brad_cole1

<p>Just flew into Brazil and on my connecting flight was not allowed to carry on my backup tripod that was 10 inches long collapsed. I had just flown there from the States with no problem but Brazil said NO, I was late for my flight and had no time to reclaim my checked bag to put the pod in so they confiscated it. Luckily I had my CF pod in a checked bag so I was able to shoot but Brazil left a bad taste in my mouth. I mean really, a tripod that is meant for tabletop shooting and they confiscated it, be forewarned, Brazil is run by morons, most of my lenses weigh more and could be used as weapons before that tripod could have.</p>

<p>Akaka Falls east of Hilo, and Rainbow Falls in Hilo come to mind, both are lush and easy acess (Rainbow Falls can be seen from the parking lot), Northwest coast is stunning with several overlooks.</p>

<p>One other thing I forgot to ask, when working in raw (.nef) can I just post process one image and apply those same settings to the rest of the images for the pano? Would I use those same adjustments for all shots in a bracket and then stitch them?</p>

<p>Brad</p>

<p>Thanks for all your replies! Nathan, I'm not sure what you meant about changing the exposure of one shot to make a mock bracket in post processing? Can you elaborate a little?</p>

<p>I'm new to shooting panoramas and would like to play around with HDR panos, I don't know where to begin. Do I shoot the entire pano at one exposure and then go back and do it again at +1 and again at -1 or do I take a 3 shot bracket for each shot the first time around? Also do I have to create an hdr image of each shot before stitching or stitch the pano for each exposure and the convert the resulting panos to hdr? I'm using a D300 on a Nodal Ninja 5L with the RD-16 rotater with an EZ-leveler on a Velbon CF tripod Any help would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Best Regards,<br>

Brad Cole</p>

<p>I've always had good luck with these people http://www.mapsco.com/</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice guys! I really hate having to worry about this as I had grand plans of shooting panos from both those locations but now I'm having second thoughts about risking it. Anyone else care to chime in?</p>

<p>Heading to Argentina and Brazil next month and I have a question. I am carrying a Nikon D300 and 4 lenses plus a tripod and pano mount. I plan to carry it in a camera bag in side a beat up shoulder bag. I feel Iguazu Falls will be safe but how about in Rio at Corcovado and Sugarloaf? Would I be foolish setting up a tripod on Sugarloaf and Corcovado to shoot multi shot panos? I will be with a few friends from the U.S. and some from Brazil about 6 to 12 of us, is there safety in numbers? Bottom line is I want to get the shots but not if I have a high risk being a target. Any advice from people who are familiar with the areas I mentioned would be greatly welcomed.<br>

Regards,</p>

<p>Brad</p>

<p>Hi Again,<br>

got it planned now, arriving Saturday around noon leaving Monday at four PM, staying on the Argentinian side. So my questions now are what time of day affords the best light and on which side? I've heard morning in Brazil and afternoon in Argentina, can anyone confirm? I only get one shot at this and I want to ensure the best images possible. Is it possible to photograph from the boats of is it too wet? Again my thanks for all of your kind replies.<br>

Brad</p>

<p>Great advice guys and thank you, one more question though. Will we need visas to cross into Argentina for a half day? I know we have to get them for our stay in Brazil as our friend getting married is from Brazil but now a U.S. citizen and said they are required. Again, thanks everyone</p>

<p>Brad</p>

<p>Hector and Allen,<br>

Thank you for your replies, I'm currently trying to convince the wife to give up an extra day for me so I can spend 2 1/2 days at the falls shooting. I'm actually quite interested in dams and power stations but if two separate people tell me not to bother, that's good enough for me. Do either of you think I should rent a car in the area? Don't plan on it anywhere else in Brazil but I have driven all over the world so I'm not averse to strange driving customs. Again, my thanks.<br>

Brad</p>

<p>I'm going to Brazil in March and have the opportunity to take a side trip to Iguassu falls. My Question is: can I adequately shoot the area in a one and a half- two day time period? is there a particular time of day that is best to shoot? Are there any prime spots that I shouldn't miss? Am I wasting my time by only budgeting a day and a half? Also I'm planning 3 nights in Rio and the balance of 2 weeks in Sao Paulo for a wedding and Recife for beach time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated,</p>

<p>Best Regards,</p>

<p>Brad</p>

<p>Velbon El Charlamagne is what I use, carbon fiber, fits in the overhead strapped to my bag and is only $250.00. Sturdy enough for my 4x5 or my Rollie system.</p>

<p>In eastern Pennsylvania there is a place called The Delaware Water Gap Natinal Recreation Area. It's about a 3.5 hour drive from Dover Delaware and well worth it. The area is loaded with waterfalls and streams all of which are in fairly heavy shade enabling you to shoot all day long. the ones that come to mind are Dingmans falls, Silver Thread falls, factory falls and Dear Leap falls. Great hiking trails and the river all make it an excellent trip.</p>

<p>O.K. I should have been more specific, i'm going to Greeneville, TN not SC</p>

<p>I'll be driving from Nashville to Greeneville in late june and I like to photograph waterfalls and streams, Can anyone recomend some locations? I will have lots of spare time and can get off the route also I'll be in Greeneville for 3 days and can make side trips from there. Thanks in advance</p>

<p>If you don't need to do intense processing on your trip you may want to consider a netbook. The MSI Wind U-100 series is what I use. Weighs less than 3 pounds comes with a gig of RAM upgradable to 2 gigs,160 gig hard drive, built in WiFi b/g/n, webcam and it will run for about 5 hours on battery power. It has no optical drive to save size and weight but you can get a portable DVD burner that is USB powered for about 60 bucks. I got tired of lugging a normal size laptop on trips due to weight and the netbook has been great. you wouldn't want to run Photoshop on it but it handles Lightroom quite well. Best of all, it's only $379.00 on Amazon.</p>

<p>I never leave home without my 50mm, IMHO it's one of the sharpest in Nikon's stable. I use it to stich panos and they're amazing. It's small and light, take it!</p>

<p>Hi Alex,<br>

I've had my D300 for a year now and love it! here's some info for you. With a newly formatted 16GB card installed:<br>

14 bit uncompressed RAW + fine jpg = 421 shots<br>

14 bit uncompressed RAW only = 593 shots<br>

TIFF = 414 shots<br>

fine jpg = 1400 shots<br>

normal jpg = 2800 shots<br>

Now bear in mind the actual number is probably higher than that but this is what the camera tells you on the counter. As you shoot there is variance the more images you shoot and I find that the number actually goes up. Hope that helps and happy shooting.<br>

Brad</p>

<p>Thanks Greg, the more I know about the area the better. Any other ideas out there?</p>

<p>Hi Allen,<br>

My vote for a new tripod for you is the Velbon "El Charlemagne" I have one, it weighs around 3 pound is carbon fiber and costs around $250.00, it holds my 4x5 just fine so I know it's stable. I also have a good friend who lives in Thailand and I'll forward this to him, he's a shooter too so he will more than likely respond to you with more info. Have fun, but be careful, if my buddy responds, his name is Karl. Happy New Year!</p>

<p>Brad</p>

<p>Thanks Craig! Wildflower season is much later here in Colorado, I hadn't even thought about that possibility.</p>

<p>Hi Anne,</p>

<p>I have traveled extensively in Costa Rica and here's my opinion (some may disagree). Costa Rica is for the most part very safe, violent crime is almost non existent. Theft is a problem though and I would be uncomfotable leaving gear unattended in a rental house unless it has a safe. In San Jose most problems arise with snatch and grab theft, they grab what they can and run however if your in a well traveled area you will be O.K. Going solo has never been a problem for me but I'm 6'2" and 220 so I tower over most Tico's, You would probablly be alright in Monteverde but I would be leary of the beaches when your alone unless it is a well travelled one. Don't want to freak you out but like anywhere watch your surroundings at all times. That being said Costa Rica is my favorite destination hands down and I have never felt uneasy there. I would highly recommend a visit to the La Paz waterfall gardens near Poas, they have a website and the place is stunning. Last time I was there the park was not built yet and it was undeveloped but I can't imagine they would have over developed it in fact they made some of the falls accesable that had been out of reach. Enjoy your trip!</p>

<p>Brad Cole</p>

Thanks to all who have answered! I am planning now based on your suggestions. Keep the ideas coming

Hi,

 

I'll be spending 7 days in Newport beach the last week of April 2009. Anyone know what type of weather and surf

conditions are normal for that time of year? Also any help with locations of good spots to shoot surfers up close

(from rocks or a pier), tidal pools and rock formations as well as panos of LA would be nice, Really any

suggestions would be great. I'll be shooting with a DSLR and medium and large format film.

 

Thanks,

 

Brad