david_daniel

<p>How humid are we talking about here? American Southeast humid or tropics humid. I travel the SE pretty often and have never had issues. No special treatment given to my lenses other than the desiccants packs in my camera bags. </p>

<p>20 years ago this would have sounded pretty exciting to me, but now I travel full time and it just sounds like lots of driving. But I agree with Dieter, it this is what you want to do, do it. Then you can always say you've driven across country. And future trips you can visit just one area and get to know that well. When I was first traveling I wanted to cover as much ground as possible. Then I started spending more time in just one or two locations. I remember two weeks exploring Capitol Reef and Zion. 2 weeks in the SF Bay area. A week in Parke County Indiana (Covered Bridges). <br>

If you are doing this within the next 3-4 months, I'd stay out of the South. The West will be hot, but at least very little humidity. </p>

<p>Lots of good advice here. But, I've got to say, I'm not sure I understand the post. What's the point? Who cares how many shots you take? Now back in the days when I was shooting 6x7 film, yes, I wanted to be more careful, hell, the film probably ended up costing me as much as the equipment. But with the cost of SD cards, who cares?<br>

And what is really meant by 'keepers'? Are you really hitting the trash icon with 9 out of 10 photos?? Then I'm not sure its choices as much as quality, talent.<br>

I find often when reviewing a specific shoot, the best shots are not necessarily the ones I thought would be best when I was shooting. A few nights ago I was shooting skyline type shots at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. I shot from about 1.5 hours before sunset to an hour afterword. I shot about 350 images, which included lots of bracketing to get the correct exposures on those tricky night shots, to minimize the ever-present noise. My favorite shot was really a last second grab I didn't have much faith in, until I finished with it in PS. You just never know, despite the ever present digital screen. </p><div></div>

<p>The Columbia River corridor between Washington and Oregon. I spent two weeks there one spring, waterfalls were literally everywhere! Have it penciled in for next spring/summer. </p>

<p>One of the super sites in DC often missed by many is the Washington Cathedral. It is quite impressive, compares to the great European cathedrals, ours is the 3rd largest in the world. Started by George Washington and only finished a few years ago. </p>

<p>Here's something you might think about. There are two ways to go to GCNP from Flag. One is the traditional, more direct way: Highway 180 (Ft Valley Rd) to the main part of the South Rim. But from the East end of Flag you can go Highway 89 up to the 'Desert Entrance'. This will take you to Wupatki (you can enter Sunset Crater and then on through Wupatki and then back out to 89). The entrance to GCNP by this way takes you alongside the Little Colorado River gorge, and into Desert View in the Canyon, one of my favorite Viewpoints. If you want to go on to the rest of the Canyon you can. Desert View is a great point for late in the PM photography.</p>

<p> A good map for this area is the AAA Indian country map.</p>

<p>Here's something you might think about. There are two ways to go to GCNP from Flag. One is the traditional, more direct way: Highway 180 (Ft Valley Rd) to the main part of the South Rim. But from the East end of Flag you can go Highway 89 up to the 'Desert Entrance'. This will take you to Wupatki (you can enter Sunset Crater and then on through Wupatki and then back out to 89). The entrance to GCNP by this way takes you alongside the Little Colorado River gorge, and into Desert View in the Canyon, one of my favorite Viewpoints. If you want to go on to the rest of the Canyon you can. Desert View is a great point for late in the PM photography.</p>

<p> A good map for this area is the AAA Indian country map.</p>

<p>Somehow the end of my post got cut off. Also consider going to Grand Falls, spectacular late. Some of this road is ruff, you'll need high clearance. On the reservation. http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=22</p>

<p>Never heard of them. Used to live in Flag. There is a LOT you can do on your own, go to the Forest Service office in Sedona and get a map, easy to get into some of the Red Rock country and find trails. </p>

<p>My favorite place in this area is Wupatki National Park, a great ruins park about 30 miles N of Flag, attached to Sunset Crater NP. Go to Wukoki Ruin at end of day. </p><div></div>

<p>Even if the road to the park, and INTO the park is open, I'd make the effort to go to the canyon rim on some of the roads you are talking about. For one thing, you can rent a car with good clearance, it doesn't have to be 4x4, just a suv or truck.<br>

Do some google searches for Kanab Point for instance. If the roads are dry you can make it in a high clearance vehicle, its only the last few miles that are sorta rough. Nothing like standing on the rim of the Canyon ALL BY YOURSELF!</p>

<p>You can get a permit to shoot after/before hours (and commercial photography) at pretty much any National Park or Monument. You should talk to the Park Supervisor, just call the park plenty of time in advance and ask them for the procedures. I recently did this at Ft Union NM in New Mexico. I paid a few to cover having a Ranger present after hours so I could shoot the Fort at the 'golden' hour. Got very lucky. There was a storm with very black clouds, lightening, rainbow, and late sun coming out under the clouds. Took me about 3 weeks to get permission. </p><div></div>

<p>I used to have a Manfrotto 724B portable Tripod that was perfect for my smaller photo backpack and worked well with both my Bridge camera and my dslr if it didn't have a large lens on it. AND best of all it used the same QR plate as my big carbon fiber tripod. Unfortunately I fell while moving this extended. Camera was ok, tripod not so much. Legs dented and now won't close up, despite my efforts with pliers to fix. Can't find this tripod any longer, and other Manfrotto portable units I see now use a different plate. Just wondering if anyone knows about a similar unit from Manfrotto? Or a place to find a used one, ebay has been no luck the past month. Thanks, Dave</p>

<p>My brother just bought the newest, highest end Canon one and there were several things I liked about it, although now I don't remember them, except the extended zoom range. Dave</p>

 

<p>Yea, I saw the Fuji one, which I believe might be the best quality camera among them all. But the monitor only move up and down, it doesn't actually rotate like my SX1-IS and my 60D do. I've really gotten used to the rotating monitor and don't want to give it up. Thanks, Dave</p>

<p>In addition to my DSLR and my pocket digital, I also own a Canon SX1-IS high end point and shoot 'bridge' camera. I find this to be an easy 'grab shot' camera enabling me to get RAW images on the fly. At the time I bought this camera, it was the top of the line. I decided this weekend to upgrade it to the best I could find (no matter the manufacturer). In searching through the different websites, I'm dismayed to find the top cameras in this category for both Nikon and Canon, while having great features and super zoom range, no longer include RAW image capabilities! Hard to believe, since these are for sure the cameras that you would think advanced photographers would cherish. <br>

So, I'm asking two questions here of the group: 1. Do you know of a manufacturer that has a high end point and shoot that provides: RAW, zoom at least to 650mm, twisty monitor, optical viewfinder? 2. If I can't do that, is there anyone famaliar enough with the Canon line to know of a bridge camera that came after my SX1-IS that still has RAW? I figure I can find a used one on ebay. <br>

Thanks, Dave</p>

<p>I don't use a flash hardly at all, so for me that's an easy choice. And I don't use prime lenses, all my lenses are zooms, except my perspective control lens. Honestly, I've never been on a trip where I've left ANYTHING. It all fits in one photo backpack, except my biggest lens, which I pack in with my clothes. If I were to leave something, even my pc lens, for sure that would be what I would need to take the best shot!! Right?</p><div></div>

<p>I'm going to have to echo those who recommend less parks and more time in a couple of them. Honestly I could spend the whole 3 weeks in Yellowstone, and have. But if I was going up there next month, I'd divide my time between Yellowstone and Glacier, two truly incredible parks. I like to go to the same (successful) location over and over again. Last time I was at Glacier I hiked the trail out back of the Logan Pass Visitors Center late in the day for 4 days in a row. There's always tons of wildlife just off (and ON) this trail. </p><div></div>

<p>It seems to me if you are someone who has these rigid preplanning rules like 'no checked bags' which keeps you from taking the best camera you own and spent a bunch of money on, maybe you should invest in a high end P&S that shoots raw and has a long zoom. Then you won't feel so bad when you see a shot a 90mm lens can't do justice to. Its rare when I don't take my photo backpack with my Canon 60D and all lenses with me. But if not I have a high end pocket p&s with a 14x zoom and a quality bigger p&s with a 24-480 zoom and Raw capabilities. Both work well with a compact tripod too. </p>

<p>You're going to Death Valley in the SUMMER?? You know why they call it Death Valley, right? And why places inside Death Valley are called names like Furnace Creek? Expect temperatures over 120, getting down at night to a cool 98! <br>

See or Avoid? See the tops of the closest mountains. Avoid getting out of your air conditioned car.<br>

Well, I'd forget Death Valley until at least October. Go North a little, like Bishop. Bishop will also be hot, but you can journey up to the Bristlecones at 12000 feet, or the other way into the Sierras, hike to some mountain lakes. </p>

<p>What would you do with the photo? If you ever thought you might sell that photo to an advertising agency, you'd need a release. You could take the photo, then approach the subject about signing a release, promising to email them a copy for themselves. </p>

<p>If you are going to be there in the fall, then you'll have much better luck finding rooms inside the park. All of the park's lodges are great places to stay (especially Old Faithful) but not cheap. </p>

 

<p>Honestly, I can't imagine a trip like this (who knows if you'll ever be back there) without AT LEAST a 200. Personally I'd want even longer. I also am a zoom shooter and always find shots where I want to compress the elements. I'm sure if I was doing this trip I'd take all my lenses, including my PC. </p>

<p>You just never know about wildflowers. They can be great, or really bad, year in year out. And also remember you'll be up there in elevation at some of these locations, so the wildflowers may come later. Personally I think this is a great time, but in the fall one thing for sure, you'll have the changing colors EVERY YEAR. I did a 6 day private tour in Canyon de Chelly last October and the Cottonwoods were fantastic, in addition to all the ruins and rock art.</p>

<p>If you haven't been to Stonehenge or Salisbury, I vote for England. That said, I've never been to Budapest. But Stonehenge is one of my favorite places on earth, and if you set it up early, you can arrange to get into the inner circle early am. </p>

<p>I used to carry separate insurance on my camera/computer gear, but no longer. After a long talk with my insurance person, she advised that my homeowner's policy covered everything (less my deductable). I've only had one claim on camera gear. I had my truck broken into while parked just outside the gate of my local state park while I was in hiking. My high end point and shoot Canon was taken along with the photo backpack it was in, also a few filters. I had receipts for everything and was very satisfied with the results of the claim. <br>

I believe NANPA still has a separate policy available. </p>