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How to Sandproof Your Gear for Beachfront Photography
The beach can be a photographer鈥檚 dream鈥攐r worst nightmare. Tame unruly sand and salt spray with these pro tips and key tools.
Melissa Groo amid a camera danger zone. Photo: Melissa Groo
At the beach, Melissa Groo聽often drops to eye level with avian beachgoers like plovers, sandpipers, and skimmers to tell stories about their lives. There鈥檚 just one problem for the conservation photographer: the beach itself. Sand can scratch lenses or jam camera buttons and dials. If it gets inside your camera body, the repair cost can be exorbitant. Meanwhile, get too close to the surf, and salt spray can coat your lens and corrode batteries and ports. Don't risk your gear. Follow Groo鈥檚 hard-earned advice to keep your camera safe while soaking up the best of summer.
Lens Protection聽
Lens choice is critical. Zoom lenses generally have a telescoping component easily infiltrated by sand, which can lead to crunchy, clogged gears. For that reason, Groo favors fixed-focal-length lenses. If you do bring a zoom, use a tight-fitting rain sleeve, like the LensCoat RainCoat (), to keep out salt and sand. When not shooting, keep your lens capped and camera stashed.
Groo advises against changing your lens midshoot. If you must make a swap, retreat to your car or other sheltered space to reduce the risk of windblown sand.
Ground Security聽聽 聽
Placing your camera directly on the sand for a low angle is an invitation to disaster. Consider using a ground pod, such as the NatureScapes Skimmer Ground Pod II (). Like a plastic sled for your camera, it easily slides across the sand as you adjust your shot.
Conditions change fast, so stay aware of your environment and check a tide chart. When you鈥檙e hooked to a viewfinder, it鈥檚 easy to miss an oncoming wave that could drench your gear.
After Care
Clean your gear after every shoot. Start with a聽paintbrush to whisk sand off the camera and lens body. Then, switch to a hand-held blower, like the Giotto Rocket Air Blaster (). A spritz bottle and soft cloth can tackle salt residue on the body. Finally, gently clean the front of your lens with a microfiber cloth or moist camera wipe.聽
Need a more advanced cleaning job? Check with the camera manufacturer聽or search YouTube for your camera and lens model. And, just in case the beach wins out, invest in camera insurance before you go so you can rest easy, knowing you鈥檒l stay well equipped to hone future shots.
This story originally ran in the Summer 2022聽issue. To receive our print magazine, become a member by聽.