Daily Archives: June 23, 2015

 

 

I got an email over the weekend from one of the attended to the Oregon Coast workshop guests asking how I prepared for a workshop, which allowed me to do an interesting inventory, and I thought it might be helpful to anyone planning photo trip so here is my answer to them and my advice to you!!!

 

Logistical Prep:  Know the area, have all your maps, guide books, and a articles not only at hand but available to study on the plane or in transit.  Whenever I am planning and packing for a workshop, I first check the weather forecast and normal climate for that region.  Will it be hot, cold, rainy, snowy, windy, all these conditions require different kinds of clothes!  I’ve found you are not comfortable you will not do your best work.  Nothing is worse than freezing to death instead of seeing the great subject and light!!!!  I’ve often said most workshops are not a fashion show, just be comfortable, and relaxed an you can do that best if you have the right kinds of outerwear.  If  you do this a lot, you will discover a really good gore tex shell will pay for itself many times over.  Same goes for silk weight long johns if it is going to be really cold.  For years marino wool socks and comfortable hiking shoes have beneath order of the day.

 

Gear Needs:  I tailor a bag for every trip with the bodies and lenses I know I will need to do the kind of work we will encounter at the location.  A good example would be if we are going photograph big mammals I would certainly want a 70-200 and a longer 400mm or 500 mm lens in addition to the normal kit.  For the upcoming Oregon Coast I will want every thing from a wide angle zoom, 10-24, to a midrange zoom, 16-55 and a longer lens like the 50-140 and a 300mmm equiv. Of course I always carry at least one spare body and a lot of extra batteries and a charger or two.

 

Physical prep:  West Coast trips in the northern part of the west coast in June tend be long days, early rising and late to bed, so I try to rest and catchup on my rest before my flight out to the location.  I also insist on a mid day nap to keep my energy up.  Workshops are intensive for instructors, you are on stage from the start until everyone has left, it really takes pacing yourself and staying up to speed on your rest and nutrition.  I buy some slimmest when i arrive on site, so I can at least get a good breakfast drink down for those early morning sunrise locations.

 

Spiritual Prep:  I am constantly on a mission to share God’s love with everyone I meet.  Sometimes it does not involve talking about my faith so much as trying my best to live it,  by example.  I believe everyone responds to being loved, and with God’s power we can share His love with everyone.  It has amazed me over the years how many people that, I do not know well at all, have said I was one of their best friends!!!  That is a God thing, they know they are loved, and it affects people, we all need to share that love more, and more widely!!!  All to His glory. of course!

 

Well that’s it,  I’m packed, geared up, rested and prayed up, ready to go and do my best to follow Him instead of lead, a plan that always works!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

The Shot?  Actually was made in Acadia, opposite coast, with a film camera and a double exposure.  The moon was shot with a 400 mm lens and then double exposed with a this morning shot of a small sail boat!