Vlog #7 Dining Room Shoot and a Case Study of Geotagging Photos from Matt Brandon on Vimeo.

So here is Vlog # 7. Moving right along. This week I wax eloquently…ok scratch that, I just ramble and tell you a story about how I did a short photo session in my dining room with my daughter. It’s a dad thing! Plus, I tell you about how geotagging  photos can make you money!

Below are the links to the software in today’s video. I am pretty certain all these are available for both the iPhone as well as the Android.

Gps4Cam

Geotag Photos

Easy Release

I also talk about the Blue Snowball mic.

Strato II Multi 5-in-1 Wireless Triggers

The SpiderPro Single Camera System

Today is Friday, at least somewhere in the world and we promised to pick a winner of the Phottix  Strato II Multi 5-in-1 Wireless Triggers and the The SpiderPro Single Camera System. Yesterday we added two more great prizes into the mix. But it really isn’t fair to just throw them in and give people only a day to enter. So we will let them ride, as they say in Las Vegas.  But don’t fret, everyone who entered this week is eligible, with the exception of today’s winners.

To recap, we asked readers to simply post the following link (tinyurl.com/digitaltrekker) on their Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other favourite social networks. Then return here (or Gavins Blog) and post a comment stating how many different Social Media networks they posted to. Then we tallied up the entries and put them all into a random equation in a spreadsheet and voila! Congratulations to Jeremyv10 who made three entries and wins the Phottix Strato II and to PicDavid who also made three entries wins the SpiderPro Single Camera System.

Ok, enough with blog reading! Now get back to tweeting and posting your fresh new links. Remember there is still an X-Rite ColorMunki calibration device and ColorChecker Passport to win!

Gavin and I are excited to announce we have a new sponsor joining the Thaipusam Workshop and more product to give away! We are proud to welcome X-Rite the makers of the ColorMunki calibration device and ColorChecker Passport. These two little gems keep you color honest. No more guessing what that color was when you took that picture.  ColorChecker Passport allows users to record on-location White Balance accurately, giving you a customised colour profile for every camera in every light condition. ColorMunki calibration device calibrates you monitor to insure you are seeing the real colors you shot.

So, Gavin and I are now giving away FOUR quality prizes to four fortunate photographers. This is not some cheesy cheap-o-gear, this is the real deal. So run, don’t walk, to your Social Networks and tell the world! Here’s a reminder of our competition:

To enter, simply post the following link (tinyurl.com/digitaltrekker) on your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and your other favourite social networks. Then return here and post a comment stating how many different Social Media networks you posted to. So, for example, if you post our link on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn then let us know that you posted to THREE networks and you’ll have THREE chances to win. If you’re posting to Twitter, please include the hashtag #thaipusam.

1. PacSafe: Wrapsafe cable lock. The Wrapsafe this is a monstrously long cable with a creative design. Unlike other normal cable locks PacSafe’s Wrapsafe cable is adjustable due to the polycarbonate anchors along the cable length. It’s not exactly light, but it’s effective at securing your luggage in a train station, airport or even in a hotel room while you’re gone all day shooting photographs. It leaves you with peace of mind while you are away from your belongings. Well worth the weight!

2. Belkin 4-Way Surge Protector and Extension. One of the most frustrating things while traveling is having enough plug adapters for all your different electrical items. Sometimes, you may have enough adapters, but there just isn’t enough sockets in the room. Enter the Belkin 4-Way Surge Protector and Extension. There are several of these available, but I use the one that has the multi-plug slots. In this way I can use almost any type of plug from the round prongs of Indian plugs to the English and Malaysian large square plugs. (Unfortunately, I have never found this particular power extension available in the United States. I’ve only found it available in South and Southeast Asia.)

3. Zero Tolerance ZT-0350 tactical knife. Some might feel this is overkill and that a complicated Swiss Army knife might work better or even a multi-tool. Maybe that is true for you. I switched to this knife after years using a Swiss Army knife. But frankly, the Swiss Army knife was too heavy to carry around in my pocket and I never used anything but the scissors and the knife blade, so what was the point? I like the simplicity of this knife. Plus, this particular knife gives me a sense of security in that it is an “every day carry” and I can clip it onto my pocket and wear it. It has an assisted opening that makes one-handed opening easy using the large, ambidextrous thumb stud or blade flipper. It is made of thick S30V stainless steel. S30V steel is really tough, so much so that you can use this knife to pry apart two wood 2-by-4 planks nailed together and not damage the blade.

4. LEDLenser-ZL7438 Flashlight. Any small LED flashlight is handy. But this one is as bright as a laser beam! My LEDLenser has proven to be indestructible. I have dropped this from quite high on many occasions and it still performs well. This little light takes 3 AAA batteries and runs forever on them. It is rated to give 100 hours of battery life. I’m not sure that’s true. Maybe it is 100 hours till the battery dies completely. Needless to say, you will want to replace the batteries earlier than that to keep the light bright. It is not cheap, but it’s been the last flashlight that I’ve had to buy. So, in the long run it might be worth the money spent. This is an Australian company, so I’m not sure how easy it is to find in the United States.

5. Giro Blaze Cold-Weather Cycling Gloves. You might ask, why cycling gloves? The fact is, I didn’t go out looking for cycling gloves in particular. I was browsing around a few years back at an REI (a sports store in the U.S.) and found these. They are thin, grip well and yet still warm and allow me to feel the buttons on my camera while wearing them. I don’t find much use for fingerless gloves, so these were perfect.  These guys went with me to the Everest base camp this year and they will be going back with me again next year.

6. Gatorade powder. This is an incredibly handy item to have with you when you travel. Not only does it replace lost electrolytes after you have been sweating in the New Delhi sun, it also can mask the flavor of some pretty nasty water. Oftentimes water that’s been filtered or purified may have a bad taste and this makes drinking it possible. I usually keep around 3 or 4 small packs with me throughout the day.

7. Shure SE210 Sound Isolating Earphone.  Audio is very important to my work and I want to be able to hear what I’m capturing with my recorder. But I also don’t want to have to carry along several types of headphones. I used to travel with a pair of noise canceling headphones but I found I only use them when I was in the plane. Then I found these Shure Sound Isolating Earphone. They isolate rather than cancel out noise. Basically, they are foam ear plugs with a hole in the center for the sound to pass-through. For all its simplicity, it’s very effective and some of the best sounding headphones I’ve ever owned. Plus, I don’t get a headache after wearing them for hours on an airplane like I used to do with my noise canceling headphones.

8. Eneloop Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries with Charger. A conventional NiMH Battery can be charged only up to 500 times and looses about 10-15% of its charge on the first day itself. In contrast the Sanyo Eneloop retain up to 85% of its charge even after one year. Not only that but they can be recharged up to 1000 times. I have found these to be the best rechargeable batteries out there…by far. They’ve saved me a lot of money over time. Great for use in a flash, radio triggers and recorders.

9. iPhone/iPad Pen and Stylus. Why a iPhone stylus? Good question, since the iPhone doesn’t need a stylus for you to write on it. But, try to get someone who’s never written on iPhone to use their fingers to sign a model release. Trust me, it’s difficult, I’ve tried it. That’s when I went and purchased a stylus pen and everything became easier.  If you’re using Easy Release or some other type of iPhone app for obtaining a model release I highly recommend getting a stylus. The one I have (pictured above) doubles as a writing pen as well.

10. Pipes. At the risk of getting inflammatory e-mails by people telling me how dangerous pipe smoking is I put my pipes on this list. It’s a simple pleasure that relaxes me.  I enjoy the camaraderie it facilitates with other pipe smoking photographer friends. You know who you are – I will not list your names here.

So, that’s it. It’s not an exhaustive list and it’s not a “top ten of list” it is just a handy list. Maybe there is a thing or two on this list that you might find helpful or useful. I hope so. At the very least you can use this as a starter for your Christmas with list. What do you find you cannot travel without?

Shot with the Odin TTL Wireless Flash Trigger. Flash was off-camera left.

Let me set the record straight right here, I am not a strobist. Ninety five percent of the time I shoot with available light, the other five percent I shoot with my flash set to rear curtain sync (It’s fun. You should try it!) I really don’t like the ugly flat light that on-camera flashes give a subject. Off-camera lighting is wonderful, but until recently with a Canon you only got E-TTL metering by using the short irritating OC-E3 cable. Then in the last year or so a few companies like Pocket Wizard started selling outfits that would set you back a minimum of $500 for off-camera E-TTL wireless flash! Then, recently I was sent a little gadget that made me feel like a real lighting pro. My good friends at Phottix sent me their latest creation the Odin TTL Wireless Flash Trigger. In seconds I went from feeling intimidated with off-camera lighting to a giddy little kid with a new toy. A new toy that boosted my self esteem right out of the box. Can you tell I am impressed? I wanted to communicate to you the value this little guy is and the best way I could think of was to shoot a photo or two with it and to let Steve Peer, the CEO of Phottix tell you about the Odin himself. So listen to this short podcast I made with Steve yesterday and while listening you can peruse the cold hard specs below. Enjoy! >>Click here for Matt Brandons’s interview with Phottix’s CEO, Steve Peer.<<

Shot with the Odin TTL Wireless Flash Trigger. Flash was off-camera right.

What can the Phottix Odin TTL Trigger for Canon do?

• Wireless 2.4GHz. TTL and Manual Flash Triggering
• Remote power control of groups in TTL with +/- EV adjustments (3 stops in 1/3 stop increments  – 18 different levels.)
• Mix TTL and Manual flash – fire some groups in TTL, others as manual
• Remote power control in A:B ratio modes with +/- EV adjustments
• High speed sync – shutter speeds up to 1/8000 sec.
• Second curtain sync functions
• Remote manual mode flash power control
• Remote flash head zoom adjustments – auto or manual
• Compatible with Phottix Strato 4-in-1 and Phottix Strato II Multi 5-in-1 Wireless Triggers
• Upgradeable via built-in USB ports.

Jump over and pick up an Odin, or see you local Phottix retailer.

First, let’s get something straight – this is not a review. These photos are not straight out of the camera and put on this blog post (with the exception of one). I imported them into Lightroom and then did my normal workflow on them. Most of these were shot in raw, though not all. I will give you my thoughts on this camera, with one caveat; I just bought it yesterday and only used it for about 4 to 5 hours.

For the most part I really, really like this camera. I know there is a lot of controversy over the cost of the camera and its abilities. Some folks call it nothing more than a glorified point and shoot. Others think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. I think it’s somewhere in between. There are several things that are frustrating with it but there is a lot that is good. The image quality both in JPEG and raw is astounding. When I shot JPEG, and there were a few that I did with the built-in presets, there was still enough latitude to tweak them in Lightroom. Lightroom now has the ability to import the X100′s raw file with no troubles.

My likes:

I like the feel and the look. I mean honestly, what is there not to like, this is a sexy camera. It’s heavy enough to feel substantial; the metal is brushed and beautiful even the name etched in the top of the camera looks nice. The analog dials are a joy and come in a wonderful relief after using my G9.  I love the fact that I can adjust the aperture on the lens (where it should be!) and the shutter speed with the dial on the top of the camera. I can set it to aperture priority, shutter priority or full program mode just by turning the dials to “A” on the aperture ring or on the shutter dial. The viewscreen on the back is bright and crisp. The hybrid optical viewfinder is everything it’s cracked up to be. In a word: AMAZING! It gives you more information in a viewfinder that I’ve ever seen before and it’s all bright, crisp and clear.

My dislikes:

The  dial on the back does seem a little flimsy at times. It is rather small. When I go to use it I often hit the wrong button and make the wrong changes. Toggling between the viewscreen on the back and the viewfinder is confusing when trying to view images. Oftentimes the image will appear in the viewfinder rather than on the back of the camera, and this is frustrating. I’m sure it’s just a matter of me getting used to the right sequence of buttons to push, but it wasn’t very intuitive for me. The camera is very complicated and after working with it for about five hours today, there is still a lot to learn. It definitely has a high learning curve. I actually think it’s harder to figure out how to use this camera than my 5D MK II. But again, it may just be a matter of playing with it and learning and it should all become second nature after a while. Others have complained about the shutter being slow. It’s not so much the shutter being slow as it is the electronic viewfinder catching up with what’s happening with the camera, at least I think so. I don’t feel I missed any photos today, but I did not see what I took at times.  Frankly, I will not be using the electronic viewfinder much as the optical viewfinder is so stellar. It’s kind of hard to explain. The whole optical viewfinder is a completely new bird and something that you just have to pick up and play with. The camera makes some noise when you flip between the optical and  electronic viewfinders. It is a rather tinny and cheap sound. At first I was quite concerned, then once I figured out what was making the sound and seeing the tiny little metal shutter over the viewfinder closing, it made sense. Lastly, the battery went pretty quick… as in, after five hours of shooting it was dead. I have heard this is an issue. I hope there will be a firmware update to fix this soon.

It sounds like there are more dislikes than likes. Not really. I think it is a matter of getting to know this camera and how it works. In the end, the good out weighs the bad. It is not a camera for everyone. I wanted a sophisticated small rangefinder and this is as close as it gets today. If you want a full review check out  Ken Rockwell’s review HERE. Also, checkout this rather silly hands on review video by DigitalRevCom and a comprehensive look at the camera by What Digital Camera. In getting to know the camera I found the best option is to put the manual aside and visit Ken Rockwell’s online manual he has made. You can find it HERE.

Like I said, at the beginning, this is not a review,  I wanted to just highlight some of the pictures I shot with it today. I think you’ll see that these images are as good as anything you can do with the DSLR given its limitations. I look forward to using this camera.  Certainly, there is no buyer’s remorse here.

Click on the images below to view it and read any comments.

photo by Nathan Watkins

I never thought I would write a blog post on the use of two cameras. To me it is a no brainer, two are better than one. For many of you , it is the same. Some of you will not have thought about it, as I found out this past workshop. On the Tibet workshop two people said they were actually surprised to see me shooting two cameras at a time, meaning carrying two cameras through out the day. When they looked at my packing list, they assumed I listed the “extra” camera body as a backup. So to see me carrying and shooting both cameras was new to them. I guess I made the assumption that everybody knew why I take two bodies on a trip. Well, you know what they say about assuming?

I know for many of you shooting two camera bodies is a dream. You are doing well just to have the one DSLR camera, let alone a second body. I know this because I used to be in the same place. The first time I had two camera bodies was after I inherited my father’s old EOS SLR (film). I used to take it on trips as a standby in case my first camera failed. This certainly is one of the reasons to have two bodies. It was only a year or two back when David duChemin and I were leading a Lumen Dei in Ladakh when one of his 5Ds quit working. It just bricked up and became a paper weight. Fortunately for him he had a second body he was shooting with. This happens more often than one would imagine. And given Murphy’s timing, it always happens at the worst possible opportunity, like on a workshop or an assignment. However, by having a second body on-hand I am assured of being able to keep shooting without a hic-up.

There are a myriad of other reasons to shoot two bodies, not the least of which is dust. In the days when we shot film, there was less of a problem with dust entering the camera when we switched out lenses. It happened, but generally it was not the issue that it is today. Today, when we take a lens off the body it exposes the sensor to the elements. Sensors get a slight electrostatic build up on them so that if dust comes anywhere near it, it seems to be sucked in and glued to it, making it almost impossible to blow off. When I find myself shooting in deserts like Ladakh or the Tibetan plateau dust is always an issue. By shooting two bodies with a varied lens option makes changing lenses less needed and minimizes the chance of dust on the sensors. This is not to say that you won’t change a lens, and when you do, that it won’t be in the dusty desert. It is just that you will do it less often. Making less opportunities for dust to come into contact with your sensors.

Dust can make the best photographer look sloppy and unprofessional. Rollover the dusty image below. Fortunately Lightroom’s clone tool can be a huge help.

Two cameras don’t only help with dust. There are countless stories by countless photographers of shots that they have lost while switching lenses. When I carry two bodies throughout the day my general setup is to have on my right side my camera with my 16-35 mm 2.8 attached and on the left side a lens that will be a little longer. Usually it is either my 85 mm 1.2 or my 70–200 mm 2.8. This set up allows me to have quite a variety of focal length to choose from. If you are an avid reader of this blog you might think the 85 mm is my go to lens. In fact it is not, the 16–35 2.8 is that lens. By having a wide and a mid-range telephoto on each camera I’m ready for just about anything that I run across.

Ruggedly handsome but reassuringly self-deprecating international travel photographer Gavin Gough covered in coloured powder during Holi Festival Celebrations, India.
Copyright © Lesley Fisher

So how the heck do you shoot with two cameras…realistically? Don’t they crash into each other? Some folks use a traditional strap and put one camera around their neck and the other on their left or right shoulder. This has worked for years and many people are quite comfortable with it. My good friend, Gavin Gough for one. Gavin has shot like this for years. Above you see him shooting with a camera on each shoulder. You need strong broad manly shoulders like Gavin’s to pull this off or they will keep falling off. I guess I have too bad of a posture for this set up. So I have gone with the easy route. I use the Blackrapid R-Strap Double.

Me, my R-Strap Double and my Think Tank Photo MM Wired Up 20.
photo by Marco Ryan, Cairo Photo School

This setup insures the cameras stay put, right where they belong, on my shoulders. They are a little shorter than arms length to keep them from touching the ground when I squat or kneel down to shoot. They only real downsides I have found to this system are two things. One is the strap connector screws into the tripod socket on the camera. Thus making uses of the tripod socket useless for what it was intended for. This is a pain when you want to use both the strap and later shoot on a tripod. So I have gone back, yet again, to using a small piece of sheathed climbing rope to connect the straps to the locking clip on the strap (unlike in the photo above, where I am using the connector in the socket). The other is they are a pain to put on and take off at times. Like going to lunch or getting in and out of a car or taxi. But, outside of those small things, I find the R-Strap Double to be a huge asset when shooting two cameras. I can’t recommend them enough.

So when it come to shooting one camera body or two, I say, two is always better than one!

It is been a long time since I have published a packing list. For that matter, it’s been a long time since I’ve even talked to you about what I take on a trip. So as I begin packing for my Tibet to Kathmandu Overland Workshop, I thought it would be good to share with you the gear I’m taking and this might give you some insight into how I pack. Along the way, I’ll share with you a couple of handy things that I have found. One of those things is the iPhone app called “Packing Pro”. You can find the full review of it HERE.

Below is the list that I made in Packing Pro and then exported via email. This is a great way to share your packing list. Especially, if like me, you lead tours or workshops and often are asked what to pack. Be advised that some, many of the objects I pack are unique to me. i.e. pipe tobacco

This list is always in transition. Even whilst working on this post I added and deleted a few items. If you see any glaring errors feel free to point them out. I think this is a pretty comprehensive list. Even though it looks huge, most of the items are very small and light weight. But I am still holding my breath on the weight. Packing Pro gives the option to add a weight to each item and then it will tally the weight for you. A very cool option, but one I haven’t taken the time to use. I just have not found the time to sit and weigh each (major) item.

Giveaway

OK, here is the fun part! I will be giving away four copies of the app Packing Pro for the iPhone. All you have to do is tell us in the comments below what is the most indispensable item you take along with you when you travel. I will then choose four comments at random and e-mail you the license ( so be sure to include your e-mail address). I will announce the winner next Friday, the day before I take off on my trip.

So here is my packing list:

Tibet

To Do (pre-trip)

(　) (general prep) buy air ticket  x 1 –> E-ticket
(　) (general prep) get visa  x 1
(　) (general prep) arrange accommodations  x 1
(　) (general prep) research for trip  x 1
(　) (general prep) Check on type of plug adapters  x 1
(　) (equipment prep) get plug adapter(s)  x 1 –> If needed
(　) (equipment prep) download GPS Maps  x 1
(　) (equipment prep) prep digital camera  x 1
(　) (equipment prep) recharge camera batteries  x 12
(　) (physical prep) get hair cut  x 1
(　) (physical prep) prep medical prescriptions  x 1

Essentials

(　) (luggage) Think Tank MM Wired Up x 1
(　) (luggage) Think Tank Airport Int’l x 1
(　) (luggage) large Delsey Duffel x 1
(　) (documents) passport  x 1 –> W/ Think Tank Passport Cover
(　) (documents) frequent flyer card  x 1
(　) (documents) tickets (plane)  x 1
(　) (documents) photocopies  x 1
(　) (documents) contact info  x 1
(　) (money) cash  x 1 –> $300
(　) (money) credit card  x 2
(　) (money) ATM card  x 2
(　) (luggage) wallet  x 1
(　) (documents) drivers license  x 1
(　) (documents) passport photos  x 2
(　) (documents) press ID x 1
(　) (documents) business card  x 1
(　) (luggage) packing cubes x 1
(　) (luggage) glasses case  x 1

Clothes

(　) (pants) long pants (jeans)  x 2
(　) (shirts) long sleeve shirt (light)  x 4
(　) (shirts) short sleeve shirt  x 4
(　) (shirts) T-shirt  x 3
(　) (socks) hiking socks  x 5
(　) (underwear) Scottevest boxers x 4
(　) (underwear) thermal top  x 3
(　) (underwear) thermal bottoms  x 2
(　) (beachwear) flip flops  x 1

Accessories

(　) (coats) rain shell  x 1
(　) (coats) Fleece  x 1
(　) (jackets) Scottevest vest x 1
(　) (gloves) winter gloves  x 1
(　) (shoes) flip flops  x 1
(　) (shoes) Keens sandal   x 1
(　) (shoes) Keens hiking boots x 1
(　) (misc.) eye mask  x 1
(　) (misc.) ear plugs  x 4
(　) (misc.) extra glasses  x 1
(　) (misc.) reading glasses  x 1
(　) (misc.) glasses case  x 1
(　) (misc.) glasses  x 2
(　) (misc.) packable umbrella/reflector  x 1
(　) (hats) winter hat  x 1
(　) (hats) fedora x 1
(　) (hats) Buff x 1
(　) (hats) baseball cap  x 1
(　) (misc.) luggage scale  x 1

Toiletries

(　) (for hair) shampoo  x 1
(　) (for body) razor  x 1
(　) (for body) soap  x 1
(　) (for body) soap box/bag  x 1
(　) (for body) deodorant  x 1
(　) (for body) talcum powder  x 1
(　) (for mouth) toothpaste  x 1
(　) (for mouth) toothbrush  x 1
(　) (for mouth) dental floss  x 1
(　) (for mouth) chap stick  x 1
(　) (for mouth) mouthwash  x 1

Medical/Health

(　) (creams) anti-bacterial  x 1
(　) (creams) sunburn  x 1
(　) (bandages) Band-Aids  x 1
(　) (bandages) Q-tips  x 1
(　) (prevention) sunscreen  x 1
(　) (prevention) bug spray  x 1
(　) (pills) ibuprofen x 20
(　) (pills) metadate  x 5
(　) (pills) ciprofloxin   x 5
(　) (pills) baby aspirin   x 14
(　) (pills) melatontin  x 14
(　) (pills) simvastatin  x 14

Gadgets

(　) (utility) iPhone  x 1
(　) (utility) iPhone USB cable  x 1
(　) (utility) flashlight  x 1
(　) (utility) reading light  x 1
(　) (utility) electrical adapter  x 4
(　) (utility) plug converter  x 1
(　) (utility) recharger  x 1
(　) (recreation) headphones  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) 5d MK2  x 2
(　) (photo equipment) lens 50 1.2  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) lens 16-35 2.8  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) lens 85 1.2  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) lens 70-200 2.8  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) camera battery  x 4
(　) (photo equipment) sensor swabs  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) mini tripod  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) CF Cards  x 5
(　) (photo equipment) CF card reader  x 1
(　) (utility) power strip  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) Gorrila Pod  x 1
(　) (utility) OWC 250gb backup drives  x 2
(　) (photo equipment) cable for backup drives  x 2
(　) (photo equipment) 580 ex flash  x 1
(　) (photo equipment) Tripod  x 1 –> Digipod A2830 ¹
(　) (photo equipment) 1Ds MKIII  x 1
(　) (utility) headlamp  x 1
(　) (utility) eneloop AAA batteries  x 8
(　) (audio equipment) hand mic  x 1
(　) (audio equipment) lav mic  x 1
(　) (audio equipment) Sony PCM D50 recorder  x 1
(　) (audio equipment) mic cable  x 1

Misc.

(　) (laundry) dirty clothes bag  x 1
(　) (books) pen  x 3
(　) (books) book  x 1
(　) (misc.) padlock  x 3
(　) (misc.) plastic bags  x 5
(　) (misc.) Ziplock bags  x 10
(　) (misc.) sewing kit  x 1
(　) (misc.) cable lock  x 1
(　) (misc.) lighter  x 1
(　) (misc.) pipe  x 4
(　) (misc.) pipe tobacco  x 3
(　) (misc.) pipe cleaners  x 1
(　) (misc.) pipe tamp  x 1

Ths list exported via Packing Pro for the iPhone.
iTunes: Packing Pro

If you are an avid reader of the pixelatedimage.com you know that David sold off most of his Canon gear when he switched to Nikon. I bought his Canon 1Ds Mark III and it just arrived in my mailbox a few days back. This is an amazing camera and one that I have dreamed of owning. So when David offered it to me along with some other gear at a “friends rate” I couldn’t resist. The 1Ds Mark III differs itself from my Canon 5D Mark II in several ways. Even though the cameras are shaped very similar, the 1Ds seems to have a better fit in my hand. Frankly, I was surprised that there would be any difference in the way it felt. The 1Ds Mark III also sports several other differences that are much more significant than just the touchy-feely. The camera is completely environmentally sealed, giving me a bit more peace of mind in nasty weather. When I say completely, I mean that there are rubber O-rings around the controls and compartment doors. In total the camera has no less than 90 environmental seal points! Honestly, I haven’t given weather a lot of thought in the past. The 1Ds Mark III has enhanced auto focus capability with 45-Point TTL focusing points. It also sports 63-zone exposure metering, 19 cross-type auto focus system. But my favorite feature is the multi-spot metering (up to 8 readings). I haven’t used a camera with built-in multi-spot metering since my old OM-4Ti in 1986, that was 25 years ago.

The day after I got the Mark III I had a photo shoot scheduled with a client. It was a simple shoot, just a few shots for their website. We went to the historic Eastern & Orient Hotel (aka E&O. Eastern & Orient sounds so much more romantic than the initials E&O.) here in Georgetown. The light was soft and beautiful and the camera did it’s magic. Could the 5D have handled it? Of course, without a doubt. But I had just removed the bubble wrap from this thing and I had to use it. After the way it felt in my hand, the first thing I noticed was that he Mark III has a distinct shutter sound, unlike the 5D. The 5D’s shutter sounds clunky, almost tinny. The Mark III is loud and solid. I literally felt giddy every time I took a shot.

This is not a camera review, this camera is far to old for that and I risk embarrassing myself by talking about shutter sounds and feeling giddy. (Geez what a geek!)  If you want to read a comprehensive review of the 1Ds Mark III you can go HERE. People are already asking me would I buy another or would I sell either or both of my 5D Mark IIs? My answer is… maybe and I doubt it, and in that order. I might buy another Mark III if it was priced like this one and I had the money and I doubt I would sell my Mark IIs, they have too much going for them as well. There are rumors bouncing around that a new 5D Mark III and a 1Ds Mark IV both are in the works. So there is no way I would buy a brand new camera at this point. But the value this camera adds for the price I paid was well worth it.

Just before Christmas I posted my Christmas wish list. On it I listed the Tissot T-Touch and commented that I felt this watch would make a perfect timepiece for a traveling photographer like myself. I mentioned how it could be incredibly helpful for trips like I do, where I find myself at high altitudes or in environments where there are quick weather changes. It goes without saying that every photographer finds themselves in places wondering which way is east or west so we can prepare for the next sunrise or sunset shoot. Well, apparently I was not the only one who felt that this watch was a perfect fit. So did Tissot. Tissot feels that the T-Touch is a watch that photographers will benefit from and believe that I can help them communicate this to you. This is why they have agreed to join the growing list of sponsors of my work. I am pleased, proud and excited to announce Tissot as the newest partner in my work.

From its beginning in 1853 to present Tissot watches have continuously generated fresh and innovative timepieces. They were the first to produce the plastic watch (1971)  as well as the first anti-magnetic watch (1929). Tissot is an official timekeeper for the world championships in cycling, motorcycling, fencing and ice hockey. Tissot was also a key Sponsor for the Formula one teams Lotus, Renault and Sauber. So as you can see they know a little about keeping time!

You will be hearing more about this watch in the future right here. Until then, join with me in welcoming Tissot to The Digital Trekker family.

Visit them at Tissot.ch.