acjtucson

<p><em>Don't forget that most car rentals do not cover any problems that arise when you drive off pavement. That being said, I have rented SUVs 3 or 4 times from Las Vegas and drove out to the Racetrack at Death Valley with no problems whatsoever..If you could change your flights to Las Vegas, you may find a cheaper rental rate.</em></p>

<p>Is Canyon X the same as Waterholes Canyon? I thought I read somewhere a few years ago that now Waterholes Canyon required a guide to explore and had previously been known as the more mysterious Canyon X.</p>

<p>Good luck with your first official wedding shoot.</p>

<p>Thanks to David for the website link to Synnatschke's site. What a treasure trove of info!</p>

<p>I have a Colorspace Hyperdrive 80 GB device that is terribly handy. It is blazing fast and transfers an 8GB full CF card in several minutes. I have used it in the car, in the field and also at the end of the day. It is very portable and easy to use. It is also quite a bit less expensive than the Epson products. I believe it also comes in a 160 GB model as well. When I get home, I transfer everything to my computer by USB and there you have it. No need to travel with a laptop.</p>

<p>I recently bought the Nikon 24-70F2.8. I've also joined a health club to start working out so that I can carry that around with the D700. That being said, it's a great lens and I wouldn't think about changing.</p>

<p>DesertUSA is a fantastic website. Mesquite dunes at sunrise is always pretty. I favor Aguereberry Point over the more popular Dante's View for a vista of the whole valley. Sunset in the salt flats by the Devils Golf Course and of course the iconic sunrise at Badwater are must sees if you have the time. Check out the Racetrack if it is dry. The different sites may look fairly close on the map but things are not always what they seem.</p>

<p>If you have an SUV, rental or not, go to the Racetrack unless the Morning Report (offical road condition report for Death Valley and weather report-Google "Death Valley Morning Report") says it is flooded. You will NOT regret it. If you go, by all means go and make a day of it. Get up to the crater by noon. Get to the Racetrack a couple hours before sunset so you can walk around. Park at the far end of the dry lake bed and walk about 10-15 minutes to the base of the dark hill at the southeast end of the lake bed. It is thought that is where the rocks come from that make the tracks. I was there in March and saw dozens of rocks and tracks. You can camp two miles past the Racetrack. There is a primitive campground , I think called Homestake (Lippincott Mine). Its quiet and you'll see a jazillion stars if it is clear. The road to Racetrack is not bad. Go slow and you shouldn't have problems. Its about 27 miles of bumpy but not difficult road. Badwater at sunrise is nice but it will be cold. Going out to the Devils Golf Course around sunset is very pretty also. </p>

<p>I took my D200 and other cameras and stuff to Camera West in Monterey and traded in for a new D700 and the new Nikkor 14-24 f2.8. I shoot mostly landscapes. I love it. I plan on using it for 4-5 years and then getting a new camera. I am sure the DSLR world will look very different. Unless you plan on blowing up your images to poster size, the MP should suit your needs.</p>

I have the Nikon 14-24f2.8. It's a big momma. I had to start doing wrist curls to be able to hold and shoot with one hand.

But, I love it. I think it is one of the best lenses I have ever owned. I would disagree with the notion that if one can afford

the lens, that person is probably a good photographer. I make a jillion mistakes when I am out taking pictures. It's fun to

keep trying though.

I recently flew with a carry on LowePro Pro Trekker or something like that. It had a Hasselblad and 3 lenses and my D200.

And even a cable release. No problems at all. Not even an extra peek after being Xrayed. I chickened out on trying to carry

on the tripod though. I could just see myself excited for my trip and some nimrod at the airport tells me I cant take on my

tripod. What would you do? It would be awful. Let us know if you carry it on. You will inspire countless others like

myself....Good luck.

Consider Capital Reef and the surrounding area. It is much less visited than Zion and has some spectacular sites and

vistas. I thought the drive thru Cathedral Valley was spectacular. You could easily do it in a CRV. About half way thru the

route, there is a primitive campground which I have usually found deserted except for myself. The Temple of the Sun and

the Moon are pretty neat rock formations. You also go thru some pretty cool bentonite hills with neat blue, mauve and red

colors on both ends of the road. It is marked as Hartnet Road and Caineville Wash Road on some maps. Factory Butte is

close by. If you venture north of Hanksville, Goblin Valley State Park and Horseshoe Canyon section of Canyonlands are

fairly close. You can camp at both sites. Enjoy. I'm jealous.

I am relatively new to this but I found Jack Dykinga's book on LF photography extremely helpful. Our office bought two of

his prints made with a 4x5. They are about 6 feet high and look fantastic. I think his book is well worth the time it took to

read it. Good luck.

Thanks for the responses. I will go with the wide angle bellows and forego the recessed board. Thank heavens for

Photo.net!!!!!

Once again, I call on the experience of Photo.Net readers. I am getting a Schneider Super Angulon XL 90mm f5.6

lens and I am not sure if I need to get the wide angle bellows and a recessed lensboard. From what I have read, it

seems the wide angle bellows is not essential but recommended. I could not find info about whether or not to use

a recessed lens board. My camera is an Arca Swiss 4x5 Field Classic Compact. Thanks for any suggestions.

Paul's advice about the slot is great. I would add a few things. As noted above, 11 people did die in there several years ago. If it looks like it is storming in the general vicinity, stay out. Page motels and hotels get booked up in the summer because of Lake Powell recreation. Make a reservation. Too many times in the past I winged it and ended up driving at least two hours out of the way to find another motel at 9 PM. You may want to look at Laurent Martres book "Photographing the Southwest; Volume 2- AZ." Excellent resource. There is oodles to see around Page. Horseshoe Bend. Marble Canyon. Lees Ferry. The Wave at Coyote Buttes. Take the Mt Trumbull-Smoky Mountain Rd for about 30-60 minutes out of Big Water and see some neat colors and rock formations and vistas. Drive toward Kanab and go down the easy dirt road to the old Pareah town site. Neat views all around as you get closer to the site. Oh yeah, don't forget to go over to Monument Valley for a day if you get bored.......

Thank you all very much for the suggestions. Hopefully I will be able to post some nice photos upon my return.

Thanks to all for the advice. I think I'll check it in.

I will be in Carmel for a week in July. First time. Any tips on neat places to

shoot? I would like to get some B/W coast shots with my old Hasselblad. I am

trying out some new 25 ISO Rollei film and a Croatian 25 ISO film as well.

I see this was addressed in 2004 and 2005 and briefly last year. I am looking

for some assurances that one does not get to Airport Security before being told

that the tripod will not be permitted on board for security reasons. Pointed

scissors and screwdrivers are permitted but I am nervous about my Hakuba carbon

fiber tripod and Arca Swiss ball head. Has anyone out there been told they could

not bring a tripod as carry-on? I looked at the TSA website and it does not give

much in the way with specifics...Thanks.

I like Bob's Death Valley rec's. Sorry to hear the buffet's are 20-25$ now. :(

I have been around that area several times. I suggest you consider spending the day at Valley of Fire State Park about 40-50 miles north of Vegas just off Interstate 15. Like one of the earlier posters said, Death Valley and Zion are both long drives for a small amount of time. Go to Valley of Fire and you can get early and late light shots and see colors as spectacular as Red Rock without the crowds. Or, go South to Mojave Scenic Area-about 90 miles south on Interstate 15 in California. Nice paved roads through the area. Volcanic cinder cones. Large Joshua Tree forests. Large dunes. Beautiful sunset shots and you can be back in Vegas for that $2.99 dinner buffet By 8:30.

I like the site. Very simple and spare and clean. Sort of like your images. They are fantastic.

I'd buy a second for backup instead of trying to assemble and reassemble. I know, it's the easy way out.

Thanks to all. I am ordering one up tonight. Brian, you were right. It did spin a little. It worried me, and annoyed me too. I appreciate the input.