Last Updated on 07/21/2013 by Gevon Servo
As I am writing this this, the New York area is dealing with another heat wave. Shooting in the middle of the day is down right insane at the moment. The temperature has been hovering around 100f/37c for a few days now, again iced coffee is not enough to refresh you. It’s brutal out there. We talked about this once before but time and experience has given us a few more tips to share.
Here are some more ways to deal with the heat. And if you really have this problem a lot, check out our other list.
Water Water Everywhere, Not Just to Drink
Don’t just drink a ton of water. Use water as a theme for your photography. This could be especially useful if you have to be out shooting during the day. Shooting by a fountain, if you are in a city park, a river or a beach is much more pleasant. Water, of any type, can be an excellent addition to any scene. It can be used as leading lines, a back drop, or even a character in the scene. The spray of the water will also cool thing down just a bit.
Early to Bed Early to Rise
Don’t be afraid to kick back under some air-conditioning and go to bed early in order to wake up ultra early. The mornings, depending on where you live, are generally quiet. It is also the coolest time of day with warm morning light to greet you.
Most people are not out at this time so you can take advantage of empty streets or parks.
Long Exposure Photography
If the morning is not your thing, stay up late. Make the nighttime the right time. There are other parts of photography to play with at night. Long exposure photography is a great one in the heat. It does not require a lot of movement. The minimal amount of gear you will need is a camera, a lens set to its highest f-stop, a tripod and a remote. This type of photography can be done anywhere.
Flash it
If you don’t have the patience for long exposure photography, play with lighting. If you don’t have a lot of experience using a flash, you now have a perfect time to experiment. Grab few friends or even find a macro subject. It beats the heat. Most people think of using flashes all wrong. With some experimentation, you will have a better understating of things.
Just be sure to keep your gear cool when you’re doing this.
Light Camera Gear
When dealing with heat, travel light. You don’t need your, entire kit. A camera body, a prime lens and maybe a flash will do. Focus with your feet if you have to. A light bag is also recommended. Keeping things simple will help you stay cooler. If you have to stabilize your camera try a desktop tripod like and Ultrapod II. It can be mounted almost anywhere. If not, you can also use your environment a tripod.
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