Gadget’s Airstream Chronicles

After so much driving to Phoenix over the past week I decided to stay out of the truck today. I must say though, the new tires do offer a wonderfully smooth ride……but I skipped rides today!

Late morning I decided to take a walk into the Dells with the camera, my climbing bag (full to the top), and work on some stock photo ideas I’ve been having. While I like the concept of the shots I think the lighting was all wrong. I need to go earlier.

It’s funny. The idea for the shots has been on my mind for a while. Some climbing gear, the backpack, etc., just sitting among the rocks. But not just any rocks. A very specific spot that I thought looked great one morning while we were climbing. So I lugged everything across the Dells to take a few photos of gear.

You know, my Airstream is backed right up against some really cool rocks. But they’re not the “right” rocks. The ones I wanted to use were way out there. So, a full pack for no climbing. Odd, but true.

As I made my way out into the Dells I had a real ankle turner. You always roll your ankles scrambling around in the rocks, but this ankle roll was on par with a few from years ago. When I recovered myself I was happy to see the ankle still intact. I rolled so hard I hurt the whole side of my foot as well. There’s some swelling…… oh, and I’m climbing tomorrow.

Yes, I’ve got ice handy.

After getting to my designated shoot spot I broke out the camera and started playing around. A few photos I like. 203 shots once again (filling the card in RAW format). But the lighting would have been better 3 hours earlier. Maybe tomorrow when we go climb I’ll have “that” light.

I spent a little while shooting, playing with slings, cams, stoppers, and my pack. Trying to get the bland yet not bland shot of gear. Stock photography is different. And I’ve been toying with other ideas for doing stock. I’ll be toying some more.

After shooting I packed up and started to head to another area to take photos. Then I stopped myself. No hurry, nobody’s schedule today, no calls needed. Nothing. Instead I plopped the pack down, watched the water from the cliffs, enjoyed a light breeze and a shady spot. Stayed for about 45 minutes.

With my super rest in the rocks done I headed off to another spot where I thought the mid-day light would be better. Shade hitting just the right way. I finished out my camera card there and packed it in.

If anyone was out watching me today they’d wonder who the hobbling guy is with the heavy looking pack. One thing I can say about the ankle roll is that my mind is completely off whatever I did to my tail bone. Trading one medium pain for a larger fresh pain really works. Is that why people re-couple quickly after a divorce? Whoops, thinking out loud there.

Several hours after setting out I returned to the Airstream, and did the “digital developing” routine. Several photos will be submitted. Many were deleted. There’s still a few on my hard drive that I’m puzzling over. They’ll remain there forever, because you always puzzle over them.

More on gear

As I worked on the photos I realized that I wanted to share more on the gear for the Airstream, climbing, and all of the rest. So today I’m sharing some information on camera protection.

Protecting your photo equipment while traveling can be tough. Protecting your equipment around people (Andy) can be tougher. Always keep a spare lens cap or two, or better yet, a shiny object or two in order to distract those folks……

During our last excursion into the Promised Land I found that my camera protection was beyond necessary. Slippery rocks, quick sand (several weeks ago), ankle rolls, etc. All of these things try to help you destroy your camera. But you don’t want it destroyed (unless you dig wasting big money). Every slip and fall I take I find myself grabbing the camera, and raising it up, out of the direction of my fall……works so far.

So, how can you keep the camera safe while slinging it all over the place?

For me I’ve re-discovered Zing Cases. I had one years ago. Every camera store I’ve walked into lately doesn’t carry them. So, a few months ago I did an online search. And they still exist! By the way, the photo above was taken a few feet from my trailer…..kept the hobbling to a minimum.

The Zing cases are made out of Neoprene. You know, the funny wet suit stuff? Yup, that’s the stuff. It handles minor impacts, keeps your camera from getting scratched, and helps to keep the dust and dirt out while wandering around in the woods (desert, arctic, rain forest, etc.).

As you can see in the photo above, my case already has a little hole in the front. Just a tear in the outer fabric, the case is fine. But that tear came from the camera swinging into a rock when I was scrambling over it weeks ago. The zing took the impact, the camera was fine. And the gray case is my normal “climbing” case, so it’s designated “abuse me.”

If you’re really into bomb proof protection there’s always a Pelican Case. They make the water proof plastic cases. Computer cases, electronics cases, camera cases, etc. If you think you’ll get wet, stumble down a snow covered pass several thousand feet, or you’re worried about being bombed, this case is for you.

My Pelican is many years old. It holds 1 camera and 3 lenses, along with a few extra junk items. It never ventures out on the trail with me. It’s better suited as a travel case. It’s also perfect for folks who are into water adventures. Airtight seal, floats, has a seal valve. The works. It’s also really hard to open after descending several thousand feet. That’s what the valve is for.

Both the Zing and Pelican have worked great for me. If you’re looking for some extra protection while tromping around, look for a Zing. If you’re looking for a bomb proof camera and lens travel case, Pelican.

Alrighty, enough posting from me today!

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 11th, 2007 at 5:29 pm and is filed under Climbing AZ, Notes from Gadget, Outdoor Gear.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.