Cameras on the Playa

Blackbird · Post by **Blackbird** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:32 pm

So at this point I am leaning more towards using disposables and getting the pics on a cd when ever i get them developed. The only thing I can imagine being a problem (other than shitty quality pics) is nudity in pictures. I know oftentimes(always??) they won't even acknowledge the existence of "pornographic material" on a roll of film, they just don't get developed. I'm worried some awesome pictures will be lost forever because of a prudish Longs employee/policy.

Any thoughts?!!?

Post Script... I'm aware nudity isn't pornographic, but in my experience the rest of the world(at least the people who develop pictures) is not aware of this.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:53 pm

I wqas told by a friend years ago that worked at a Target photo lab that their policy is thus:

If it is a kid naked call the cops (unless its a baby photo or innocent in context.) no sexual photos, and no close ups of pink parts.

This policy IMHO leaves a lot of room for subjectivity. and as Judge Rhenquist? said - "...I cant define pornography - but I know it when i see it..." Anyways if your worried about the privacy of your pics, there are lots of places online that guarantee anonymity, costs a few dollars more but may be worth it.

I myself print what I want off of digital, and can make my own prints at Target, Walmart et.al. on their machines for about as much as it costs to develop a roll of film.

hope this helps, i am rambling at work.

later

Blackbird · Post by **Blackbird** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:04 pm

mdmf007 wrote:<snip> no sexual photos<snip>

See, to normal, rational people like ourselves, this means no porn, i.e. no graphic depictions of sex acts. To sex-deprived, prudish, employees of the local photo-hut, this means nekkid. This is why nudity makes movies R-rated automatically, because people cannot seem to distinguish between sex and nudity. It just seems to easy to lose those pics forever...I suppose I'll have to ask around (though I'm really not sure how well that would work out "Excuse me, what is your policy on developing pictures of naked people?")

They do make thoe digital disposables now...I'm not sure how they work though. it just seems like every option has a big enough downside to think several times about which to choose. AHHH decision making is not my greatest ability.

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:25 am

One thing I find interesting is film censorship & ratings between countries. In Canada and Europe, its not the nudity that lands the R rating, its the violence. There's also a distinction between nudity and sexual content. American film classification looks for nudity.

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:06 am

It's been along time since I've used film,but the last time I shot nudity,they developed them and placed them on top of the developed pictures.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:32 am

One hour may be less problematic.

Stagger · Post by **Stagger** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:02 am

I have 2 old Pentax 35mm cameras I take to the Playa to make time exposures. (One I've had since High School in the 60's and one I bought a year ago as a backup for $35) Put a different kind of film in each of them. Set em up on tripods. Open the shutter and let the playa drive by. Some of them turn out pretty cool.

For other pictures I have a Cannon Rebel XT (or some such model of digital SLR). I've never done anything to protect this camera from dust, other than a UV HAZE filter on the lens. It comes back dusty and never quite looks the same again, but it shoots like a trooper.

I think I might take some of the advice about gaffer's tape for the data port side of the camera.

I also take a laptop so I can backup the memory cards while I am on the playa. Turning it on one time it found a wireless network and my CNN homepage came up with the headline UP TO 10,000 DEAD IN NEW ORLEANS.... which is how me and my camp mates found out about that.

The next year I made sure not to start a browser ... because part of the reason I am out there is to NOT think about the rest of the planet for a bit. I like the isolation.

Anyway... nothing can kill those old 35mm's, and they make great backups.

As far as nude pictures... I've never had a problem taking these to anyone.. unfortunately for them, it's usually me who is naked in the pictures.

vic · Post by **vic** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:50 pm

I have taken an old Nikon Coolpix (only 2 mega pixels) for the last five years with good results. The playa dust is going to get on the camera, but you can reduce the amount of dust by keeping the camera in some kind of bag when not shooting. I have had good exeriences with the stock zip up bag made for the camera.

As has been recommended earlier in this thread, I use gaffers tape on every opening in the camera case.

I am a compulsive photographer and I usually shoot 500+ immages during the event. Having said that, I take fewer and fewer photos of people. Holding a camera in your hand tends to inhibit many folks, and I don't want to crowd anybody. If I do come across people in interesting costumes, and they are already posing, I ask if it's OK to take a photo. Only after they give me a clear OK do I pull out the camera. If they are not enthusiastic about a photo, I don't shoot.

idiotekniQues · Post by **idiotekniQues** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:42 pm

i have been wondering about camera questions as well.

i have a 30d plus several lenses (not L)

my photography is at www.simplyathos.com

i plan on shooting quite a lot, not to the point where i dont participate, but a significant amount. after talking to people on camera forums they seem to think the 30d will be fine as long as one only changes lenses in non-dusty places. ill probably tape over the battery and cf compartment each time i change those. the battery on the 30d kicks ass, and with 4gb cf cards, and ill probably by one 8gb one before the trip - i should not have to change cf cards often before i back up to hard drive at night.

my question is about my equipment getting stolen. i dont plan on lugging around all lenses (3) all the time but keeping one or two in the car sometimes. will they be safe there?

will they be safe on me?

idiotekniQues · Post by **idiotekniQues** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:43 pm

i have been wondering about camera questions as well.

i have a 30d plus several lenses (not L)

i would like to use my ultra wide angle sigma, my zoom canon, and my walkabout 17-85IS. none ofthese lenses are huge L glass, they are quite portable.

my photography is at www.simplyathos.com

i plan on shooting quite a lot, not to the point where i dont participateby any means - i plan to mesh the two together - but i will shoot a significant amount. after talking to people on camera forums they seem to think the 30d will be fine as long as one only changes lenses in non-dusty places. ill probably tape over the battery and cf compartment each time i change those. the battery on the 30d kicks ass, and with 4gb cf cards, and ill probably by one 8gb one before the trip - i should not have to change cf cards often before i back up to hard drive at night.

my question is about my equipment getting stolen. i dont plan on lugging around all lenses (3) all the time but keeping one or two in the car sometimes. will they be safe there?

will they be safe on me?

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:26 pm

idiotekniQues wrote:i plan on shooting quite a lot, not to the point where i dont participateby any means

>SNIP<

my question is about my equipment getting stolen. i dont plan on lugging around all lenses (3) all the time but keeping one or two in the car sometimes. will they be safe there?

will they be safe on me?

I wouldn't worry about the quantity of shots you take - you'll be a participant.

I've taken film cameras and digital cameras to the playa since '96, and I've never had a camera failure due to being at Burning Man; your mileage will vary as to the care you take. I don't take them out during dust storms, for example, and I have my cameras cleaned at a camera shop after every burn. If the shop reports they are out of manufacturer's spec, I send them off to an approved repairer to get them brougnt back into spec. I'm sure this is more than most people do, but I use my cameras year-round, and I want them to work.

I've never had anything stolen at Burning Man, but I know people who have. (One guy said someone drove up to his tent in a pickup truck while the guy was out on the playa, unstaked his tent, took out the poles, rolled the tent up with all contents, threw it in the back of the truck and drove off - as the neighbors watched with great curiousity. All the guy's clothes, sleeping bag, etc. were in the tent.)

I expect your gear to be safe on you. If it's locked in your car, I don't expect anyone to break in. Does Burning Man exceed our expectation? :-> You're in a very nice town of 40,000 very nice people, but there are a few that aren't so nice as is the case in any very nice town.

idiotekniQues · Post by **idiotekniQues** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:21 pm

phil wrote:
idiotekniQues wrote:i plan on shooting quite a lot, not to the point where i dont participateby any means

>SNIP<my> You're in a very nice town of 40,000 very nice people, but there are a few that aren't so nice as is the case in any very nice town.

that is what i thought. i am from near nyc so i am a bit cynical about stuff like that. i figured it was mostly good folk with some opportunists mixed in. like any large event these days, some people go just to take advantage i would think.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:48 pm

I've never had anything stolen either, but it does happen. I put thiefs into different categories:
1) Those who see something cool and go back later to get it
2) Those who happen to notice something they want and grab it
3) Those who go out actively looking for things to steal

Keeping your expensive camera covered at all times will eliminate a lot of the problem. Don't take the camera out and show it to every random person you see. Leave it in a non-descript bag and take it out only when you're using it. Keep it in your tent or in your car under a blanket when not in use. Most thieves won't go searching through cars unless they see something in it or know something good is inside.

#3 happens mostly during the big burns, so if you aren't taking the camera lock it in your car and hide the keys or take them with you.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:31 pm

friend of mine had her backpack stolen in 2005 as she snoozed on the turf in that wonderful grass floored pyramid. Had her camera in it. Sucked, it did.

dr.placebo · Post by **dr.placebo** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:17 pm

Comment to idiotekniQues:

I've used a Canon Digital Rebel XT for the past 2 years without camera problems, but I get nervous about lens changes with all of the dust around, so I just use one lens (EF 28-135 with IS). Also, I keep the camera lens cap on and the camera in a decent case except while I'm shooting. No shortcuts allowed.

I bring extra CF cards and at least one extra battery. The extra battery saved my year once, because my initial battery died without warning.

Maybe I'm overly cautious, but just my two cents.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:38 pm

idiotekniQues wrote:after talking to people on camera forums they seem to think the 30d will be fine as long as one only changes lenses in non-dusty places

There are no "non-dusty" places that I've found, except inside a ziplock bag. And as soon as you put your camera that's been exposed to the dust into said bag, it's no longer dust free.

Remember- playa dust is like talcum powder- very fine & gets everywhere.

I bring a camera or two every year (some 35mm, some digi), but you couldn't pay me to change lenses out there.

YMMV

prem · Post by **prem** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:27 am

Has anyone tried using a "waterproof" bag like this to keep their camera dust free?

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp? ... &src=champ

I'm also planning on bringing my Digital Rebel XT this year along with a few lenses and I don't want it to get ruined. So thanks for all the tips so far, keep them coming if you have any more.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:06 am

Eric wrote:There are no "non-dusty" places that I've found, except inside a ziplock bag. And as soon as you put your camera that's been exposed to the dust into said bag, it's no longer dust free.

Remember- playa dust is like talcum powder- very fine & gets everywhere.

I bring a camera or two every year (some 35mm, some digi), but you couldn't pay me to change lenses out there.

YMMV

Yep. This is my first trip out there and after reading all the dust stories I knew it would be a bad idea to try a lens swap no mater how clean of an environment you try to make.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:19 am

I've used a Uwi Marine bag on my now-retired CoolPix for several years. My experience with that bag was less than stellar, but it probably applies in part only to that bag.

The plastic that the camera is in is transparent and shiny. This meant that during the day, I got a dusty, shiny overlay that kept me from seeing the LCD clearly _at_all_. I think other waterproof containters have the same problem.

The particular issue with the camera/bag combo is that the bag has a metal ring that seals the plastic bag to the glass port the lens sees through. That metal ring was right in front of the viewfinder on the camera which meant that although the camera had an alternative for seeing what I'm going to photograph, that alternate viewer was covered.

I used the bag in spite of the limitations, and Burning Man being what it is, I got some good shots and video clips through the bag in spite of it and myself.

As I said, I didn't use my SLR gear during wind events, so that kept the good cameras somewhat safe. Having a waterproof bag let me use the CoolPix during dust storms.

I do have underwater stuff that I wouldn't dare bring to the playa - a Nikonos V and an underwater video housing. That camera and that housing use lubricated O-rings for the seal, and I would never bring them to Burning Man and then use them underwater for fear that the playa powder would somehow escape cleaning and create a break in the seal while under the ocean. Saltwater on cameras and electronics is instant death.

The Uwi Marine bag does not use O-rings and has a seal I'm comfortable I can clean, so I have used it both on the playa and on the, uh, playa - beach and under water.

Quando caliente el sol, aqui en la playa ...