17MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

171Young, sam and Diane 474 lOth Ave Salt Lake City, Utah 84103Zawislak, Ronald L. Columbia State Community CollegeColumbia, Tenn 38401DECEASEDC Bicking, Lew 2621 N Charles St Baltimore, MdH G6mez, Modesto Rancho de Huitzmolotitla Xilitla,San Luis Potosi M6xicoH Harrison, Frank Rancho del Cielo G6mez Farias, Tamps MexicoF - Founding memberC - Charter memberH - Honorary memberCom - ComplimentaryEx - ExchangeNOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS IN MEXICOby J. H. SCHERMERHORNHarrison, ArkansasThose who plan to take cameras into Mexico should do some advanceplanning. First, it is best to bring all the film and suppliesyou will need with you from the States. Film which you maybe accustomed to using may be difficult to find. When you dofind it, it will cost more and the instruction sheet will be inSpanish, French, German, and English o If color film has been keptor stored in places of high temperature, the colors will probablybe distorted oLoss of equipment by theft is very likely if you are aroundlarge towns. I have heard of several cavers having cameras stolenin Mexico City. Most of these cameras were in the front of thecar, which is very easy to break into. It is best, if you leaveyour car unattended, to put any valuable items out of sight in thetrunk. If you have expensive eqUipment, it is well worth it tohave it insured by a sound U.S. insurance company. An lJall risk"policy costs about $4.50 per $100 of equipment per year. Withthis policy you are also covered if you drop a piece of equipmentinto a deep pool of water, into a s6tano, etc. If you file atheft claim with your insurance company, you must supply a statementof "proof of loss" (an official, certified police report),and this can be a time-consuming and difficult item to obtain.Perhaps others will benefit if I relate my experiences inMexico City on 27 December 1966. We were staying at a middleclasshotel which had a garage in the basement that was lockedeach night. However, on this night we had been out taking photosof the spectacular holiday decorations and when we returned thehotel parking lot was full to capacity. Even the driveway wasfUll and it would not hold another car. So, the car was parkedin a very well-lit area directly in front of the hotel; and themost valuable equipment was taken into the hotel room. The nextmorning I found the door ajar and several photographic accessories,film, and a hard hat with carbide lamp missing. The thieves werenot just ordinary, common street thieves. They left many itemsand took only the photographic items (except for the helmet and