Clothes make the Photo (Well ... not really ... but what you wear can sure make it easier) by: David Leeson There has been a long debate among news photographers about what kind of clothes to wear to work. I have tried them all on for size. The question is whether you want to wear a coat and tie to work and look presentable for photos at a surprise mayoral conference and then run the risk of being sent to cover a fire in your dry clean only jacket? Or should you go the grundge route, ready for spot news action, and suffer the hot flash of potential embarassment when you're unexpectantly assigned to cover opening night at the local opera house? Seems easy enough. Carry an extra set of clothes for a quick change. Yet, virtually no one I know has ever done that. Entering into the field of nature photography seemed, at least, to end the debate of what to wear. I mean, after all, a flower doesn't care what you're wearing. They're already better dressed than you anyway. But, it didn't take long to discover that nature can be just as unpredictable and full of surprises as a newspaper or magazine photo editor. I don't have to tell you which has more fury when you make a mistake either. Some of it is obvious. If it's cold - wear warm layered clothes. If it's hot - wear cooler clothes made from lighter shades of fabric. And in both cases - wear a hat to retain or reflect heat. But I could care less about these things. They are so painfully obvious, it makes one wonder why the "experts" are always reminding us to do it. (Maybe for the same reason 99 percent of all news photographers don't carry a change of clothes to work) So, what about the things you might not think of? Here are a few of our favorites: Knee Pads Designed primarily for the rough and tumble world of in-line skating and skateboarding they are the best source of protection I've found for kneeling in just about any environment. It gives me a strange pleasure to be able to simply drop to my knees and shoot. Which brand to use? Doesn't matter. Just make sure it fastens easily and feels comfortable. Knee pads beat those carry-around-with-you-all-the-time, frustrating gardening knee protectors any day primarily because you don't have to pick them up and move them. With knee pads, where your knee goes - so goes the pad. Belt Bags We prefer these over camera vests or bags because they offer the same free, unrestricted movement as the knee pads. Your gear is constantly in front of you and the crevice between the bag and your stomach makes a handy place to set a lens or strobe while your messing with another piece of gear. Just don't forget to put it away once you start moving again. The only thing you have to remember about a belt bag (most of them anyway) is to zip the top closed. I've damaged a few pieces of gear by forgetting this point. Well, actually, there is another point to consider. You should take the bag off if you're going to wade in chest high waters. Yup, I did that once. I was so focused on my subject that I completely forgot about the bag full of gear around my waist. You could say I "wasted" my gear. While I'm on that point - here's another tip - trying to dry a lens by placing it on a hot 60 watt bare bulb will only damage the lens more. (Yup again.) Obviously it's most important to use what you're most comfortable with whether it's a vest, belt bag or sling type bag. But I've tried all types of bags (currently experimenting with one of those camera packs - early report - don't much like it for daily use) and I've settled on the belt bag for the reasons listed. I like camera vests as well but have never found one which would comfortably carry the gear I need (and that's not much). The other problem I've encountered with every vest I've tried is stuff falling out of the pockets. Vests also don't afford a great deal of protection for your gear. There is one vest made by a friend of mine, Wesly Boxce, which is sort of a cross between belt bag and vest. It's called a ChestVest. I met Wesly years ago while covering conflicts in Central and South America. Believe me, if anyone knows something about building a durable bag it would be a seasoned conflict shooter like Wesly. Photographers I know who have purchased the $80.00 ChestVest have spoken highly of it. To learn more visit: www.chestvest.com and tell Wesly I said, "Hello." Tech Fabrics If you really want to get serious, invest in clothing made from what I call, "tech fabrics." I shunned this type of clothing for years because it seemed over-priced and snooty. You know what I'm talking about - clothing which is breathable and waterproof etc., etc., etc. I probably still wouldn't own any of this stuff if two things had not happened: 1) I found some at a bargain price in a discount clothing store, and ... 2) after wearing it, realized that this kind of clothing was everything it claims to be. In short, I'm a believer and have spent far more on high quality, tech fabric clothes than on any kind of clothes in my life. Better still; I've never regretted a single purchase. Bandanna This is one good piece of clothing related gear I highly reccommend. It's small, lightweight and has a plethora of uses. I may do a future article on this piece of gear alone. For now, I'll just say it's a must for any bag (or vest). Lastly, whatever you choose to wear, remember to put on the most important thing - your best manners and respect the environment we all love.

Field Notes - Cold Weather Learning about snow by: David Leeson People from colder climes have often told me that I was a neophyte about "real" snow. They always said it with that knowing pomposity reserved for teenagers conversing with misinformed parents. Of course I knew about snow. I grew up in Abilene, Texas and I remember a veritable storm which left at least two feet of snow in recessed areas. I knew all about making snowmen which looked more like snow draped scarecrows with all that dead, yellowed grass clinging to them from the thin layers of snow sprinkled on the front lawn. But, sadly, even though I have trekked to a 16, 000 foot snow covered peak in Peru and once suffered the frustration of trying to load film made brittle from a 50-below wind chill factor while on assignment in Washington D. C., I must finally confess that I really didn't know snow. That fact is fairly obvious simply by looking at our galleries here at Field and Forest. You won't find many nature photos made amongst snow. To rectify that glaring ommission in our stock we planned a trip to the mountains in nearby New Mexico. I did some research about proper clothing but soon learned I must have skipped a few chapters. I wore the obligatory layers of tech-fabric clothing and purchased some outrageously expensive gloves (primarily because I thought they looked a lot cooler than the equally sufficient cheaper model). But no one told me about the pitfalls of trying to literally wade through snow which was at times so deep I thought I would be lost forever deep within their icey bowels. Mostly, however, (here comes the obligatory tip from a ... ahem ... "pro") if you're going to roll around in snow drifts (of course, snowshoes are a good idea) avoid fleece or velcro. There was snow literally clinging to me in layers. Every move I made brought about a snow flurry which coated the inside of my waterproof belt bag with slush. One more thought ...I really dislike cold weather. Notice how many flower photos we have in our galleries? That ought to be a clue.

Field Notes - Spring/Summer Weather Prevent Against Lyme Disease by: Guy Longtin Remember to use caution when choosing warm weather clothing to help prevent against Lyme disease. The disease is contracted through the bite of a deer tick and has no cure. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control , Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975, after a mysterious outbreak of arthritis near Lyme, Connecticut. Since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically, and the disease has become an important public health problem in some areas of the United States. The American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine suggests the following precautions to reduce the chance of being bitten: Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to minimize skin exposure to ticks. Tuck your pants into your socks to form a barrier to tick attachment. Wear light-colored clothing to help see ticks on your clothing. Check for ticks, looking particularly for what may look like nothing more than a new freckle or speck of dirt. Using tick and insect repellents containing DEET or permethrin helps to protect against Lyme disease. Follow label instructions carefully. Use aerosols in an open space to avoid inhalation. Use sparingly on children and avoid use on their faces and hands. The shirt and pant cuffs should be tight to prevent the ticks from migrating into your clothing. Should you be out on a hot day you may want to consider mesh wear to help in keeping cool. Lyme Disease Links     Lyme Disease Information Resource The Lyme Disease Information Resource is designed to be a comprehensive resource for patients, physicians, caretakers and other individuals interested in the complexity of Lyme Disease.     The Lyme Disease Network The Lyme Disease Network (LymeNet) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing physicians, patients and researchers with the latest information on Lyme disease.     American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc. The American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc. is a pro-active organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of Lyme disease.

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