lheusinkveld

<p>You can try Unirisk. They do a policy for overseas executives. Pricy, but very comprehensive in its coverage.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>I was in Turkey last autumn, flew there from London. I always have two DSLR cameras with me, plus three or four lenses. I don't carry a tripod. No questions were asked. Make a point of looking like a tourist and don't put "professional photographer" or something similar on any forms you fill in.</p>

<p>One thing to note, the weight of your carry-on luggage may be severely restricted when you leave Turkey. Dalaman airport enforces an 8kg rule (our inbound allowance was 12kg). So the gear you take may be limited by weight.</p>

<p>I am quite familiar with the Lake District, and April should be very nice for lambs in the fields etc. But the weather there is some of the most unpredictable as it is often different from the rest of the country. My recollection is that Scotland often has nice weather when the south does not (notwithstanding snow there last week!)<br>

I have only been in the southwest in summer and autumn so can't speak to reliability of the weather there. The area around Salcombe, heading both east and west, is lovely for seascapes. But the minor roads in Devon are very narrow indeed, and get narrower as you head to Cornwall.<br>

I found the southern part of Cornwall more picturesque than the north, perhaps because of the weather I experienced. Villages such as Mousehole, and the ruins at Botallack, are fantastic. I have done a day trip to Tresco, which is great if you like formal gardens, but it does use up a whole day.<br>

Not sure where you will find opportunities for wildlife, probably Scotland. Certainly Northumberland has opportunities, including the Farne Islands, particularly for birds.<br>

On recent trips to UK I have looked more for ruins of abbeys and priories and privately held stately homes, rather than National Trust or EH properties. It has been well worth the extra research required. National Trust for Scotland has some great places and it worth looking into.<br>

Hope this helps.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>With only 7 days you are planning a great deal of driving with little time for seeing and photography. Scotland is surprisingly large, and it is a very long way to the southwest from the north. I suggest you take a look at Mapquest or similar to get an idea of the driving times between destinations. You may need to make a decision and go for either the north or Devon/Cornwall. Either are beautiful for landscapes of course. For the best landscapes you also need to get off the motorways and onto the smaller roads and even the lanes (although lanes could be problematic with a motorhome). All of which takes a great deal of time, and you also have to factor in the weather. One day of grey skies and drizzle can ruin your plans if you have only allowed that day for a particular location. Much better to choose one area, whether it be Lake District, Scotland, Devon, or Cornwall, and use your whole week exploring that area.<br>

I travel in the UK quite often, and it is easy for those of us who live elsewhere to assume that a small country is easily travelled in short times. Yes, motorways are good, but you have to get off them to get to the good locations.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>Mike, much depends on the actual use for these photos. When you say "posting on websites", do you mean posting a web-sized image to be used to sell the original work, or do you mean posting a full resolution image to sell prints from. There is a world of difference between the requirements for the two uses.</p>

<p>The Bird Park is well worth a visit. Ignore the cages and walk around the free flight areas. Get there early to be ahead of the school trips and other crowds.</p>

<p>The National Monument can be very photogenic if you are lucky to get a blue sky. Also the Tien Hou Chinese Temple is a good place for the temple itself and also the people, particularly if there happens to be a service when you are there. If you go out to the Royal Selangor pewter factory the tour is interesting and you are allowed to take pictures.</p>

<p>The hibiscus and orchid gardens at the Lake Gardens are also worth a visit, although the gardens in Singapore are better in my opinion. Lake Gardens also has a butterfly park that is well done.</p>

<p>Since last October you can go to the top floor of the Petronas Towers, not just the bridge. If you have not been there recently you may like to return. Book ahead though, there are a limited number of tickets sold and there are long queues.</p>

<p>For what it's worth, you can now go to the top of one of the twin towers. Again there are limited numbers of tickets sold, and only at certain times of the day, but it is well worth the visit.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>Never heard of anyone having a problem with gas quality in western Canada, and I lived there for many years. If you are concerned, just buy from the majors, there will be plenty of gas stations to choose from.<br>

May is quite early, and the weather can be miserable. If you want scenery as well as wildlife, I would try for June, July, August, first half of September. Yes, it is peak tourist season, but that is for a very good reason apart from school holidays.<br>

Calgary Stampede is July 8-17 next year. I have noticed that a lot of people combine a visit to Stampede with trips around the parks you are considering, so you may find it is a lot busier in the week before and the week after Stampede. Also, accommodation is harder to find and prices are elevated.<br>

Depending on what kind of accommodation you are looking for, it would be wise to book in advance, although the choice is not as limited as it is around the parks in Utah and Arizona.<br>

Hope this is helpful.</p>

<p>Be sure to take the harbour tour on the little water taxis. The shorter tour is better and more interesting than the one that goes up the Gorge (Gorge makes it sound a lot more interesting than it really is).<br>

Hatley Castle, and the gardens are worth a visit, although the University is neglecting the gardens and the parking is in a ridiculous place. Good view of Fisgard from the sand spit at Esquimalt Lagoon. Their Japanese Gardens are lovely though, and have quite a different feel from those at Butchart.<br>

Nice restaurants if you have very deep pockets are Deep Cove Chalet and The Blue Crab.</p>

<p>Camera Canada has it at special rebate pricing for $1628.97. I have dealt with them in the past and found them to be reliable and reasonable. You might even try a phone call to ask for a further discount.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>Allan, the Prince of Wales trades on its location and historic building, but it has been overpriced and dirty for more than the thirty years since I first went to Waterton. By all means stop in and admire the building and have a cup of coffee, but avoid staying there, and even avoid eating there. Check Tripadvisor, I would have hoped it had cleaned up its act, but clearly not. I have had two pleasant stays at the Garden Wall Inn at Whitefish MT. I have sadly never found accommodation or a restaurant in Waterton that was anything but substandard.</p>

<p>As others have said, much past the beginning of September and you are getting into winter conditions, any fall colours are quickly finished and wildflowers will certainly be gone.</p>

<p>Wolf, you are allowed to have 2 activated copies running. I am running CS3 on my laptop and desktop, both activated, and with no issues. When I first wanted to do this I spoke to Adobe and they are fine with it. Just as long as you don't use both copies simultaneously.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>Just to clarify, I am still recommending Foto Flash in KL over going to Singapore. Even in North America I get offered extras I don't want unless I buy online. Certainly there was none of the nonsense of trying to sell the stuff that is supposed to be in the box like battery, charger, software etc as separate items, the only point I missed was an extra charge to pay with a credit card. Even at that I paid what I would have paid in the US for the camera, so I have no complaints.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>I added an "Inland Marine" rider on my homeowners insurance from State Farm. It covered my stuff for all eventualities including misadventure (ie, you drop it and it breaks), and coverage was international. Just ask all the questions. I did have a claim, and it was paid up immediately without problems. My homeowners policy was not cancelled nor was the premium increased.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>I have had reasonable prices from Foto Flash in the Gardens Mall (the posh side of the Mid-Valley Mall) in KL. Generally I have found that the cheapest prices from reliable dealers are those in the US (eg B&H, Adorama, Amazon), so I use those prices as a benchmark elsewhere. You can bargain a little, and certainly I paid the same price as I would have paid in the US for camera bodies on two occasions. Do be particularly careful though, there will be an extra charge for using a credit card, so make sure you cover all the bases in your negotiations. The shop is a chain, but this is the only one that I have found good prices and some negotiating room.<br>

I have not done much photographic shopping in Singapore, but when I did I was disappointed in prices. I asked my husband to buy some paper for me recently, and the shop sold him a lesser quality telling him it was the same as what I had specified. Buyer beware I know, but I don't like it when supposedly reputable shops tell lies.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>I have bought batteries from Sterling Tek within the past couple of years, based on glowing reports from this forum. They were BP511's, and also are rated higher than the Canon version. No complaints at all. They definitely last longer than the Canon ones, and they are still taking a charge without issue. The fact that they last longer before needing charging is enough of a factor to convince me to buy any new batteries I need from Sterling Tek, even without the bonus of the price.<br>

Hope this helps,<br>

Louise</p>

<p>Upsizing too far will exacerbate any issues that may already be present. When you do the RAW conversion, look at the pixel dimensions rather than the amount, choose the lowest one that has the longest side at or just above 5125px. Bigger is not always better, especially if your camera is 10mp.</p>

<p>If you are not fully conversant with Photoshop, I caution you that you are setting yourself up for many problems if you start doing any short of sharpening at any stage of your workflow. Your 50 and 100mm lenses will produce images that will more than meet the criteria for the stock agency (assuming it is the one I think it is), when upsized just enough to finish at an 8-bit 50mb size, and without any of the much touted sharpening at any stage.</p>

<p>I agree with Robert that you need a better understanding of both your camera and Photoshop if you want to produce consistent results. Just keep in mind, that many of the books and workshops, not to mention forum advice, is aimed at producing beautiful prints of your work, not necessarily saleable stock photography that meets agency criterias.</p>

<p>Louise</p>

<p>The article does not say, so we don't know all of it. A standard model release gives very broad rights to the photographer (and hence to the publisher). If the guy signed such a standard release, and is now suing because he didn't understand what he was signing (ie, he thought it was only for the interview he agreed to), and if it doesn't get thrown out of court, and if he then wins the suit, the implications for photography and publishing could be pretty scary.</p>

<p>Louise</p>

<p>I just bought a 7D at FotoFlash in the Gardens part of Megamall (if you are staying near KLCC). I paid less than I would have at B&H in NYC. Just be very sure you confirm the extra charges for using a credit card before you agree to a final price. This is the second camera I have bought from them, both times a very positive experience.<br>

My experience in Singapore has not been as positive as others, and I would hesitate to make a trip there without a confirmed price from a reputable camera store. True, it was inkjet paper I was buying, but the experience has made me wary.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>I did once have that problem with a new Canon film camera (and the batteries were not rechargable). On the phone the Canon tech was unhelpful, saying that batteries will have a varying life depending how you use them, but I took it in anyway and there was a problem, which they fixed. You are still under warranty, if the same thing happens with another battery (I agree about buying from sterlingtek), then it is the camera. A second battery is always a good thing to have anyway.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>To respond to the original question... I have been carrying two cameras routinely for the past year. I use an Op/tech "Reporter strap", which has the spongy cushion for the neck, and attachment clips for two cameras. They hang one below the other, and are very easy to use either one without getting in the other one's way. I have also noticed that most people don't notice the second camera, but then again, I am not very tall, so that might be the reason. Two cameras with different lens ranges is working very well for me.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>Are you aware of the sheer size of the province? Perhaps you could be a little more specific about your location when you say "near".</p>

<p>Be sure to save a day for Savannah and a walk through the squares.</p>

<p>I went to Cumberland Island a couple of years ago. Found it interesting, but not quite as wonderful as its reputation suggests. If you go there you need to do some planning ahead of time to be sure you get on the ferries you want. A reservation was recommended on the website and I ignored the advice, making the timing of my visit inconvenient and shorter than I would have wished.</p>

<p>Beaufort might be worth a visit if you want more Antebellum houses.</p>

<p>Louise</p>

<p>KS, they have relaxed that rule at LHR. I was through there in November with my usual two items, and have every intention of doing the same later this week.<br>

Louise</p>

<p>Don't count on collecting on insurance from the airline if you check anything electronic (that includes camera gear). An Epson P-2000 was stolen from my checked luggage a couple of years ago, and the airline was adamant and would not pay up. It's in the fine print. Pretty much everything except clothes are excluded.<br>

I routinely travel through Heathrow and many other airports and always have one regulation carry-on bag plus the backpack on my back with the camera gear. The backpack counts as the "personal item'. But I don't push it by having a large carry-on bag, mine is much smaller than most, and my backpack has an unassuming profile as well.<br>

Louise</p>