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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: The 4 Best Sony Cameras for Travel Photography The Phoblographer Arles 2025 : Boogie Woogie Photography : Summer Breeze The Eye of Photography Weird, Wonderful Photos From the Archives The Atlantic Photo story: A photographer's guide to Texas National Geographic Arles photography review: have photographs lost their power? Financial Times Rose Library awarded Getty Foundation grant to process Jim Alexander photography collection Emory News Center OSU-Tulsa team takes home awards in graphic, writing, photography categories and more at 2025 OCPRA Conference Oklahoma State University City-hosted exhibit unites sculpture, photography and painting under one roof New University | UC Irvine Wellcome Photography Prize 2025: Images that explore health, science and survival British Journal of Photography Why the PolarPro Warp Filter Save Photography from AI The Phoblographer Why Are We Doing Film Photography Again? Fstoppers Sign Up Now! Official EJU Online Photography Workshop European Judo Union Show Off Your California National Park Photography In The Foundation’s New Photo Contest – Here’s How To Submit Secret Los Angeles Jeffrey Henson Scales photographs of Harlem See Great Art Petaluma Arts Center rides a vibrant blue wave Petaluma Argus-Courier The Week In Photos - July 18, 2025 CapeNews.net Photography Fundraiser Receives Warm Reception Outlook Newspapers Photography Sans Performance 34th Street Magazine Our go-to lenses for wildlife photography in 2025 Live Science Another round of 4-H photography judging in the books Southeast Iowa Union The Rise of China in the Photography World The Phoblographer Two Artists at Cousen Rose Focus on Abaca, Photography The Martha's Vineyard Times Photography students go off the grid and into the gallery Southwest Regional Publishing See 100 years of New York City—through the lens of Nat Geo photographers National Geographic Open for Business: Morgan Spry Photography KOLO | 8 News Now I will never find home: A Sudanese photographer’s wartime journey The New Humanitarian Two Germans invaded my marriage proposal – and I couldn’t be happier Digital Camera World Explore the Lola Smith photograph collection Ripon Commonwealth Press Top 20 Mamiya 7 Photographers You Need to Know in 2025! Analog Forever Magazine Are You on the Social Media Platforms That Offer the Best Online Experience for the Photographer? Fstoppers How can a photo be abstract? In new exhibit, four photographers weigh in Lookout Eugene-Springfield Laura Ben-David, beloved photographer, writer and Israel advocate, dies at 56 The Times of Israel Take advantage of these 6 Maine hidden gems in your smartphone photography The Portland Press Herald ‘Funny Business: Photography and Humor’ Review: A Lighter Lens at the Phoenix Art Museum The Wall Street Journal I tested the Fujifilm X half — and it proves that specs aren't as important as having fun Tom's Guide MMVI Celebrates Photography Legends Marc Riboud & Bruno Barbey Morocco World News Navot Miller: Bringing Paradise to Berlin Sleek Magazine True Crime (1) Killer behind the lens The Korea Herald These spectacular moments can't be staged or replicated, shot on Sony A7 IV by the Nature Photographer of the Year Digital Camera World Pick Your Own Flowers & Photography June 28-Frost Collegiate Times 25% off Festival of Photography: Documentary tickets – offer ends Monday, so don’t miss out! Amateur Photographer Stan Douglas and the Double Life of Images The New York Times Review | When photography was born, fascination, obsession and danger followed - The Washington Post Review | When photography was born, fascination, obsession and danger followed The Washington Post Book uncovers WWII era photographer’s treasure trove Las Cruces Bulletin RCHS photographer Kueny joins workshop groups at IU Newsbug.info Shiho Fukada National Geographic Vivo X200 FE review: Stylish looks, stellar daylight photography financialexpress.com Is Sigma Developing a New Lens for Bird Photography? The Phoblographer Photography exhibit is a celebration of biodiversity Bucks County Herald newspaper These Portrait Photography Presets are Simple to Use The Phoblographer Let Inga Tell You: How a family of inept photographers helped spur a lifelong passion San Diego Union-Tribune OPPO x Hasselblad partnership renewed - with an even higher benchmark for phone photography set Amateur Photographer A Collection Of Rare Blondie Photos Is Going On Display For Free In London This Summer Secret London Can Harman Phoenix II Beat Kodak in Film Photography? The Phoblographer Get 18 bonus gifts with the August 2025 issue of Digital Camera Digital Camera World Gabe Rene Photography launches photo rescue project dailytimes.com 6 Photographers Unveil the Hidden Realities of Depression The Phoblographer The 4 Best Travel Photography Cameras to Purchase in 2025 The Phoblographer Derek and Quentin, twins from Indiana who live in the woods: Robin de Puy’s best photograph The Guardian Spirituality, Nature, and Performance Converge in Victoria Ruiz’s Vibrant Photographs thisiscolossal.com |
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