Camera hood made from Ziploc bag
Travelers love Ziploc bags. Oh yes, we do. They have so many wonderful uses. We have to pack those 3 oz bottles of liquids in them, and they’re good for containing anything that might leak in your luggage. You can use them as a doggie bag for meal leftovers, as an organizational tool, and if you want to separate your dirty underwear from your clean, the Ziploc does the trick. Something else they are also useful for is to serve as a makeshift DSLR camera hood.
Cut the 2 bottom corners of bag and slip camera straps through
I read this tip online almost a year ago (but damned if I can find the link again), but didn’t have the opportunity to put it into practice myself until my recent trip to the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico. Obviously, there’s a fair to middling chance it will rain on you in a rainforest. If you’re too cheap to invest in a camera hood (like me), you can make do with a gallon Ziploc bag. Just cut the two bottom corners of the bag. Unfasten the strap of your camera from the camera body and slip the body into the bag. Then slide the ends of the strap through the bag holes you’ve just cut and attach to the camera as usual. You will shoot your photos through the top opening of the bag, but you can also zip it shut between uses to keep your camera nice and dry. The bag is thin enough that your fingers will easily locate and press any necessary dials and buttons, and believe it or not, you can still see through the viewfinder and the clear plastic of the bag.
Shoot through the opening of the bag
I felt a little silly during the first hour or so at El Yunque, because it was sunny and there was no rain. The Ziploc bag on your camera does look kind of dorky. But believe me when I say I was very happy I had it on a little later when the skies opened up and it really started pouring as we were hiking through the forest. It would have been a shame if I couldn’t get photos of such a beautiful rainforest due to a fear of getting my camera wet.
Brook at El Yunque
Bridge at El Yunque
El Yunque Rainforest
on Mar 6th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I've never heard of using a ziploc bag as a camera hood. Very cool idea! I think I better add those to my packing list for later this year. The photos are beautiful!
on Mar 6th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Thanks very much, Pam! You absolutely must take Ziplocs with you. They're so versatile, so many uses and take up next to no room in your luggage.
on Mar 6th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Total ziplock junky! I also store my earrings in little miniature ziplock bags…amazing way to keep things from becoming tangled.
on Mar 6th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Where do you find the mini Ziplocs, Candice? The smallest my local stores carry are the sandwich bags.
on Mar 6th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
That is a good idea and great photos. I've only got a tiny digital camera, but I'm sure I can still fashion a ziploc bag to protect it when it's raining. I never thought of this, though. Thanks for the tip!
on Mar 7th, 2010 at 3:59 am
Great idea – will have to try this out :-)
on Mar 9th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
OMG- Bravo! Why did I NOT think of that? That's pretty brilliant. … packing it is lightweight and probably takes less space than your wallet, you can reuse it for holding things if you're ever in a jam… I like this idea. Better than I do wasting my money on a camera hoodie.
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Long live the Ziploc! By the end of a trip, mine are always foggy and worn, with little holes in the edges…
Great pictures!
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Long live the Ziploc! By the end of a trip, mine are always foggy and worn, with little holes in the edges…
Great pictures!
on Oct 1st, 2010 at 11:39 pm
I have found mini ziplocs at the dollar store in the craft section, likely at craft stores a well. However did I travel before ziplocs?
on Oct 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 am
Aha! A crafts store. I hadn’t thought about that. Thanks, Gail!
on Aug 27th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
I really enjoyed this. Fun, creative, and can save money in these difficult financial times- I esp like zip lock bags- I used to use them for film, organizing photo supplies- you can mark items with Sharpie pen for identification of small items items (filters, memory cards etc)
on Aug 28th, 2011 at 11:23 am
Thanks, Stan! Yeah, ziplocs have so many uses.