cagan_sekercioglu

While backpacking in Ecuador, I got a ride on a French yacht going to Galapagos from Guayaquil. It took three days. When I got there, I got on a tour for $50/day and spent 4 days on the tour, 1 day on a diving trip and 2 days on my own at Santa Cruz. Decent and basic hotels cost about $10. I got some good shots. You can see some at thtp://jasper1.stanford.edu/~cagan/southamerica.htm

The whole trip there cost me $500. Add $150 if you fly round trip. Good luck

I took the following photo in a canoe, using a 400/5.6 Canon on a tripod, in Wonder Lake, Denali NP.

Do a search for "loon" at this page:

 

http://jasper1.stanford.edu/~cagan/northamerica.htm

 

 

I paddled slightly and to go in the direction of loons (parents and 2 chicks) I would paddle in that direction and let the canoe drift. I could get pretty close but this is a very protected area. Good luck.

This year there has not been that much rain in southern California so there is hardly anything right now. I dont know about southern Utah but a very good site on US deserts is www.desertusa.com. They have wildflower reports as well although there is none for Zion right now. Good luck

Cagan

I am planning to go to Australia for 3 weeks in December, with

possible short stopovers in New Caledonia and Hawai. In Australia,

I'll spend my time mostly between Brisbane and Adelaide, and also in

Tasmania. I would greatly appreciate if anyone could suggest locations

for landscape and wildlife photography. The less-known the better.

Thanks a lot.

Cagan

Many thanks for all the contributions. Now I have a much better idea of how to go about getting insurance. It is such a shame that I did not get something so cheap the last time and lost $4000 worth of gear.

Cagan

Has anyone spent any time in any of these countries? I am especially interested in safety in Angola and the Congos, and photo/nature tours in Gabon and Madagascar. Thanks.

Cagan

I am planning to buy a video cam (a Sony TRV9 digital) for a trip to Africa, but my priority is definitely photography. I would like to know if there are any methods or tools that make using a camera and camcorder at the same time easier. I am especially interested to know if I could find a "double head" (such as a two attachment points on a rod attached to a tripod) which I am thinking might make things easier. While I am shooting, the camcorder could be running on its own. I don't know if this would be feasible. There was an article by Lisl Dennis in OP about this and I would appreciate more advice from people who have used both formats together.

Thanks

Cagan

I have a good deal of optical equipment, I will be travelling for 2 months and I am very worried about theft or damage (having had most of my previous camera gear stolen in Peru when I did not have insurance). I don't have home owner's insurance (since I don't have property) and I was wondering if there are any photo/travel insurance companies that do all-inclusive camera gear insurance for just a few months.

Thanks.

Cagan

Not only photography makes it possible for me to have records of the fascinating images of nature that I witness, by looking at which I can almost relive the original moment, but even more importantly, I can realize my ideal vision of nature as free from people and their destructive impact. In many cases, I try to eliminate any references to people in my photos, and although some may argue that this is not "realistic", it is refreshing to be able to look at a kestrel photo, for example, and just see the bird in its natural habitat and not see the nearby phone wires. Maybe it is just a consolation, but we always have to deal with too many people and with the burdens of civilization and it is relieving not to have them intruding in nature photos. This is not to say that I don't enjoy taking photos of indigenous cultures, but since what is indigenous and what is not can be debated, I won't go into this. The only problem I have with this habit is with the editors of travel magazines. In fact, a few days ago, when the editor of a travel magazine told me that "There is no concept" in my Antarctica photos, the art director secretly told me that "He means you have almost no people shots" (and I don't think you need many people shots for an article on a practically unpeopled continent with no native human inhabitants). Then I went through the slides I had not even bothered to put into Print Files and chose a bunch of "people shots" and now the article is scheduled for September! In a number of instances, I was not able to get a enough people shots to "balance" nature shots (I am talking in general terms. Of course, there are amazing nature photos with people in it and there is no concrete border between them.) and the articles were not accepted, but I still think this is a fair price to pay for having photos that, when I look at them, make me forget about people.

Not only photography makes it possible for me to have records of the fascinating images of nature that I witness, by looking at which I can almost relive the original moment, but even more importantly, I can realize my ideal vision of nature as free from people and their destructive impact. In many cases, I try to eliminate any reference to people in my photos, and although some may argue that this is not "realistic", it is refreshing to be able to look at a kestrel photo, for example, and just see the bird in its natural habitat and not see the nearby phone wires. Maybe it is just a consolation, but we always have to deal with the burdens of civilization and it is relieving not to have them intruding in nature photos. This is not to say that I don't enjoy taking photos of indigenous cultures, but since what is indigenous and what is not can be debated, I won't go into it. The only problem I have with this habit is with the editors of travel magazines. In fact, a few days ago, when the editor of a travel magazine told me that "There is no concept" in my Antarctica photos, the art director secretly told me that "He means you have almost no people shots" (and I don't think you need many people shots for an article on a practically unpeopled continent with no native human inhabitants). Then I went through the slides I had not even bothered to put into Print Files and chose a bunch of "people shots" and now the article is scheduled for September! In a number of instances, I was not able to get a enough people shots to "balance" nature shots (I am talking in general terms. Of course, there are amazing nature photos with people in it and there is no concrete border between them.) and the article was not accepted, but I still think this is a fair price to pay for having photos that, when I look at them, make me forget about people.

I am considering getting a macro lens for my Canon EOS A2. I cannot really afford the new 180mm Macro, so I am thinking about 100mm 2.8. However, i heard a lot of good things about Vivitar 100 3.5 macro and also about Tamron 100 macro. How does the image quality compare and more importantly, would a non-Canon lens have problems with a Canon extension tube and 1.4X TC? Since the price is an issue and I have a 70-200 2.8, would it be better to use this with a close-up lens (or a 50mm 1.4 with an extension tube), albeit with less magnification? Also, my focus will be outdoor insect photography. Thanks.

I just got a Canon 400/5.6 USM and I want to get a 1.4XTC for it. Is Canon's worth the $300 difference? I heard good things about Tamron's and I'd appreciate some opinions/ Also, is "tricking" the lens possible w/ Tamron's so that you get autofocus even at f8? Thanks.

Hello. I am interested in updating my 75-300mm and thinking between

Canon 300/4.0 and 400/5.6. I heard good things about 300 and mixed views about 400. Although I am on an extremely low budget, I'll sleep

in my tent, hitchike and eat rice or chips rather than compromise

optical quality on this trip, where I'll try to travel from Ecuador

to Tierra del Fuego, keeping to wilderness areas as much as possible.

Nevertheles, I would interested in hearing people's views on the new

Sigma 400/5.6 APO Macro. I am leaning towards 400 w/1.4Ex, but I am also wondering about 300 w/1.4 and/or 2Ex. Thanks.