I'm getting ready to head off to Yellowstone in a few weeks, which promises to be incredible. I'm extremely excited, and sort of telling everyone I know. And people I meet on the street. If you see me, run the other way, because I will be talking about this trip.
I decided I left all my bad luck in the Bahamas, and it's going to stay there. For real, this is the misfortune equivalent of farting and leaving the room. One day I will write up my last few hours there, because so many things went wrong it's unbelievable. But in the end the clouds in the sky literally parted, leaving a bright blue sliver for my plane to fly into, and I came home.
Now I'm focusing on getting ready for Yellowstone (oh, and work and stuff). There are some things I want, but I'm not really sure how to go about narrowing down my options. Since I'll probably buy most of it online, I've got to get moving to get it here in time. Advice from all you smart people/real photographers would be greatly appreciated.
I'm looking at:
- A new camera bag for hiking
- Filters
- A new tripod
The bag is a biggie. I've got a dinky little case, but I'd like something big enough to grow into if I can ever scrape enough together to get a telephoto lens. I'd also like to fit my other hiking gear into it. So a long sleeved shirt, lunch, small first aid kit. I like to carry lots of water with me too. Basic stuff, no overnight gear. It'd be nice to use it for my trip to the Scottish Highlands, too. Any suggestions? There are a million options out there, and I'm really overwhelmed! The most important thing would be keeping my gear safe and not stolen off my back. The second would be making it as easily accessible. These contradict each other. Sigh...
Filters - it's time to buy a couple polarizers. I've got UV filters on my 75-300mm (a sad little lens
) and 60mm. I haven't been using anything else and yes, shame on me. Anything else I should be looking at?
I've got a tripod now, and I like it because it's extremely light. It served me well through Australia and New Zealand, but it is cheap, cheap, cheap. I've actually never had a problem, but it's cheap enough that some sort of malfunction is inevitable if I keep using it. I wouldn't mind springing for another. Weight matters a lot here.
Here's the deal: I'm on a budget.
And yes, Lari, you must comment even though you claim to know nothing of these things!
Oh, and one more very random question: My dad's birthday is in a couple days (already gave him a present) and it occurred to me that he would LOVE a cell phone ring of me playing the piano. He's about to go out to Colorado, so I was thinking a brief bit of "Annie's Song" by John Denver (I know it's really hokey, but he loves it). The thing is, it is SO hard to record a piano well. Most setups require multiple microphones to get a decent sound, and I don't have that. It'd also have to be on my parents' upright piano, which makes it harder. Has anyone had any success at this? Or even tried? It's a small little thing, I know, but it would make him very happy.
Just kidding, there's one more thing: *
hfpierson has had some
very good news
[link] and =
JansonJones has been MIA on dA because his little daughter has arrived, and she's gorgeous. She's also a week old and has already been face-to-face with a moose. How cool is that? My congratulations to Janson, Hugh, and their families!
Good News, Gearing Up, and a Random Question 
Dumbfounded
Devious Comments
on the piano, not a clue. i'm sure you could find a studio you could rent for a bit, but not sure if it'd be worth it
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beware of the leopard
Yeah, not worth it unless I'm recording a bunch of songs. I forgot all my sheet music, so I've just been playing around with what's still here and what I know from memory.
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that goes for camera bags, recording quality, and demanding my comments
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beware of the leopard
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I LOVE mountain smith products i have a bag that has gone to hells half acre (real place here in Idaho :-D ) and still survives
Here is there line up of camera backpacks, im going to recommend the
Mountainsmith Borealis as it has the right amount of storage space to meet your gear with a little room to grow. It can be found for 115 online.
[link]
There are a couple other manufactures of hybrid cases that have a seperate compartment for camera equipment and daypack things.
You could always go with Lowepro gear it IS the name in soft photography protection but it will cost you.
This is my current bag, I love it but have out grown it as it wont carry the 400 2.8 very well.
[link]
The Lowepro Rover AW II may be a good bag to look into for your requirements
[link]
Far as filters go, for digital all you really need is a UV filter, and a circular polarizer, the next filters on your list should be a cokin system neutral grad filter, and a straight ND filter. You can get cheap ND grad filters on ebay for under 13 bucks for the whole kit. straight ND filters will cost you a bit more.
Ill think about a good tripod for you, see what i can come up with.
I've had a problems with a couple Lowepro shoulder bags I've owned. The straps came apart completely. Very annoying.
Man, I hate to keep asking you questions, but... How water-resistant is your Mountainsmith bag? The Borealis looks good, although it may be a little big. Maybe I'll try to find one in a store somewhere to try on.
Anyway, thanks again.
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that said its very waterproof i once crashed on the mtb and landed flat on my back it bursted the water bladder inside the pack (some of the mountainsmiths have a pouch for hydration systems) despite my back being soaked and water dripping out of the bag, nothing inside was wet. Its been through a lot of crazy adventures hiking up countless canyons, bombing hundreds of miles of downhills and it still works. it looks old but thats the point of a good backpack it should look worn to prove youve been there and back!
by the way when you go to the scottish highlands..if you get a chance and pass by a outdoor store, by me a karimore bag... that brand has a bit of sentimental value to me. I have a black bag that is sol old and used its purple now. they dont sell them here in the US but i got mine in south africa.
I'll be all over the UK, including London, so if you'd like a Karrimor bag I can try to work something out. If there's a good deal online that only ships to the UK it may be possible to have it sent to where I'll be staying and I'll bring it back for you. If it ends up being too bulky to pack I may be able to ship it straight to you.
I was thinking I could fit a CamelBak bladder in the laptop compartment of the Mountainsmith bag, but I'd only want to do that if I was 100% sure nothing could get into the camera compartment. Field work in Scotland is going to be VERY wet and cold, so a waterproof bag is essential. I may do the long haul down to Miami in a couple days and there's an outdoors store down there that carries Mountainsmith, so maybe I'll try some stuff out.
By the way, mountain biking is cool and all that, but I refuse to be impressed until you've become a mountain unicylist. [link] That is so badass, especially the part where they start running over banana peels. Talk about living on the edge.
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