NOTE: I keep thinking of things while I’m in this cleaning process, so I will continue to add info, photos, and embellish. Check back if you are interested in this BIG CAMERA CLEANING
I consider myself a Professional Packer, since I seem to do it all the time. Packing and unpacking. In previous blog posts I have discussed what gear I take on international trips and how I pack all my photographic equipment (and I have my equipment list on my website). Now I’m home after two months of travel and I have to unpack it all (while thinking of two upcoming trips). I hate unpacking, really hate it.
First I throw everything out of the suitcases onto my living room floor and begin dividing it into laundry, photo equipment, gifts and personal purchases, toiletries, and “other stuff”. It takes days for my living room to look normal. I returned this recent Monday night and it is now Thursday and the floor is still covered with stuff; I would rather write a blog post. And, hey there is lots to do (she says with emphasis) — copious emails to respond it, mail to read, movies to watch, and friends to see. Plenty of reasons to procrastinate these chores. Eventually I will see my living room floor again, probably by tomorrow.
The last thing involved in the Great Unpacking is the most important and the most time consuming the The Big Camera Cleaning: cleaning, examining and organizing my camera and computer equipment.
Note: It is now Saturday and I’m getting ready….
First: (and this happens first thing the day I get home) I download my images from my portable hard drives into my Drobo and Backup drive located in The Grayroom, my editing office (just some of the walls are painted 18% gray).
Second: I unload everything from my camera bags and line up the lenses, filters, cameras, flashes, etc. on a table to be cleaned (more on this in a bit). I check all the camera bag pockets and make sure nothing is inside. I then put the camera bags in the washing machine on the gentle cycle. Yep, I wash them with Woolite or Ivory Snow — as well as the tripod bag, camera straps, lens cloths, and anything else that can be washed. I have never ruined a camera bag in the washing machine yet, but I do pay attention during the spin. I air dry the bags. I then scrub out my Pelican hard case, in the bathtub, which holds my extra gear.
Note on using a washing machine: Obviously, this is at your own risk. I have never destroyed a bag but I take off all the straps and am careful about how I place it in the washing machine (I have a top loader). I first run the water and then turn off the washer, by hand I push it up and down to clean out the insides, then on Gentle Cycle I run the machine. I pay attention to when the Spin begins and only let it go for a minute or put it on low spin. Then I put the bag(s) out in the New Mexico sun to dry or let it dry for a couple of days inside.
Third: I check all my accessories (wires, chargers, batteries, etc.) and make a list of anything that needs to be replenished, replaced, or fixed and then put them back in my much battered, yet clean, Pelican case — ready for the next trip.
Fourth: I throughly clean all my lenses, cameras, filters, flashes, and absolutely anything that needs to be cleaned. And, this includes cleaning the sensors with Visible Dust Arctic Butterfly if necessary.
Sunday Dec 13th: My world is getting more organized:
I wipe them with damp cloths, use q-tips in the buttons, and examine them to see if any dust is inside the lenses. I clean all filters and check for scratches. I clean the sensors. This time I will probably send my cameras off to CPS (Canon Pro Services) to be cleaned and checked since I used these cameras in tough elemental conditions and they took a few knocks; I usually have my cameras and some lenses checked every year. I don’t just use my cameras; I abuse them. I clean everything. I watch TV or a movie while I do this; and I do it during the day so I can examine everything in strong sunlight.
After all the cameras and lenses are clean I check the mirrors, focusing screens, and sensors of each camera. I use Visible Dust products. I check them with first with a loupe and then use a full sensor Arctic Brush if necessary. I don’t use swabs unless absolutely necessary (this is rare). I have a separate brush for cleaning the focusing screen.
Sunday Dec 13th Note: I put double-sided Scotch tape on the inside of all the back-caps of my lenses to help catch dust before the lens is inserted inside the camera. During this cleanup I take off the tape (and it does catch a lot of dust; I change my lenses often in the field), and put all the lens caps (front & back), strobe diffusers, etc. in a warm water bath and scrub them with a brush, then air dry. After all the lenses are clean I put new double sided Scotch tape back in the inside of the back caps. I also replace the Hoodsman LCD protectors I use on my cameras.
Fifth: I check the focusing on my lenses. First by checking them at f/8 — I put the camera on a tripod and focus on sharp type (lock up the mirror and use a cable release). If they aren’t sharp at f/8… they need help. And, then I use LensAlign to see how badly they are front and back focusing. (Read the article on Luminous Landscape about this nifty device).
Sixth: I order replacements and other gear I need from B&H.
Seventh: I lock everything away in my Camera Room (yes, my gear has it’s own room that stays locked) and am assured it is ready for an assignment or anything that could come up unexpectedly.
As of now… the hard drives are unloaded, laundry is done, but I have to pick up all those other pesky items laying about … and then I start the Big Camera Cleaning. And it must be this weekend, because I’m leaving again December 16th.
Packing and Unpacking. This is my life as a photographer.
Oh, I’ll edit those 15,000 images someday also.
24 comments
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January 4, 2010 at 4:33 am
Anders Dahl
It’s good to read about the progress “after” the photos have been taken.
I sometimes feel planning and unpacking are the unknown things photographers never talk about, but a good system helps extend the life of your gear.
January 4, 2010 at 9:13 am
nevada wier
I agree Anders. I must admit that I’m quite abusive to my equipment when I’m photographing. And, then I try and make it up to them after the trip! However, rarely do they forgive me.
December 24, 2009 at 9:25 am
Deigh
Not sure where you are but wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and to thank you for all the help and wise advice this year. It was a pleasure and I look forward to many more interactions
Thanks
December 22, 2009 at 9:38 am
terri gold
Nevada
you are amazing
you make me laugh and cry and teach me things all in the same post
i feel your pain and joy in the travel photographers life
and in the images we are all creating
and love jeffrey chapmans comment on packaging the double sided tape
sending you all warm wishes for the holidays
December 18, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Bob Krist
Nevada: You mean you don’t have a staff to deal with those 15,000 images?!!! I thought I was the only one left who had to face the music of my own processing madness! Good luck and godspeed! I feel your pain… your pal, Bob
December 19, 2009 at 11:24 am
Nevada wier
Yep, I do all the editing myself. I prefer to as I have to make the choices. I have a couple of part-time assistants helping with other things but I usually beat that drum on my own, like you. We have an exclusive club. Happy Holidays! nv
December 16, 2009 at 3:59 pm
ballroompics
Off the wall question. Given the nature of your photography and the places you go…do you adhere to an endurance workout schedule when you are not traveling??
Or is perpetually carrying all this equipment around with you adequate workout in itself? 😉 (Yes, I realize you probably have someone to port your equipment most of the time).
December 16, 2009 at 9:28 pm
nevada wier
Actually, no, I rarely have someone carrying my gear (hence I do have a troubled back). It is easiest if I can carry it myself; I work faster that way. And, yes, I do work out with a trainer when (and that isn’t very often) I’m in Santa Fe. I believe that problem solving creates the creative photographer, not the lenses. So if I don’t feel like carrying a slew of lenses and only take one… then it is up to me to be as creative as I can with that one lens. I am typing on an iPhone at the moment so I will stop here and answer this in a lengthier post at some other time. Happy Holidays!!! nv
December 16, 2009 at 3:53 pm
ballroompics
Regarding B&H. I went into their store (Manhattan) for the first time last week. Amazing place. 2-3 floors of camera and related techie equipment. Anyone with a passion for photography who is passing through NYC should make time to stop in and see all the great stuff they have.
Also, their sales staff are very knowledgeable. The store does a lot of in house testing of the equipment they sell.
Myself, I was looking for a flash-bracket to help eliminate the harsh shadows I sometimes get shooting ballroom competitions.
December 16, 2009 at 9:29 pm
nevada wier
They have been a constant in my life for decades. Balloon competitions! that must be very difficult to photograph. But so wonderful to watch. nv
December 17, 2009 at 10:46 pm
ballroompics
I’ll assume you didn’t really mean to type ‘balloon competitions’!! 🙂 It does give your comment quite some humor though…to think that you thought a ‘balloon competition’ would be wonderful to watch…. 🙂
I definitely got better at ballroom photography as time went on. In the beginning my success rate for a good shot was quite low.
I got sidelined for awhile from competing due to injury which indirectly gave me the time necessary to develop ‘catching the moment’.
December 14, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Jeffrey Chapman
Duh! Double-sided tape! Why didn’t I think of that? It’s a brilliant idea and is going on my shopping list immediately.
December 14, 2009 at 1:04 pm
nevada wier
Rarely am I brilliant but I must admit it does work! nv
December 14, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Jeffrey Chapman
You probably could have marketed double-sided tape discs as Wier Gear Dust Catcher’s and sold them for $5 each! Actually, you probably still can; photographers loving buying gear.
December 14, 2009 at 1:14 pm
nevada wier
Good idea!!!
December 13, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Cindi Riddle
Neavad, This is really very helpful thanks. I am sure you are saving me $$$$! I am learning fast with your help. Double-sided scotch tape inside all back caps of lenses. Who knew! and so much more!
Thanks for sharing with all of us.
You really are appreciated.
December 13, 2009 at 2:28 pm
nevada wier
You are most welcome! Actually I am sitting down right now to put new double-side tape on the back of the caps and then I’m cleaning the lenses. This all takes time but it is worth it.
Oh, and I catching up with Dexter at the same time! nevada
December 12, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Deigh
Thnaks for adding the clarification about washing camera bags – that helps a lot and makes a lot of sense. Humm – the New Mexico sun – humm – the Eugene freezing rain!! Nothing will be drying outside today here. Hee Hee
December 11, 2009 at 8:50 am
mbaltuch
I would love to see a picture of your office. I just redid mine and spent a year thinking about it and designing what I want in an office. A large part of that was looking at pictures of offices belonging to other photographers and chosing elements that fit the way I work. It helped quite a bit. While my office is now done, there are always small tweaks to make it better.
Now I am off to pack for my trip, which is starting tomorrow. I will have to think about washing my camera bags. Haven’t thought about that one before.
December 11, 2009 at 9:30 am
nevada wier
That’s a good idea. I will try and do that. And, I am also planning a remodel for this summer; I need much more room than currently exists. It is now quite dense. But it is gray. I went down to Sherwin Williams and had them mix exactly 18 percent gray to paint on two of the white walls. The carpet, desks, cabinets, tables are all gray. We all wear gray smocks… no that is a lie, but the rest is true!
December 10, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Erin Wilson
Wow! I am totally impressed by your level of organization. Thank you for sharing this.
December 10, 2009 at 11:46 pm
nevada wier
You wouldn’t be if you saw the mess on my floor!
December 10, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Monte Stevens
This was interesting for me. You have quite a routine and a lot of work to get done. I work as a flight attendant and know about packing and unpacking. Seems I usually unpack directly into a washing machine, hoping I get the same number of socks back. I find it interesting you wash your camera bags, just never entered my mind.
Thanks for sharing a bit about your post life as a traveler photographer. So often people romanticize what it would be like and see all that goes on behind the scenes.
Woolite, huh!
December 10, 2009 at 11:48 pm
nevada wier
I remember when I first got a washing machine; I felt like such an adult. No more laundromats! And, Woolite, is the nectar within!