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Guest Blog: ultramarathon photographer Mark Gillett

I met Mark Gillett during the Marathon des Sables. We became friends and he has since helped me with lots of advice for my photography. I asked him to share some of his expertise with us all.

But first the questions I ask all guest bloggers:

– What expedition or journey has inspired you the most (apart from your own!)?
The first lunar landing. I watched this, it’s so deep in my memory, and when interviewed Buzz Aldrin last year it was just immense.

– What’s your favourite travel or adventure book?
Longitude by Dava Sobel. Without a doubt. Just a great read.

– What’s your emergency iPod song when the mojo is failing you?
Crazy by Gnarls Barclay.

– What luxury item do you carry on your expeditions?
A little espresso maker for the fire

– What do you miss the most when you are away?
Freddy, my partner (wife) and my daughter Emily

– What advice do you have for someone contemplating an adventure of their own?
Research it, prepare but above all have a purpose.

I get to shoot in some amazing places around the world. My favourite has always been the desert. However this has been challenged recently as I have gone to the other extremes of The Yukon Arctic and Brazilian Amazon.

Going to these environments I need to consider so many things from personal safety and protection to my kit. Problems like moisture, dust, wind and rain, ice, -40 degrees, +55 degrees… All these add up to potential hassles that, if accounted for, are generally OK. If not, it’s disaster!

My kit comprises of 2 Canon 1Dmk II’ms, and these lenses: 17-40 f4. 70-200 f2.8, 300 f2.8, 50mm, and a 28-135. Add two flash units and then I cram most of this into a hand baggage size Pelicase! The extra gets rolled up in my clothes and put in the hold bag…

One of my most challenging assignments more recently was in the Yukon Arctic. The thought of -40 degrees did not enamour me. I had taken some advice from fellow photographer Martin Hartley on cold weather and cameras.

The main issue with the cold is the stress on the mechanisms of the camera. Everything shrinks in those temperatures. Believe me, everything!! I was advised to listen for a whining noise from the motor drive and not to push the cameras too hard without swapping frequently. This was the best advice I had.

I also left my cameras outside most of the time. The temperature differences cause moisture build up when they go from -40 to +25 indoors. Mine stayed in my car at -30 for most of the assignment.

A different challenge is the dust of the desert. Clingfilm is my saviour there. I do not worry too much about general dust on the bodies or lenses as they are sealed and I can shower them down or dust them off at the end of the day. In a storm, though, out comes the cling film! I cover everything. Dust in these conditions will get in everywhere. My laptop in particular gets completely sealed as there is no production sealing at all…

I am not a huge fan or other cleaning like lenses and sensors. I blow the sensor from time to time. I also use a sarong to clean the lens when it needs it. Other than that, not much more is needed than care.

As for jungles? Well that was just a scream. Swamps, humidity, snakes, spiders, heat, exhaustion: you name it, you find it. This expedition was all about keeping stuff dry. So I bought myself a waterproof rucksack: problem solved. The cameras dealt with the humidity fine.

In the environments I work in it is all about the preparation before I go. I need to ensure I can do the job without interference and worry about me or my kit. When this is the case, I can shoot happily.

My next assignment is an international car rally in Kuwait. Again, dust will be my major issue and getting close to the action without getting tyre prints across my forehead! Not sure how to prepare for that though!

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