Equipment to take....

Now let's see, I am a digital photographer......so I need my laptop! It's amazing how my equipment list has changed over the past few years. Okay, here is the camera equipment I will take so far:

• Canon 10D camera
• Canon 17-40mm f/4L USM
• Canon 24-70mm F/2.8L USM
• Canon 28-135 f/3.5 - 5.6 IS USM
• Fuji S1 camera
• Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5 - 4.5 AF ED
• Tokina 20-35mm f3.5 - 4.5 AF
• Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 AF Macro
• Polarizer filter
• HP laptop

This is my camera bag for this trip.  No need to bring the big glass because I will be doing landscapes.  The reason I will be bringing the S1 is for a back up system.  I only have one Canon camera for right now.  Kevin is going to bring his 10D as a back up for me , but I need to bring my S1 along.  Maybe I'll let it be my snap shot camera!  I'll post more on this as time permits.  The 24-70 mm f/2.8 will be a new lens for me and I hope it arrives before the trip.

Compact flash has gotten cheap!  I just ordered 2- 512meg high speed cards for $85 each at PC Mall today.  I love PC Mall, they have great customer service, quick shipping, and carry just about everything.

-mark 

Let the planning begin!

Now that all the dates are set, plane tickets bought, motels booked, it's time for all the planning.  I can't do this without a list.  Without a list I would forget something.  I have a list from every trip Kevin and I have made and I am sure Kevin does too!  With the list, we make sure we don't duplicate the wrong things like we both bring a tent.  Although we could probaly use one, it is just excess weight.  Airlines are very strict on the weight of your luggage and if it's over 75 lbs or so you have to pay a fuel tax.  I have had to do this a few times, but now I pack smarter.

Some items such as ice chests and small grills can be bought locally at most of the places we go photograph.  We can either send them back by UPS, or just leave them for the next guy.  There is always someone at the hotels that will take the stuff and sell it.  That's what you have to do when you fly, you can't take it all with you.  So the planning is coming together now. I started my list last night and will continue to work on it this weekend.

Thinks I take as far as camera gear are a little different now that I am 100% digital.  I have made this decision at the studio almost 4 years ago and have been slowly working this into my nature photography.  While there is nothing wrong with shooting film and scanning them in, I just prefer to use the technology I have right now.  So far no regrets at all.  Last year I took my Fuji S1 with me to Alaska and I was very pleased with the results.  I can print up to 20x24 with no problem.  I won a major award on one of my prints from Wonder Lake this year, and the judges were blown away that I did it on and old Fuji S1.  The S1 was our first digital camera for the studio.  I will be converting one of these to an Infra Red camera soon.  That's right, digital can record IR!  More on this modification later.

Planning Trip to Arches NP this fall

Kevin and I are in the planning stages for a fall trip to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.  This will be different from the Alaska adventures I am used to.  I am excited about getting to travel to Utah and photograph these great landmarks in America'a landscape.  Look for more posts as information becomes available.

-mark

Update on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 at 03:03AM by Mark Hardgrave

Logged onto Delta Airlines website last night and found my round trip air fare to Salt Lake City to be about $220!  That's great, so I purchased them last night from their website.  I love the web!!!!!  Kevin has made hotel reservations and rental car arrangements.  Now it is time for some research!

-mark