claire_curran1

<p>Thanks, everyone. I tend to be the type who carries too much camera gear while backpacking so I need an adequate front bag. The Lowepro might be the answer.<br>

Claire</p>

 

<p>I do quite a bit of backpacking with my camera gear in a large backpack. I'd like to be able to attach a camera bag/pack to the front of myself for easier accessibility while hiking with my larger backpack. Is anyone backpacking with a camera bag attached to the front of themselves? If so, what front pack are you using for your gear? Thanks,<br>

Claire</p>

<p>Thank you so much, Charles. I can't wait to get up there!</p>

<p>Thanks so much, Charles. I really appreciate your information and will plan my trip to Provo a bit later.</p>

<p>Since I will be driving from California to the Provo area, I was hoping someone living in the Provo area who drives the canyons around there can report on what the maples are doing. The times I have photographed up there, the third week in September seems to be a good start. Thanks for all your answers.</p>

<p>I would like to, as closely as possible, hit peak color in two Utah locations. Does anyone living in the Provo/Salt Lake area have a good guesstimate as to when the maples might be at peak this year? I have two backpacks planned for the Escalante, Coyote Gulch and Neon. If anyone has hiked those canyons for Fall color in October and got close to peak color can let me know the dates they hiked either canyon, I sure would appreciate it.<br>

Many thanks.</p>

I bought the Canham back when it first came out and I did have problems with it. I sent it back to Keith Canham and he adjusted it for me. I have had few problems since. It does eat up batteries. It is a bit of a pain to use because you must take off the 5x7 groundglass and then put on the 6x17 back, all the while hoping that things are locked down tight on the camera. That said, the ability to use nearly all of your LF lenses and not have to lug two cameras along to shoot LF and 6x17 is fantastic! The question I would have is whether spending the money for the back is worth it now? For me, digital has been the way to go.

I was able to test the Mamiya ZD back before buying it. I was not happy with the results. Lots of noise above ISO 100 and some colors were quite off. I bought the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III instead. I have been shooting with Nikon since the early 1970s and Nikon digitals since 2000 so switching to Canon was very thought out. I love the Mark III and post processing has been far easier than what I encountered with the ZD.

Hi Steve, I also was in Ramsey recently for fall color. I knew of the trail restrictions but was unaware of the time restriction. Ramsey Canyon is actually far more interesting outside of the Nature Conservancy's part. The shortest route into the more interesting part is thru the NC part but with the time restriction you cannot really do intensive photography and get back to the NC's parking lot in time. You can get to Ramsey by hiking Brown Canyon, a longer hike but with no restrictions. I photographed in a few of the Huachuca canyons while in the area. While I was hiking in one canyon, another hiker found a body of a Hispanic further up the trail. One gets an uneasy feeling hiking in the Huachuca canyons what with the giant blimp, all the Border Patrol, and the silent evidence of so many people using the Huachucas to get into this country. I agree with you that the NC's part of Ramsey is not a photo destination. I thought it was a bit of a mess what with all the pipes, man made ponds, and structures. Feel free to email me if you are interested in more of the Huachucas.

I have the MQC 5x7 with Canham's 4x5 reducing back and the 6x17 rollfilm back. I would highly recommend that you see the camera and 6x17 back in person to get a feel for the system. The camera and back are not the easiest things to use. I have had the camera for at least 6 yrs and the 6x17 back since it first came out. I backpack with both and have run thousands of sheets of film and a few hundred rolls of film through my system. I agree with Danny's criticism of the back's film spacing and battery problems. I like to shoot 4x5 and 6x17 and don't wish to carry two cameras, so the Canhma works for me.

I once had to shoot a job in Death Valley in July. The temperature got to 125 degrees in the sun one afternoon. Very unpleasant. I wouldn't recommend going there in hot weather unless you are very well prepared and are willing to hike the cooler narrow canyons during the day.

Donald Qualls is correct, you would save yourself a lot of money by using tungsten lights. It is also so much easier to learn lighting by beginning with tungsten. You appear to want to photograph still life subjects which are ideal for tungsten.

You have already made a good choice by investing in the Lee Filter system. I use Lee filters, among others, and am very happy with them. They are excellent filters. You can call Lee at 818 238-1220 and request a catalog. I am sure Lee has a website also. Singh Ray will make filters to fit the Lee system.

Mr. Metcalf, please let us know whether Ron Wisner refunds all of your money and does so promptly. (It would be nice if he included 4 years worth of interest on your money.)

I agree with wholeheartedly with Guy. In my opinion, these types of posts, especially those that give directions and GPS coordinates to fragile areas, do great harm to the areas. Recently I discovered that someone has been leading groups into a very fragile area, whether legally or illegally I don't know. I was disheartened at the destruction already done. If this kind of human activity keeps up, this very beautiful area will be sadly diminished. Some of you may be aware of the lovely hoodoo that is thought to have been knocked over by humans recently. I know the people who participate on this website are caring when it comes to the environment, but there is always a chance that some thoughtless person finds their way through the maze of the Internet to your post of directions to a sensitive area.

I gave up on Polaroid and now only use Fuji Instant Film for its far better color rendition, consistency, and easier handling. I have never had the kind of color shifts with Fuji as I had with Polaroid. I have only been using it for medium format work so I am unsure what is available for LF.

The Joshua Tree campgrounds do not have water. The Visitors' Center does. If you are planning to camp in JT over a week end, get there early because the campsites fill very quickly. Hidden Valley and Jumbo Rocks are the two campgrounds that have the most interesting, at least for what I enjoy photographing, things to photograph. Hiking and scouting for images is a must in JT. Not the easiest place to shoot.

Thank you, Michael, for helping me out. I don't live in AZ, but have been carefully watching the storms wondering if it would be worthwhile for me to drive to AZ in order to shoot "under the rim."

Has anyone been in any section of the Mogollon Rim in Arizona

recently who can report what is happening with fall color there?

I have the Arca-Swiss B1 ballhead. I use it constantly and like it, but, if I could do it over, I would buy the Kirk BH-1. It is cheaper than the B1 and, in my opinion, better made.

For all of you with the B1 Ballhead lock up problem, here is what Bob Watkins at Precision Camera Works told me: the problem is the shoddy material Gitzo used for the collar holding the ball. Gitzo, through Precision, will replace this collar for free, if your ballhead was bought in the last 3 yrs.

Thanks, Tim. I checked all the websites, including Precision's, before asking my question. The thumbscrew moves and is backed out all the way. The ballhead had difficulty moving so I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol. After the cleaning the ballhead would no longer move.

My B1 is really locked up and I have done all the recommended turns

on the main knob. Any ideas out there before I send it off for

repairs? The Gitzo's threads on one of the carbon fiber legs will

not permit the leg lock to be fully threaded. I have used the right

grease and carefully checked the leg's threads, which do not seem to

be stripped. Any ideas on this one? Thanks much!

Well, Heather, to belabor a point, I was responding to Robert Hurd's post directly above my initial answer. He says, "Anyway...do you know of any good guides in Southern Utah? I am heading there in November probably...for snow on red rocks with 4x5!" And, yes, I do realize he is asking about a guide of the human type and I suggested guides of the written type.

Heather, I first photographed in Monument Valley in the early 1970's-long before one needed a guide there, so I am well aware of what it is like to photograph there now. I was referring to Robert's post of 7-19-2004 in which he mentions Southern Utah, not just Monument Valley. While Monument Valley is a lovely place, there are far better places to photograph where guides are not necessary and every corner hasn't been photographed to death. With a little concerted effort in research, a photographer can find many incredibly photogenic places in Southern Utah where he or she can roam at will and for free.