Take a Tea Towel on Your Photo Trip

Thursday 18 May 2023, 20:02 by Nando Harmsen | 4,193 views | 5 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

To take photographs, you need a camera and at least one lens. You put those in a bag with a few useful tools or accessories. An extra battery, an extra memory card, perhaps a filter or flash. Put a tea towel in there too. It may come in handy.

A tea towel that no longer sheds fibres should be a standard part of your camera bag.
A cloth can be very useful. You can use it to clean or dry your camera or lens. Visit the first camera shop you come across and you will find a wide range of microfibre cloths and lens cloths. They come in attractive colours and handy cases.

But don't get carried away. Although such a cloth can be very handy, they don't work when your lens or camera is wet. For example, after a rain shower. Microfibre absorbs little or no water. You can't use it to dry your camera or lens.

Choose a tea towel instead. That's what they are made for. Don't choose a new one, as those leave fibres and dust behind. Choose an old tea towel that has already been washed dozens of times.

A tea towel is the best cloth you can have in your camera bag
Nothing beats drying a wet front lens with a tea towel. Or your camera, for that matter. You can also use it to cover your camera. Against a short rain shower or even bright sunlight.

You can use it to put on a picnic table or a wall. To put a filter on, for example. You can use it to block light. Or you can use it to clean your glasses or sunglasses. Once the tea towel gets dirty, put it in the wash.

In short, find an old tea towel that has been washed countless times and put it in your camera bag. You will see that you never need those far too expensive microfibre cloths again. And it works much better too. Perfect, isn't it?

Share: WhatsApp Facebook

About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

Tips for a photography trip. Part 1: The camera bag
by Nando Harmsen
Tips for a photo trip. Part 2: the tripod
by Nando Harmsen
What should never be missing from your camera bag?
by Nando Harmsen
Tips for a photography trip. Part 3: know your camera
by Nando Harmsen
A camera bag for every occasion
by Nando Harmsen
Tips for a photo trip. Part 4: storing photos safely
by Nando Harmsen

Show every article in Tips and tricks

home

5 comments

Ed wrote on Tuesday 23 May 2023 at 10:25 | reply
Hi Nando, how successful simplicity can be indeed. It's been a standard in my camera bag for years, but don't forget to wash it at set intervals too because otherwise it becomes increasingly difficult to fold it normally again.
Regards Ed.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 23 May 2023 at 11:53 | reply
Not just for folding it up. Also when it's dirty, of course
A good addition, Ed. Thank you.
Translated from Dutch.

Koos U Doornbos wrote on Tuesday 23 May 2023 at 12:49 | reply
Maybe a tip?
I always have a garbage bag in my camera bag.
If you have to kneel on the (damp) ground or take photos from a low angle, you can place the camera on the ground and it will be stable that way.
Translated from Dutch.

Rob Dikkers wrote on Tuesday 23 May 2023 at 12:58 | reply
I even dry my car with it.
Translated from Dutch.

Gerard van Westrienen wrote on Tuesday 23 May 2023 at 13:00 | reply
a tea towel is also handy in dusty conditions (such as southern africa during the dry season). If you're in the car and want to keep your camera "ready to shoot", put a slightly damp tea towel over it. Saves a looooot of dust
Translated from Dutch.

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.

Become a better photographer every week

A practical photography tip in your inbox every week.
39,178 photography enthusiasts already receive the tips! More about the weekly mail. Or keep up to date via Facebook. Sign-up secured with Google reCaptcha.

Elja Trum

Photofacts; everything to do with photography!

Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about Photofacts

Photofacts is made possible in part by