Tips
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Attending festivals or recording the low drone of Tibetan Monks playing the Dungchen, do not leave home without a digital recorder. The recordings are incorporated into videos and slideshows. The recorders that I use are the hand-held audio recorders by Samson Tech and their line of Zoom recorders. The H1 Handy Recorder is the latest product and all its functions are at your fingertips, such as track marker, auto record, low cut filter, level and volume controls with on-board buttons… No menus required! The H4N Representing the next level of professional recording performance, the H4n delivers superior audio quality and dramatically improves the user experience. Zoom’s most sophisticated handheld recorder to date will amaze, no matter the application. |
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I always travel with a way to purify water in case of an emergency. The device that I carry is the SteriPEN Journey. The Journey is light, weighing in at just 4.5 ounces (128 grams). And like all SteriPEN models, it’s fast, 48 seconds to purify 16 ounces (0.5 Liter). I also use a Naglene BPA free widemouth container to allow access for the steripen to filter the water. SteriPEN products use ultraviolet (UV) light technology to purify water, destroying more than 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses and protozoan cysts such as giardia and cryptosporidia.
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A portable reflector is simply an item that reflects light onto an object, but is compact enough to take anywhere. They are very useful in photography because you can easily give yourself more light to experiment with on a subject. Different coloured reflectors assist with changing the mood of an image. You may often see shadows on the face, but with the reflector you can reflect light onto the face, especially the eyes to create the all important catchlights and instantly improve an image. I use a 12 inch size that is collapsable, with gold on one side and white on the other.It will fit easily into your camera bag. LiteDiscs are one example of two-sided material on a collapsible round frame for reflecting any light source. Includes carry bag. |
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Designed for digital photographers on the move who require huge storage space or redundancy backup for their photos and the ability to view them anytime but do not wish to carry a laptop computer. Portable storage devices are small, convenient devices that run on batteries, and contain a high capacity hard drive that will store thousands of photos until you can get back to your computer. The higher-end units come with large, colour LCD screens that allow you to review images and many also double as MP3 and video players.I personally use the Hyperdrive products which have been very reliable and the battery will last for the duration of my travels. I purchase the case and install my own hard drive.
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One of the first things I will do after booking my trip is to copy all of my documents including flight itineraries, tickets, passport and visas, credit card information including phone numbers if the card is lost or stolen, hotel confirmations, trip itinerary, camera serial numbers, travel insurance, important telephone numbers. I then reduce the size down to fit inside a small notebook and paste the documents using a glue stick. This fits in your top pocket of your photo vest or jacket. I will also put small photos of ideas for photography from the areas I have researched. This can be shown to your guide to explain the kind of photo you want to achieve or location that you would like to go to. The highlights of instructions about my cameras and other devices such as my digital recorder and water purifier are also entered into the notebook. The other important thing that I do is have copies of prescriptions that I take, as well as the generic names. |
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The other way for me to retain the information that I may need is to send the important phone numbers and prescription information to my email account. At some point in your trip you should have access to this. This has worked for me in the past when I needed to provide information to a health provider. |
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Neutral-density filters are a mainstay of landscape and travel photographers desiring long exposure for specific effects like the motion blur of water. However, outside their utility with outdoor photographers, the ND filter has immediate uses for anyone shooting portraits and working with flash photography. The Vari-ND makes it easy to achieve slow shutter speeds of one or more seconds to "blur" the motion of falling water, passing clouds, flying birds, busy people, or any other moving subject within your scene. Singh-Ray's Vari-ND Variable Neutral Density Filter offers 2 to 8 stops of added density. |
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The GorillaPod is as comfortable hanging on a tree branch or sitting on the floor of a tribal hut. It's flexible legs bend and rotate 360 degrees to wrap/grip around almost any surface. I use mine mainly for my flash. |
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Changjiao girls Guizhou China |
Kalash girls Pakistan I always travel with gifts for the people I photograph. Canada pins were used as ear rings by the Kalash girls, while mirrors and bears were a hit with the Changjiao in Guizhou. I collected dozens of broaches to give as gifts in Bhutan as the ladies use them to fasten their garments. Fishing hooks and lures as well as swiss army knifes to thank the Waura men in Brazil. Sewing kits and dental supplies are also well received. Bring photos of your family and country to show to your new friends. Try to visit a school and bring needed supplies.
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