Days Like Today

Well it's our last wedding of 2011 and it's days like today that I'm super glad I still have my Olympus cameras.  It's raining cats and dogs out there for a November outdoor ceremony.  I'll be getting wet, but the E5 and E3 will be just fine.

Olympus E3 and 50-200 Zuiko lens at 130mm  ISO 400 f4.0 1/250 second 

I prepare a little differently for days when rain is threatening my work day.  First off I pack both my Olympus gear and my Canon gear in separate bags.  The Canon gear gets used for the indoor portions of the day and the Olympus for the outdoor portions.  I don't really have to carry two bags because one can stay in the trunk between locations.  One tip though, in case you get your stuff stolen from your car, keep your memory cards on you at all times to avoid losing images.  Mine are in a card wallet that gets attached to the belt loop on my pants.

I also pack a couple of things that I normally wouldn't.  I pack some large Ziploc bags that I will put over my small flash to keep them dry for off camera work.  They are transparent so no issue there.  I also have  a large soft cloth that I keep in my bag.  I give my camera a quick wipe under cover just before I change lenses to avoid any excess water dripping into an open camera body by accident.  Of course keep your camera pointed down when changing lenses.  I like to change them only when I'm protecting them from the driving rain.

I pack a separate set of clothes as well to change into if I get a chance and if I need too.  Or at least I'm going to today for the first time.  :)  You are witnessing me learning my lesson.  I also pack a rain coat with a hood.  We bring umbrellas for the people we are photographing as well.  They keep people dry between shots and also can make for fun props.  I like to keep a towel or blanket in the car as well.

Well, I'm fully packed for my day, shirts are ironed.  Wish me luck.  I have a full weekend of editing to do but the E5 vs Canon 7D review is coming.

UPDATE:  Well, just home from the wedding now.  The sun came out and it looked fantastic, then.....during the middle of the ceremony a huge windstorm came, knocked down two trees, and the rain poured.  I had Geoff (our assistant) run back to the car and get my Olympus gear, but my Canon's got wet.  The 5D got water drops inside the viewfinder and fogged up hopelessly.  The 7D seemed to do better.  We got them under cover quickly and Geoff  dried them off and put them in the car.  Adam kept using his 7D and seemed to do OK with it.  The E5 was great to use.  Changing lenses under an umbrella was challenging, but we managed.  Here is a photo of Adam's 7D like a wet dog.