High, Hot Temperatures

[holmes]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Well it's the tail end of our national holiday, Memorial Day, in the U.S. This is set aside to remember all American servicemen and women who have been killed or wounded in our various wars. The weather is always mercurial, just as it was or is with or 4th of July and Labor Day. Here in Southern New Mexico it reached around 98 F. I'm sorry but I don't happen to have a conversion chart after I had to rework my HD. Next weekend 100 F plus is scheduled. That is simply too damn hot. All of my bags are khaki except for one green and three in black. I won't carry the black bag(s) nor leave them in the car. Even the khaki takes a pounding. This is about the time I put my equipment away, exercise it and keep the film in the freezer. I find it difficult to focus with sweat dripping into my eyes; feeling like I'm in the Kalahari desert, or Death Valley. I have several hats(the best) made up in Canada. Even with one of those on and a head band. It's still a waste of effort. I have three lenses I want to try; 1, my new M 50 f 2.5/2.8, then a couple of zooms,

my R 105-280 f4.2 with built in tripod holder, and my R 80-200 f 4. Oh well.

[redbaron]

Spare a thought for your servicemen and women in Iraq. It hits 120 regularly.

[NZDavid]

It's been snowing on this side of the globe. Extreme heat, extreme cold -- Leicas (and servicemen) can handle it!

[ismon]

I've shot (and nearly died) in the Arizona and Utah deserts. There is no word for beyond (120 degree) hot. The Leicas survived the ordeal without any problem. My greatest concern was to keep the film "comfortable". I used thermos coolers. Here in SW Florida it also gets a bit "sticky", but I find my biggest problem is the temperature of the tap water. You can chill your developing solutions, but the wash water will play havoc on your negatives. I've abandoned 68 degree B&W for 100 degree Color. Life is easier.

[holmes]

Redbaron,

I've been in Arizona, down by the Colorado River and saw it hit 120F. Residents told me of 125F between Parker and Bull Head City. I had great pleasure living in Scottsdale Arizona, where the temperature

would still be hovering around the 100F at midnight. The biggest problem, as someone mentioned was film. The need to keep it cool, before, during and after.

[thebarnman]

Living in Scottsdale, I've learned to use film in the heat. Sure, keeping it cool before and after is easy, however not so during use.

 

I've heard film will keep it's rating at high temperatures for several hours. Simply go out and shoot what your shooting and quickly get back into the car with air conditioner running! Process right away!

 

The movie "Lawrence of Arabia" was filmed in some pretty hot temperatures. Even on the restored DVD, I can see heat damage due to them being out there for so long. I don't know if they attempted to keep the film cool or not, however it's one example of what can happen to film if your not carful.

 

Another thing you have to be carful of while living in this climate is when ordering film by mail. My recommendation? Wait for the cooler months! Even those UPS trucks are not air conditioned!