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Author Topic: Dead Sea: salt in the air?  (Read 2885 times)

evgeny

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« on: August 14, 2008, 09:47:13 am »

I will be approx 24 hours in the desert close to Dead Sea in Israel.
I believe there is a high lever of salt in the air there.

I will take a Contax 645 with a film back for night long exposures. I think to take another Contax 645 with Sinarback 54M and Macbook for Sunset and Sunrise.

How would you protect the equipment in the Dead Sea desert area?

Thank
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Martin Kristiansen

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2008, 10:40:15 am »

I lived in Israel for 2 years and cycled the length of the Dead Sea 3 times. I don't believe that the problem will be salt in the atmosphere. The air is very dry and carries little of anything. The reason things like the Dead Sea scrolls and other things last so long and are so well preserved. The Dead Sea itself is thick and syrupy, tastes foul, not really salty, more like battery acid.

In summer the temperature can hit 50 C in the sun. It can be very windy at times with lots of fine dust. Those are the issues that I think could cause problems.
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fishbain

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2008, 01:51:22 pm »

Hi evgeny,
Iā€™m from Israel, & I can tell you for sure, there is no salt in the air near the Dead Sea, The water is very smooth and there are no big waves like you know from the ocean.
At this time of the year, your only concern will be dust.
The water is very salty & greasy, if your going to take a photo using a tripod in the water, make sure to wash it extremely well.

Moti.
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evgeny

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2008, 02:20:07 pm »

Thanks Martin and Moti.

What do you recommend to save camera, lenses and digital back from dust?
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yaya

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2008, 02:47:27 pm »

Quote
Thanks Martin and Moti.

What do you recommend to save camera, lenses and digital back from dust?
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If you're shooting early morning or late afternoon at this time of the year you won't get much dust as there's little or no wind. I'd check the weather before setting off, just in case.

If you are outside during the day, make sure to protect the camera and back from "frying" in the sun (they are both Black...) with an umbrella or another shading solution.

Last, don't forget plenty of sun cream, a hat and lots of fresh water

Have fun!

Yair
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evgeny

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2008, 05:44:53 pm »

Yair, thank!
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Martin Kristiansen

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2008, 01:18:22 am »

Well Yair is an Israeli and knows better than me so I am pleased that we agree  . Protection from the sun is very important for the camera and for you. If you are not from a hot place take care, use sunblock and drink lots of water.

The Dead Sea valley is not so much beautiful as absolutely bloody stunning. Enjoy, I am envious.
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pixjohn

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2008, 04:20:52 am »

My Aptus 75 & Cambo wide DS spent a day at the Dead Sea and still keep on ticking. I even braved the cold water in Feb
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evgeny

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Dead Sea: salt in the air?
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2008, 08:54:10 am »

I'm back to home.
Bought some Ilford 100, 3200, XP-2, Acros and Kodak 64T in Photofilm in Tel Aviv (the only store where I sometimes buy) before we went to Dead Sea.

It was 40C/104F degrees at 8PM. I shoot one 120 roll of Velvia 50 and we quickly tired. In the early morning I shoot 6 frames of Astia 100 of Sunrise, the temperature was 32C/90F. The Sun was so bright that we decided to go home after half an hour.
I will develop slides, scan and post in September. Not that quickly.
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