen. "Broad spectrum" sunscreens absorb both UVB and most UVA rays. Some researchers believe that no extra benefits come from a sunscreen with a higher SPF than 15, and that buying a higher SPF product is a waste of money. Keep an eye on new research; in the meantime, use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. To use sunscreen effectively, apply a generous amount to dry skin, 20-30 minutes before exposure, especially to your neck, face, ears, bald spots and the back of your legs. Reapply often, especially if you're sweating. Sprays with SPF are just as effective. Their use is a personal choice. Also use lip balm with an SPF. Some research has shown that sunscreens do more than protect you from harmful UV rays. Because they act as a barrier to the sun, they also may make you feel cooler. Whether it is for comfort or safety, sunscreen products are a must when enjoying the outdoors. Other Protection The clothes you wear when shooting in summer must perform two important jobs. First, they should protect you from the sun and heat. Second, they should keep you comfortable. They accomplish these vital tasks through material and design. A cotton t-shirt has a low SPF and UV rays can penetrate it easily. Instead, wear clothing that is tightly woven or use clothing that has its own SPF built in. Wear a hat with a brim that will protect your ears, neck and face, as well. While you may think that sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts and shorts are the desired clothing for summer activities, wearing the new lightweight SPF materials in long-sleeved shirts and pants may keep you even cooler. They serve as a barrier from sunlight and also protect you from pesky and potentially harmful bugs. The Ex-Officio clothing company also offers garments with an insect resistant treatment. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke also are concerns when exposed to the summer elements. Keeping cool with the proper clothing, drinking lots of water and moderating your activities are the best ways to prevent these life-threatening emergencies. Comfort Ensures Safety Sweating is the body's way to keep our body temperature at appropriate levels. Your sweat is excreted to the skin where it can evaporate and will make you cooler. When clothing made of certain materials gets wet from perspiration and humidity, it sticks to your skin and hinders that evaporation process. While cotton is comfortable when dry, it absorbs sweat and humidity easily. It then takes a long time to dry, gets heavy and holds that moisture next to your skin making you uncomfortable. Certain polyesters and nylons perform the same way. Enter the wicking materials. Newer (and some natural materials) are constructed for maximum breathability to pull the moisture away from your skin. Wicking materials then dry and leave you cooler and more comfortable. These wicking materials include silk, Coolmax�, polypropylene, MTS 2� (Moisture Transport System), and capilene. In the past, these materials suffered from problems such as odor retention, scratchy feel, and unattractive looks. They have been improved so much that it is sometimes hard to believe that they aren't cotton. To maximize your summer comfort, your first layer - any material touching your skin - should be made of these wicking-type materials. This includes your underwear, t-shirts and socks. New clothing designs also help keep you cool. They include vents in the sides or back of shirts, button tabs to roll up sleeves, light-colored materials to reflect the sunlight, pants that you can convert to shorts and loose-fitting clothing to keep the material from sticking to your skin. Clothing has come a long way towards making your summer outdoor activities more tolerable. Final Tips Go to your local outdoor store to get personal shopping advice, or find these products and additional helpful information online at websites such as REI or Altrec. Read the directions and care labels in the products you buy to maximize their effectiveness. For example, some clothing looses its wicking ability if you apply fabric softeners to them. Others may need to be line dried to avoid shrinkage. Still others can't be ironed. Even when the heat of the summer is on maximum, you don't have to stop shooting. Use these tips and products to make your outdoor photography more safe and comfortable. Copyright 2005 Carolyn E. Wright All Rights Reserved --- ABOUT THE AUTHOR --- Carolyn Wright is a professional photographer with an active wildlife photography business. Shooting for 25 years, her award-winning images have been used in books and corporate marketing materials. Her photos will be included in the upcoming book, "Captivating Wildlife - Images from the Top Ten Emerging Wildlife Photographers" by Scott Bourne and David Middleton. She also is working with Scott Bourne on "Wolfscapes," a photo book documenting the beauty and strength of wolves. Her wildlife images can be viewed at http://www.vividwildlife.com On the faculty of Olympic Mountain School of Photography, Carolyn's passion is enhanced when teaching photography. She enjoys writing and speaking on the subject, as well, and is a regular columnist for PhotoFocus, an online magazine for serious photographers.
MORE RESOURCES: Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 winner captures "holy grail of wildlife photography" Yahoo Life The Best Camera Kit for Street Photography The Phoblographer Cathy Cade, Groundbreaking Lesbian Photographer, Dies at 82 The New York Times Readers Write: Juvenile justice, Elon Musk’s influence, Minnesota leaders, photography, inclusion Star Tribune Billboard’s Best Photography of 2024 Billboard The Banner-Press Events - Photography Brenham Banner Press Check Out 14 Hilarious Winners From the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Contest Smithsonian Magazine New innovations and Photography pricing updates in 2025 the Adobe Blog The Tiffen Warm Black Pro Mist Filters are a Photographer’s Dream The Phoblographer BRIC2 Helps Students Learn About Video Production, Photography, and Community Service The Bedford Citizen Wilkes Art Gallery hosting 44th annual photography competition Watauga Democrat Meet Your Neighbor: Tammy Sauve enjoys landscape photography and exploring nature Midland Daily News Perkins seeks art work South Jersey Media This year’s best books about photography Geographical Magazine Redlands Art Association’s featured artist shows paintings and photography Redlands Daily Facts Workshop: Photography on iPhone Apple Newsroom Guardian US’s best photos of 2024 – in pictures The Guardian Courtesy of Carey Wagner Photography.JPG The Mountaineer I write about photography and these are my ideal stocking stuffers for photographers Digital Camera World Food photographer Andrew Burkle ’09 believes it’s important to give back to current students Athens NEWS The Best Camera Kit for Event Photography The Phoblographer The Best Photography Books to Gift This Holiday Season Feature Shoot Student wins global photography competition for second year in a row Northwestern Now I used Claude AI to plan a photography trip, and it's going to change the way I plan shoots forever TechRadar ART BEAT: Norcross Gallery and Studios celebrates annual photography contest, looks forward to 2025 Gwinnettdailypost.com The Year in Pictures 2024: Far From Ordinary The New York Times What our photographers saw on Friday, December 20 The Philadelphia Inquirer The Final Love of Andy Warhol Revealed in Rare Photographs The Phoblographer How I Fell Back in Love with iPhone Photography The New Yorker Best Books of the Year 2024 Amateur Photographer Does requiring permits to film in public places violate the first amendment? Courts could decide after filmmakers sue National Park Service Digital Camera World The Very Best New Art, Fashion and Photography Books AnOther Magazine Eva Scofield Celebrated At NFR 2024 For Her Iconic Rodeo Photography COWGIRL Magazine San Francisco Names a Street For the Photographer Who Captured Marines Raising an American Flag at Iwo Jima Smithsonian Magazine Historical Treasure: Terre Haute photographer has scandalous story Terre Haute Tribune Star Moment's QuickLock filters for iPhone 15 and 16 will elevate your mobile photography and filmmaking DIY Photography Rep. David Scott, 79, unloads on photographer outside Capitol — amid concerns over pol’s mental fitness New York Post ‘Through Our Eyes’ Exhibit Highlights Nature Writing and Photography Stony Brook News Photography inspires UC student to chart new path University of Cincinnati What is focal length in photography? DIY Photography The New Art: American Photography, 1839–1910 The Metropolitan Museum of Art Yes, we wrote ‘Nickel Boys’ with POV in mind, but it went further and deeper than that Los Angeles Times Review of the Year 2024: Top 25 Photography It's Nice That Magnum Photographer David Hurn Pays Homage to André Kertész in His Latest Photo Book The Phoblographer Adobe price increases coming – up to 50% more on Photography Cloud (20GB) package Amateur Photographer The Story Behind the Making of the Iconic Surrealist Photograph, Dalí Atomicus (1948) - Open Culture Elane Photography v. Willock Alliance Defending Freedom |
RELATED ARTICLES
Pinhole Photography: Right Back to Basics Why Pinhole Photography?It's fun. It's creative. What Should You Look for in a New Camera? These parameters are discussed at 2 levels: -Based on degree of functional use of available features -Based on the type of photography you want to attempt -->Based on degree of functional use of available features A person who is happy with his or her camera model usually responds with the following words of praise. 'Incredible ease of use' 'User-friendly controls' 'Intelligently and thoughtfully designed' 'Excellent value for money' 'Light and compact' These are the kind of terms that you will come across from camera owners who are satisfied with their camera models. Studio Photography and Digital Backgrounds The article given here was written for Adobe Photoshop 5,6,7,CS, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 and 3.Most photographers who are serious about improving their portrait taking skills have realized that a beautiful background can greatly enhance their photographs. How to Photograph Your Baby Babies make the best and the worst subjects to photograph. They are the best for two reasons, people are more tolerant at looking at baby photos, as well as the fact that babies are not aware their image is being captured, and therefore they do not tend to put on the "camera face" so typically used by elder children and adults. Passionate Organizing: How To Create A System To Organise Your Digital And Traditional Photos Digital photography promises much. Store your photographs on your computer, print them when you want, email them to friends and family - share them to your heart's content. Digital Camera Macro Mode The digital camera is a wonderful device that allows a diverse variety of applications with its even diverse spectral collection of utilities. As technology progresses it brings along with it those intense pleasures that human beings have only thought of. Photography Success Without School What I learned from a mentor that enabled me to go from an amateur photographer to a professional portrait photographer in very specific steps is something I like to pass on. Rather than spending countless hours in classes learning every possible detail, I learned just the necessary specifics and now I work out of my home full time and have been in business for over 17 years, but I started out with practically nothing; just an interest in photography and the need to earn more money. How to Take Great Photos of Your Child Children are naturally photogenic. Ive worked in studios and children are so easy to photograph. Digital Cameras and Digital Photography Before you rush into buying your digital camera this holiday season make sure your properly informed. Many consumers during the holiday season rush into purchasing electronic equipment in a mad panic to get that high end gift for their loved one or spouse. Tips for Better Vacation Photos Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences with family and friends. Here are a few suggestions to help you capture vacation memories you will treasure for years to come. Make More of Your Photos We all want to make the most of our wedding photos and a new service from totalPIX makes it very easy with their beautifully bound photobooks.Like all the best ideas, the idea of a photobook is very simple. Tame Those Memories Family vacations, summer weddings and family reunions are in full swing, and the warm memories and envelopes of photographs are ever growing! You certainly intend to organize them -- but the boxes in the attic are full of intentions, and now the photograph CDs are being to pile up! What can you do to stop the madness?Step 1: Decide why you are saving the photographs. My mother- in-law, for example, wants to ensure them for future generations, which means acid-free paper and detailed labeling. Bracketing and How To Use Tt Correctly... What Is.. Digital Camera Interpolation Explained In a device such as a digital camera it is very important to understand the very basic aspects of the device so as to properly operate it and give it the due respect it deserves. Such a topic is interpolation! These are accessories that help the digital camera to perform the technologically advanced features that it is capable of. Disposable Underwater Cameras Disposable digital and film cameras (also called single-use cameras) provide a cheap and easy alternative for photographers. They offer an option for times when you don't want to risk your expensive equipment but you do want to take some photographs. Start Up a Nude Photography Business There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude photography, not least of which is the need to practise technique. By its very nature there has to be at least one subject, and the big problem for the photographer here is image. Disposable Cameras for Weddings Disposable wedding cameras (also called single-use cameras) will never replace a professional photographer, of course. But they could save money on the overall photo budget, provide memorable fun for you and your guests, and occasionally turn up a priceless casual shot. Photography - Rules of Composition Composition is defined as the combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole. In photography that definition is very important in taking quality pictures. Get Closer to Your Subject Almost any shot will look better if you take two or three steps closer to your subject. Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make a terrific difference to your photos. Using Film Speed Effectively So you have this great new camera. Now you're standing in front of a display of more film that you've ever seen. |
home | site map |
© 2006 KeralaClick.com |