Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Choosing photography equipment bags for travel - Part II

Lowepro Dryzone 200
I've been getting many queries about choosing bags for travel for photography gear. The two major domains in which photographers carry their gear on trips are “in-transit,” and during shooting.

In Part I, I discussed the problems of “in-transit” travel, which also affects how you pack for your trip.

In Part II, below, I'll discuss specifications for bags for carrying your gear while “in-transit.”

In Part III, I'll discuss carrying your gear while shooting.

As already discussed in Part I, whether traveling by bus, train, ship or plane, the issues of “in-transit” travel are similar. When traveling solely by car, the traveler is restrained only by the car's capacity and the traveler's personal convenience, so whatever works for other transportation modes, will work for automobile travel.

In Part I you learned it's essential to stow photography equipment in “carry-on” bags while traveling, due to breakage, and liability issues, and the ability to take photos, even while “in-transit.”

There are three general constraints for any “carry-on” bag, including photography gear bags; size, number and weight.

Fort Lauderdale bans public photography, then agrees to lift the ban after judge orders it!

General Brand Engraved Combo SlateI've written about the craziness directed at photographers in Florida before. Well they're at it again. In Ft. Lauderdale Florida, they decided it was alright to ban all photography, filming and video by everyone on public property in part of the city. According to Ft. Lauderdale officials, it's all spelled out in City Ordinance Sec. 16-1.

It seems as though to many government officials, taking photographs in public, from public property such as streets and sidewalks, is a criminal offense. I guess these same government officials haven't read the laws they have sworn to enforce, or perhaps they are just incapable of understanding them.

I'm certain they haven't yet read the US Constitution, or if they have, the believe it doesn't apply to them, or the American public.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Choosing photography equipment bags for travel - Part I

Lowepro Dryzone 200Lately I've been getting many queries about choosing bags for travel for photography gear.

There are two major domains in which photographers, much like all travelers, carry their gear on trips; “in-transit,” and during shooting. In Part I, below, I discuss the problems of “in-transit” travel, which affects how you pack for your trip. In Part II, I'll discuss bags for carrying your gear while “in-transit.” In Part III, I'll discuss carrying your gear while shooting.

Whether traveling by bus, train, ship or plane the issues of “in-transit” travel are similar. When traveling solely by car, the traveler is restrained only by the car's capacity and the traveler's personal convenience, so I'm won't concern myself with auto “in-transit” issues.

By “in-transit” I mean when you are traveling from home to a destination, between destinations, or returning home at the end of a trip.

Protect your photographs: Read your gallery and online storage companies' terms of service!

Twitter LogoDo you use Twitter, the real-time information network which can permit you to connect to others to offer them timely information, news and data they might find useful?

Do you share photos or videos via your Twitter feed? Where do you store your photos and videos in order to share them via Twitter? Do you use TwitPic in order to share those photos and videos?

If you've answered yes, my advice to you is simply, dump TwitPic, and immediately delete your photos and videos from the storage service!