Photoshop CS is now shipping. Greatly expanded 16-bit support and built in Raw file processing are two of the big features for digital photographers.
DigitalPro Shooter Volume 2, Issue 15, October 16th, 2003
Welcome to DPS 2-15: A special issue on post 9/11 photo travel. Traveling with photo equipment as never been fun, but virtually everyone has found it more difficult since 9/11. In case you're wondering what you might find on your next trip or how I deal with it, I'm sharing my top tips on post 9/11 photo travel. We're also pleased to announce our new Digital Cafe section of the forums, as well as that Photoshop CS (aka Photoshop 8) is now shipping.
Think Light: With the airlines limiting "free" luggage to 50lbs.--down from 70lbs--for most passengers, you may have to re-think how you pack your equipment. If you have the option to check luggage at the curb, a tip to the Skycap will usually render this restriction moot, but if you're stuck on the scale its painful to be scrambling to repack the extras from your 60lb bag into your 40lb bag while the 20 people in line are watching. Some airlines ease this restriction for frequent flyers who are members of their elite levels. In the meantime, use the restriction as a reason to re-think what you're bringing. I travel with less and lighter lenses as zooms improve and newer construction sheds ounces and even pounds off some models. Increases in optical quality mean that you can also sometimes get by with a lens+teleconverter combination when you couldn't before.
Re-evaluate your Bags: Make sure the bags you travel with meet your current needs. For many years I traveled with either a ProTrekker or Nature Trekker, depending on the long lens I needed. The ProTrekker is a great pack, but it is heavy and the straps stick out enough that it doesn't make anyone happy on small planes with small overhead compartments. Recently I've switched to an MP1 from WRP which I can easily slide into overhead bins on almost any plane. And when there aren't overhead bins its clean design helps it slide under the seat in front of me.
The Plane, The Plane: Smaller planes tend to have less room for luggage, but getting to know the different model planes and their capacity is worthwhile. Most airline sites and many of the major travel booking sites such as Travelocity will let you know the make and model of plane on each route. By knowing the size and configuration of plane you'll be in the best position not only to be on the flight with the most room, but to know where to head when you first board and where to try to get assigned a seat. In many cases even the same airline will use several different planes on the same route, so you can affect your chances of safely stowing your bag overhead by timing your trip. Besides, if you get the choice wide-bodied planes tend to be more comfortable for long flights.
Luggage vs. FedEx: I thought I had seen the last of FedExing to locations when I gave up film, but I hadn't. Since luggage can no longer be locked I've had my LowePro Roller searched about half of the time. Once my GPS was stolen from it. Neither United Airlines nor the TSA was interested in figuring out what happened, except to point the finger at the other. So I've started packing any small electronics equipment that I can't carry on the plane with me into a box and shipping it ahead via FedEx. So far this has worked very well. If my trip is short enough I can print the return airbill before I leave and bring it with me. That way I can drop the box off on my way to the airport on my return without taking any extra time.
Cabin-checked Baggage: For small airlines and on small planes in particular, if your bag can't be stowed on the plane, it can be checked as you get on the plane. The big advantage of this over checking at the curb or the counter is that your luggage is only handled by the ground crew briefly and is given back to you right at planeside when you arrive. This improves the odds of your expensive equipment surviving the baggage experience, although I've had a lens mount damaged by United Express so it is not fool proof. The downside is that you need to carry your bag through the airport to check it this way.
Optional Padding: I learned this trick from Moose. Bring your fleece vest or jacket along to wear while traveling, but in a pinch you can use it to pad your bag if you need to check it or give it to the attendant to cabin check it.
Avoid Leverage: The weakest and most expensive part of your camera bag is where your long lens mounts to your camera. You can ruin your two most expensive pieces of equipment if there is a torque on that joint. It is convenient to travel with your long lens on one of your camera bodies, but more and more I separate them and let them travel separate. That way there isn't any huge lever arm to torque the mount. This is even more important with digital, as the D-SLR lens mounts don't seem quite as sturdy as the F5 mounts.
Slip-on Shoes: A key part of getting to your gate quickly is a swift trip through security. The best way to accomplish this is with a little preparation. I often used to travel in my hiking boots or other lace up shoes, but it is much easier now to travel in slip-on shoes. Taking them off and putting them through the X-Ray machine in a tray guarantees they won't cause you to set off the sensor. Putting your phone, PDA, card wallet, and other little potentially metallic items in your briefcase before you go through X-Ray is another way to help ensure a reasonable experience. The one positive note about all the extra security at X-Ray is that the old concern of having your laptop or bags stolen while you were going through appear to have abated. No doubt all the assault rifles and boarding pass checks have discouraged the petty thieves.
Inspect your own Luggage: Well, not quite, but at some airports baggage inspection is available at check-in, so that you can have your bags inspected and then re-lock them. This is obviously a huge advantage when you can do it.
Look big: Well, not exactly, but the bigger you look and the smaller your carry-on luggage looks by comparison, the less you'll get bothered. I normally carry my MP1 over one shoulder and my briefcase over the same shoulder when boarding the plane. It looks like a lot less gear that way than if I have items slung over both shoulders. Then, once you are on the plane, make sure you are organized and expedient about getting your bags stowed. The longer you muddle around or look confused the more likely the cabin attendant is going to ask if they can help you out by checking your bag. That's not what you want!
Bring Food: This seems pretty obvious, but very few people actually do. I've gotten in the habit of picking up a sandwich and a bottle of water or two on the way to the airport. Then if my connections or tight or the flights are long, I'm not stuck eating only peanuts for the day.
Be Loyal: Rather than shop for the absolute lowest fare, there is a lot to be gained if you can consistently fly one airline. More leg room, earlier boarding, larger luggage allowance, free or discounted upgrades and preferred seat assignment are all perks that are enjoyed by frequent fliers. Frankly, most of these perks just give us back what we all got as passengers 10 or 20 years ago, but without any status with the airline you'll be treated even worse.
Drive: Yep, I drive a lot more than I did before, especially if the trip is under 1,000 miles. With flying taking longer than it used to and speed limits in many parts of California up from 55 to 65 or even 70mph, it doesn't cost me that much time in many cases. I also wind up with my car there when I get there, saving the cost of a rental and ensuring all my gear is safe and sound in the trunk--speaking of which I can of course carry more gear this way. Best of all, it is a great way to experience the trip. Driving from San Francisco to Moab this Spring, for example, I found a wonderful colony of Antelope Ground Squirrels, a marsh full of yellow-headed blackbirds and a Cactus Wren nest, among other great photo opportunities.
Photoshop CS is now shipping, for both the Mac and the PC. You can order online through our Amazon affiliation, either as an upgrade or a new purchase. We'll feature a write-up of our experiences with it soon, but in short the included Raw file handling alone is worth nearly the upgrade price to digital photographers. Coupled with greatly expanded handling of 16-bit files, we expect to see the upgrade on many users machines. The only downside is activation, which you can read more about on our site as well.
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NEW: October 28th: Photoshop CS is now shipping. Greatly expanded 16-bit support and built in Raw file processing are two of the big features for digital photographers. |
We're very pleased to be launching a new Digital Cafe forum on nikondigital.org. The forum is the perfect place to go to talk about photography with other photographers. Topics so far have ranged from composition to style to converting a hobby to a business. We're fortunate to have Roy Feldman of Detroit Photographic as our moderator. Roy is a member of the Whitehouse Press Association and 'digital guru' for Ford Motor Company--and not afraid to tell all about his experiences making a living through photography. Please join us and let us know what's on your mind!
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DigitalPro Tip:We're also officially launching the DigitalPro User Gallery site. We're showcasing users of DigitalPro--including wildlife, portrait, event and commercial photographers--both professional and amateur. If you're a DigitalPro user and want to have us include your site in the gallery, just drop us a line at dpgallery@proshooters.com. On a sadder note, loyal DigitalPro user and world-class Moose photographer Bill Silliker passed away this Fall, while leading a photo trip. |