do i have to worry about sand/dust/salt film getting into the viewfinder or lenses while photographing in a very windy area by the beach? is beach wind in cliffs above sea level usually very moist and salty, or is it pretty much clean air?

-- Tom (tristan@tristantom.com), May 30, 2001

Answers

Last time I was taking pictures from cliffs near highway 1 in Northern California, it was very windy. There was a lot of salty moisture in the air, and some actually precipitating out on the hood of my car. It left a nice white crusty residue. That was a pretty extreme day, as the surf was pounding the cliffs. You won't have any trouble feeling the mist on your skin, so if it is present, keep the camera tucked away except when making an exposure. May also be a good opportunity to use the famous UV filter evreybody at this site has something to say about.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), May 30, 2001.

The beach is a camera killer. I have a Rollie 3.5 Planar TLR, I take my Rolleicord to the beach. I have an M4-P Leica, I take my Yashica T4 or Canonet to the beach. I would also suggest that most cameras produce very nice images stopped down, with higher shutter speeds, which is how you can shoot at the beach. Having a "beater" camera can be very relaxing: you forget about protecting your precious possession, and just think about images.

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@s-way.com), May 30, 2001.

After this post I was reminded of Walker Evans. In trying to arrive at a definition for what he called “Valid photography” Walker Evans composed the following: “It is not the image of [the] Secretary [of State] descending from a plane. It is not cute cats, nor touchdowns, nor nudes; motherhood; arrangements of manufacturer’s products. Under no circumstances is it anything ever anywhere near a beach. In short, it is not a lie - a cliché - somebody else’s idea. It is prime vision combined with quality of feeling, no less.”

-- Phil Stiles (Stiles@s-way.com), May 31, 2001.

Tom: I assume that the decision concerning whether to use or care your cameras is an individual issue. I prefer to use mine. Even at the beach. And I live by the sea so I can tell you that salt is ever present in marine air and it will deposit on your camera whether it is windy or not. The main difference is sand: windy days are far more dangerous. Common sense is advisable here. I have used several different types of cameras by the sea, including my M3s and in a life time doing it I have experienced no problems that I could atribute to this fact. According to this experience, Andrew's advice is enough: keep the camera under your coat or keep a cover on the lens whenever you are not actually shooting. That will be enough concerning salt even in windy ocasions. But be extra cautious about sand.

And don't ever forget to clean your bodies and lenses as soon as you get back home.

I wish you to enjoy your photography at the beach. Beatiful things happen over there.

Cheers

Iván

-- Iván Barrientos (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), May 31, 2001.