Photographing in Very Humid Environments: Precautions to Take

Tropical jungle, the edge of a waterfall, a damp cave — these environments produce stunning images, but humidity threatens camera gear far more quietly than a downpour ever would. The real danger is often not the water falling on you, but the water that seeps in or condenses without you noticing.

The real danger: condensation, not rain

Moving from an air-conditioned, dry environment into hot, humid air (or the reverse) instantly fogs up the cold surfaces of the body and lens — exactly like glasses fogging up when you walk into a warm room. Letting the gear acclimatise gradually, inside a closed bag for a few dozen minutes, prevents this condensation from working its way into the lens’s internal elements.

The silica gel packet, a discreet ally

Slipping a few silica gel packets (or a portable dehumidifier) into your camera bag continuously absorbs ambient moisture — a simple habit that’s particularly useful on long trips in tropical climates. Taking the gear out of the bag regularly, even without using it, also lets you check that no fogging or mould is settling on the optics.

Protecting the body during the shoot

Near a waterfall or in a humid forest, a simple rain cover (or, failing that, a punctured plastic bag for the lens) is enough to protect the body from splashes while keeping full access to the controls. A clear protective filter, screwed on in front of the lens, also takes the brunt of any splashes in place of the front element, which is far simpler to clean or replace.

After the shoot, dry before packing away

Packing away still-damp gear in a closed bag, even for a few hours, creates the ideal conditions for mould to grow inside a lens — damage that’s often irreversible. Simply letting the gear air-dry before packing it away, and regularly bringing the gear back into a dry environment between humid outings, limits this risk in the long run.