jay_66

<p>Nothing but good reports about her, never heard a bad word, ever.</p>

<p>PS: We went off the beaten track many years ago in Kohala and got a lot of "stink eye" from the locals. Fortunately, my wife is half Japanese and half Filipino--she grew up in Hawai`i (on O`ahu, the North Shore)--and my daughters can easily pass for locals, they look very Polynesian. So what could have been a stressful encounter, wound up being very pleasant, having lunch, doing "talk story" for 2 hours, with some fantastic candid shots.<br>

That being said, Larry, be careful about photographing the locals.</p>

<p>Scott,<br>

 <br>

I had no idea the vog was that bad. I was last on the Big Island for about 3 weeks in 2004. We rented a beachfront condo on Ali`i Highway. The vog was negligible. I got some fantastic sunset shots right off the condo lanai.</p>

 

<p>Is Poncho & Lefty's still there in Kailua-Kona? We had some awesome margaritas there and great Mexican food.</p>

<p>PS: Hawai`i is <em>very</em> keiki (children) friendly, so don't worry about your little ones. They will be welcomed wherever you go, nothing to worry about.</p>

<p>Keeping them occupied on a photo excursion is another matter. I gave my children their own cameras at a very young age (this was 40 years ago!) to occupy them, it usually works. Now you can give them little digital P&S's. Back in the day, it was a cheap Kodak Instamatic camera with Verichrome pan b&w to keep them happy! Some of the pics weren't half bad.</p>

<p>Good luck!!!</p>

<p>I've been to Hawai`i many times, usually 2-3 weeks at a clip. My favorite island is the Big Island. It is big! You will need plenty of time to get around. My preference is for the desert-like areas (as I used to live in the Desert Southwest), so I love the Kona coast. Hilo is neat too, especially the botanical gardens. If you have time, do the Saddle Road. There is just so much to do and see on the Big Island. Don't miss the volcanoes!</p>

<p>I traveled extensively all over Hawai`i and the Big Island is my favorite, with Kaua`i a close second, especially the West Shore near the Pacific Missile Range Facility. When I retire, it will be either to a secluded house on Route 50 (Kaumuali`i Highway) on Kaua`i, or on Ali`i Highway on the Kona coast of the Big Island!</p>

<p>Google Photo.net an you will find a lot of postings re Hawai`i and good books to guide you.</p>

<p>Good luck and remember, no one does NOT have a good time in Hawai`i!</p>

<p>Hospital ERs are totally private property. The patients have a reasonable expectation of privacy. I would not attempt any candid ER shots. If security asks you to skedaddle, then do so. You have no legal right to take pictures there. Hospitals are very sensitive to patient privacy rights. The risk manager will be freaking out as it leaves the hospital open to liability if it allows third parties to snap away with impunity.</p>

<p>Haven't been to DC in a few years, but if you nix the tripod, you can do pretty much as you please. Be aware of the Amtrak police at Union Station, they tend to get pissy if you attract attention with your camera. DC is awash in tourists. Chances are no one will notice, unless you call attention to yourself with a tripod and/or large-format view camera.</p>

<p>Where are you located? The Costco in the NY metro area charges $1.59 to develop any roll of 35mm, then it's 10 cents per print. If you want them to burn a CD, that's $2.99. So a 12-exposure roll will cost you $5.69, or just 47.4 cents a print. Not bad.</p>

<p>I have half a brick of the same film, but the rolls are all 36 exposure. Great for the grandkids and all the nieces and nephews.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Arthur,</p>

<p>I may have bought it from Gandy at Cameraquest, but I know it was made by a Chinese craftsman. It is superbly sewn, much better than Leica's ERC for the M5.</p>

<p>Been shooting since the1950s. Just include a wee bit more in the viewfinder. Problem solved.</p>

<p>P.S.: Are you happy having party hack Gordon Brown as the protector of your human rights? It's all over for the UK, sadly.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, the UK has degenerated into a fascist nanny state that would be utterly unrecognizable to someone just a generation or two ago. There is more state surveillance in public than there was in Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia. A sad commentary on how the British voters have allowed both Labour and Tory governments to destroy their historical rights as Englishmen and establish a servile state that has no regard for individual rights. The USA is not far behind but at least they have a written constitution with a Supreme Court to act as a guardian against governmental abuse.</p>

<p>Paul,</p>

<p>Maybe push in and then up? I have the same case and it is unbelievably hard to detach the top half.</p>

<p>The new M ERCs are much better. The connectors and snaps are set off center, thus decreasing the overall height of the bottom half of the case. The bottom half has a bulge on the front right acting as a grip, plus you get the choice of a regular top half or a larger one to accommodate bigger lenses, such as the Tri-Elmars. I like the newer version much more.</p>

<p>I also bought a great bottom half protector for my M5 from some fellow in China a few years back, but I can't recall his name right now.</p>

<p>Dead and buried. Get over it. I've used Kodachrome since the 1960s, but the curtain comes down forever on 12/31/10. Shoot it all and get it into Dwayne's by the deadline, then move on.</p>

<p>PS: Stick with Dale for C-41 and E-6. Use Dwayne's for K-14 (no real choice there!).

<p>Watch out for Target, or any other minilab, for that matter. I picked up a roll on Saturday. While waiting, I spotted the minilab operator <em>picking his nose</em> and then handling the negatives <em>without</em> any gloves -- and <em>not</em> by the edges. It was grotesque! I will <em>never</em> take another roll to these barbarians again!</p>

<p>R.T.,</p>

<p>Quite right. I meant to say one- to two-thirds of a stop overexposed, not 1 or 2 <em>full </em> stops. I know the venue well and myself would overexpose by two-thirds of a stop. That still gives the doc a respectable speed of 500/28° and if he wants to open by just a third, then an ISO of 640/29°.</p>

<p>For b&w, I do it myself. For color, Costco, Target, Walgreen's, wherever if it's just family stuff. I'm a retired UPI photog and for my serious color work I use Dale Labs in Florida. A friend who used to shoot stills for the NFL told me all their color print work was done by Dale. That was a good enough recommendation for me. For chromes, Dale is good too, but the Kodachrome goes out to Dwayne's, at least until the curtain comes down on 12.31.10. Dwayne's goes a good job on the E-6 stuff and prices are comparable to Dales, though the shipping costs differ on what you're sending in.</p>

<p>I'll second what Matt posted, whatever you do, don't underexpose. The Fuji 800Z will do well overexposed by 1 or 2 stops. You will be disappointed with the Portra under mixed lighting, not the Fuji 800Z though.</p>

<p>Dr. Hoppe,</p>

<p>Definitely go with Fuji Pro 800Z. That 4th layer stuff really makes a difference in mixed lighting venues. I've been to the Javits many times for many things. I'm not sure if the rafter lights are sodium vapor or not, but you will need something that handles the overhead light, various lighting of the cars (and models!), a lot of backlit flourescent displays and so forth. I like Portra 800, but you will be disappointed in comparison to Fuji 800Z.</p>

<p>If you have something wider than a 28, I'd use it. Space is cramped and the crowds will be insane. It will be virtually impossible to capture a car without spectators in the frame. Do take along your 50 for "close-ups" of the scantily-clad models decorating the merchandise. I know you want to travel light, but maybe nix the 50 and take your 75 along.</p>

<p>I would leave the 3E at home. I love that lens but f/4 will be too slow. Stick with a kit of 28 & 50, or 28 & 75. If you have a 24 (or wider), take it.</p>

<p>Enjoy the show, I've been there many times, the boat show too. Your biggest problem will be the crowds. I heard the new Jag XJ deluxe sedan is to die for. Post a few pics!</p>

<p>Never had a problem with flash for the local club fights, but that was back in the 70s. I managed to use Tri-X with existing light. I shot a few bouts at MSG in Manhattan in the 70s using only existing light, all Tri-X, of course, from ringside, but right on the apron.</p>

<p>A solo trip is fantastic. No need to worry about the wife and kids. I extensively photographed the SW high desert solo back in the 70s. I had 2 months to do as I pleased. Moab is phenomenal. Don't miss Valley of Fire, Arches, Canyononland. I did the North Rim of Grand Canyon in the summer. Whatever you do, DON'T miss Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly.</p>

<p>The DR is one of my favorite locales. Just use common sense, watch out for pick pockets, shady tourist "guides," etc. It pays to know the local lingua, I speak fluent Spanish so this helps a great deal. I generally never travel in the Third World--and I've been everywhere (except Antarctica!)-- unless I am well armed: generally several concealed knives and a small, easily hideable .380 auto Beretta, if I can get away with it. (I am an retired Marine with extensive hand-to-hand combat experience, having served in Vietnam as both an infantryman and UPI photog. If you are untrained in these things, don't take a chance, just use your head and stay away from obviously dangerous situaions, something I never did but am fortunately alive to tell the tale. )</p>

<p>Gil,</p>

<p>My wife uses the 580EX with her Canon 40D. Is the Metz 58 that much better? I was thinking of buying it for my M's & R's. If it's great with the Canon DSLRs, all the more reason to justify the purchase with my wife!</p>

<p>My favorite light kit is an M, any M, the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50/4, an old Noctilux (for speed) and a 135/4.</p>