Photography For Dummies : DIY Drybox

I always have a thing in building my own stuff aka DIY,thats the reason why most of the item in my house is from IKEA as I prefer fixing it on my own.Back to the topic,are you guys aware that the worst enemy a lens can ever have is fungus @ kulat..I never thought it gonna happen to me until my 50mm suddenly have a funky lime green foreign object on the outer part of the body..I tottally freak out and immediately clean it and google up how to build your own DIY Dry Box..as you know Malaysia is a country with rain all year long and with the humid environment fungus strive(luckily they dont have intelegence or else we're gonna be outnumbered and outruled soon) and adding up to that again,my "naaah,that wont happen to me"(refer Photography For Dummies : Worst Nightmare(External..)attitude have almost cost me my beloved 50mm which luckily I manage to save.Well what a dry box you ask?most of you already what it is but for those who dont know.This is how how it looks :

As you know dry box aren't cheap so here how to do your own dry box..

its as easy as to get :

Compulsory

1 x Container(Toyogo box,6 Litre should be sufficient)

1 x Box of Thirsty Hippo(This is for whoever is in Malaysia,anywhere else can replace it with silica gel,this ussually will come in shoe box )

Optional

1 x Hygrometer(This device measures humidity.  This can be bought at car accessory stores, DIY shop or pharmacy)
1 x soft plastic cover sheet(sort of like styrofoam)


How to assemble?You shouldnt even ask this question because you already suppose to get the idea on how to build it by now.hmm...since you want to know..


Step 1
-Open the lid of the container


Step 2 (Optional)
-cover the bottom of the container with the soft plastic foam and place the Hygrometer in place(to absorb any impact,again-optional because not all photographer will just throw their stuff instead of slowly organise it in the box and not all photographer rarely use their gadget)

Step 3
-Open the Thirsty Hippo cover and place the Thirsty Hippo/Silica gel in the box

Step 4
-Place your gadget and equipment gently

Step 5
-Close the lid(lol,damn i shouldnt even create the last 2 step,creating just for the fun of it)

Step 6
-Check from time to time whether the Silica Gel/Thirsty Hippo already maxed out(fully absorb moisture.If maxed out refer Step 7

Step 7
-Buy and replace new Silica Gel/Thirsty hippo

In my case I dont think I will need the Hygrometer as I always use my camera and fungus grow if you rarely use your gadget and this drybox is just a precaution step to avoid fungus occured again.Who would want to waste an expensive lense just because you and your lazy bum dont want to do an easy drybox right?Oh btw only after a month my Thirsty Hippo already filled up with water half full,really open my mind that moisture is really all around us..like duhhhh...lol..anyway goodluck in building 1 DIY Drybox..

You're Not A Photographer....

I saw this on the google image sometime ago,and honestly it made me smile.
Nowadays majority people carry camera not because of the passion but simply because of status..
I still remember those day when I carry the film camera around,people will stare at me like I'm some kind of alien from out of space but compare to now,wannabe carrying full frame DSLR with 70-200mm without all the stare and wow!thats freaking heavy and dangerous..
1st of all unless you have a proper DSLR bag,you're gonna sling it on your neck or shoulder and trust me its heavy..
the 70-200mm itself is already around 1kg(not inclusive the heavy body as well) and to carry and publicise a camera that cost 8k and lens that cost equal?
thats like a brightly lit neon sighboard on your neck saying "rob me,im carrying 16k"..
and funny thing is they didnt buy the camera to shoot proper photo nor learn as they are using auto mode all the time..
not saying its wrong..you can still use it but why jump on a ship with pricey tools when you cant even steer the ship?..might as well get a small sampan and slowly and steady arrive to the location?
again let me reiterate,its not wrong to shoot in auto..
this is just opinion on people that carry their camera around like its the new age accecories,replacing necklace and chain for good..lol..
and just in case you think I have superb gadget.Let me remind you,Im using a beginner level DSLR,3rd party external flash,3rd party 2nd hand lens,kit lens and an old film camera lens and yet I can still snap photo with stories and emotion..
I read this somewhere,cant recall

"Its not the camera,but the person behind it"


you can use normal compact camera,handphone camera,film camera,lomo camera and tonnes more and still get a great shot with stories and emotion...and again..


"Its not the camera,but the person behind it"....