Portable photo lab
Posted by: Rich in Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, HDR, Photoshop, airstream
As most readers know, I’m a “Full-Time RVer”. Sure, the Airstream isn’t rolling all over the country, but that doesn’t define a full-timer at all. Folks in this category live in an RV full time. That’s it. The travel is a bonus.
Right now the travel would be painful given gas prices. So I’m happy to be a stationary Airstreamer at the moment. I sure would like to go to a few places to take photos, but I’ll wait a while. I wonder when my Titan can be solar powered……?
If you’re not familiar with Airstreams, or more specifically my Airstream, you don’t have the largest amount of space to work in. My Airstream is 25 feet long and 8 feet wide. For those who are mathematically challenged or are unsure about devices known as “calculators”, 25×8 yields 200 square feet of space. My first apartment by myself was an “efficiency”, and it was 450 sq ft. You can’t fit a ton of stuff in that amount of space, but that’s what I’ve got to work with.
With my spacial constraints I still manage to have every amenity I need. My kitchen sink, a cute stove, microwave, a claustrophobic shower, etc. And with all of my small tech devices I cover everything you can imagine for an office, entertainment center, etc. Part of my gadget hoard includes a full set up for photo development while on the road or at rest.
Probably not too shocking. You’ve seen many photos out of the Airstream Chronicles site, you know I post regularly, and I talk about watching DVDs and other fun stuff.
Given all the recent HDR photography I thought it would be useful to talk about what goes into my portable photo lab. What does it really take to produce cool travel images, how much space does it take, and how does it fit in to a full-timing lifestyle?
So, what’s in my little bag of tricks? Here’s the list:
- Macbook Pro: This is the computer I use every day. I’ve been using it since the Spring of 2006. It’s my entertainment center, productivity center, e-mail box, web device, blogging tool, etc. It’s also the hub of my photography setup.
- Photoshop CS3: Photoshop has to be one of my most used programs lately. Photo editing, resizing, & retouching all take place in Photoshop.
- Photoshop Lightroom: Probably the coolest photo management program I’ve ever seen. When I off load photos, Lightroom is the program I choose.
- Photomatix Pro: This is my newest program. If you like the recent HDRs I’d suggest checking out Photomatix.
- Canon 40D: The newest addition to my camera bodies. I picked up the 40D because it has a built in image sensor cleaner. If you’ve ever lived in AZ you’ll understand why the sensor cleaner is necessary…..dust is everywhere, all the time.
- Canon 30D: Ah yes, I’ve got a 30D as well. I’ve been extremely happy with this camera. My only complaint is the fact I keep having to clean the image sensor thanks to all the dust here. It’s now my “indoor” camera (you know, macro photos….).
- Canon SD550: The SD550 is no longer in production. I bought this “Digital Elph” years ago. It’s a wonderful little camera. It’s also super small. Many of my shots during my travels in 2006 were taken with the 550. Simple little point and shoot camera for those moments when you don’t feel like breaking out a big camera. If you want something similar check out the SD1100.
- Canon Selphy: This is my tiny portable printer. I make cute little postcard prints with it. The color quality and speed of this printer are amazing!
- Canon IP100: I just purchased this super small photo printer within the past 2 weeks. With some of my latest photos I wanted to print 8×10 and 8.5×11 photos. The IP 100 is ultra slim, and the color quality is fantastic. I’ll write a longer review on the printer after I’ve passed the 1 month ownership marker with it.
- Crumpler Bag: My newest camera bag is a Crumpler. A compact and stylish carrying case.
- Lowepro Camera Backpack: If I need to carry “everything” the Lowepro is the bag I use.
- Canon Lenses: I have too many lenses…..
My primary lens is a 28-135mm Image Stabilized lens. I also have a 17-85mm IS lens that came with my 30D (it’s my second favorite lens). The bulk of the photos you see here have been shot with the 28-135 or the 17-85. My other lenses are “specialized” for only certain shots. - 2 500GB MyBooks: Currently I’m running 2 Mybook external hard drives. My Lacies have been filled, and they’re now stored away. The MyBook drives store all of my photography, ITunes library, system backups, etc. 1 drive is the primary drive, 1 drive backs up the primary drive. These drives take very little space, and they store so much.
There’s the list in a nutshell. Amazingly enough, this stuff takes very little space. My cameras and lenses fit into my Lowepro & Crumpler bags. Between the two bags everything is put away all the time. The bags fit under my credenza in the Airstream, and there’s plenty of room for more stuff to fit under there as well. The printers can both be stored in an overhead compartment and plenty of room is leftover for other items. Finally, the Macbook sits out on my dinette.
If you rounded up all these items you could stack them on my couch and leave room for 2 people to still sit on the couch. Pretty small amount of space for all the equipment does, don’t you think?
Do I have other little odds and ends? Sure I do. I got almost everything listed, and really for most folks it might be over kill. 1 camera pack, 1 camera, 1 printer, 1 computer…..you’d have your own portable lab too. I’d strongly suggest using Photoshop, Lightroom, and Photomatix (if you’re interested in HDR photography). With all that in hand you too could have a compact photo lab that you’ll be extremely happy with.
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Always interesting to see a gear list.
A few Qs:
1. Because I am WAY too lazy to look, is the 40D sensor cleaner just the ultra-sonic vibration type?
2. How are you backing up the primary mybook to the second drive? Are you using the Studio Edition with built-in raid configured, or just running it through software?
And where is the mention of your mini-studio lighting and backdrop?
Look forward to the printer review.
Yes, dust is everywhere and I’m quickly learning about its effects inside Digital SLR cameras. A spot showed up on my images (noticeable in sky images) halfway into my first photo shoot at the beach. My Nikon D40 is only a few weeks old, and I’m lucky to have a Nikon authorized repair service shop in town, which cleaned the camera’s image sensor for me. My plan is to keep the 18-200mm VR zoom lens on at all times to reduce introduction of dust.
Thanks for the update of the components of your Photo Lab.
Your latest pictures are stunning!
Tom,
The sensor cleaner is the Ultra Sonic Vibration. And it’s working. If it ever gets super junked up I’ll open the camera, lock the mirror and break out the small rubber blower like I do with my 30D. I’m thinking about getting an Arctic Butterfly too (expensive little device).
Question 2. Raid.
Left out the lights as most “normal people” (i.e. not me) probably won’t need to carry along that stuff too unless they develop an odd need to do nifty macro shots in their RV.
I enjoy it, and the setup is super small, but left it out as I think it will only be .0002673% of my readers who would want such a setup.
Bill…..dust is everywhere. You might look into the Arctic Butterfly too. Once again….expensive. Even leaving the lens on you’ll find that dust happens (how does it get in there).
Glad you’re liking the photos too!
Rich, Greetings from Montana and let me say that your HDR technique seems to just keep getting better and better. But good technique without an eye for composition still wouldn’t be much. Seems like you’re now putting it ALL together.
Maybe you’re ready now to take your abilities to an area you’re not quite as familiar with, say Montana.
Bert
Bert, thanks for the compliment! I’m looking forward to seeing your first HDR efforts. You always have amazing subjects, so when you find the right one for HDR I’m sure we’ll be wowed!
Now, the Montana tease……I’d love to head up there right now! We’ll have to see where fortunes take us this year. But it would be fun to travel with you and Janie. I was thinking HDRs from Death Valley, Yosemite, Glacier, Banff, the Badlands in the Dakotas, and maybe the Tetons to boot. Or HDRs from the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (bet you thought I forgot that one).
.0002673% eh? Sounds awful exact.
DaNece’s Olympus has the ultrasonic vibration as well, and it does a fabulous job! We have yet to have any major dust issues on her sensor.
Using a RAID card in the laptop (with 2 separate USB/Firewire drives) or a double drive enclosure with it built in?
Thanks for the info.
I still think that photo looks like it has a flying saucer in it…
You forgot to mention how tidy the Airstream is with all that “stuff” in it (even with the vacuum sitting out and your fancy new larger trash can) and it’s super comfy to boot, even with more than one person puttering around in there…AND, it was still surprisingly roomy when traveling with 2 people…and organized as well. The greatest thing however, is how you manage to have all the wonderful things you need and you can fit it into such a small place so well…It’s making me seriously reconsider my “stuff” at the house…
Tombo, the percentage was reached in an extremely scientific manner. Via Econometric modeling learned while in Grad School in Stan Sedo’s extremely painful course, I have been able to calculate the percentage of readers who would find the lighting setup useful. Of course, there’s an error of + or - 99% in this modeling, but normally I don’t have to disclose the error term. Being that rigorous regarding the error term would take this out of the blog or reporter type realm and pop it somewhere academic. Of course, most academics don’t tell you the margin for error either, which is why we get such outlandish studies produced constantly and we’re subject to regular news reports of irrelevant studies…..
Uh, what were we talking about….?
Oh….firewire drives.
What can Lightroom do that iPhoto (Leopard) can’t do? I haven’t seen Lightroom yet. Why do you prefer Lightroom?
Sandybee,
Hi there. Ah, that was my question when I first received a copy of Lightroom. I’ve managed my photos with IPhoto for years, and I’d been extremely happy with it.
Lightroom offers many more “developing” features, tying closely in with Photoshop. The development module for RAW photos goes well beyond what is in IPhoto. Additionally, bulk management of files is simplified in Lightroom (takes some learning, but it’s true). Bulk edits of shots is also possible (pick one RAW shot, conduct edits, and then apply to all others shot under the same conditions).
The Print and Web modules offer a little more as well.
Lightroom 2 (in beta right now) goes even further incorporating a lot more of the Photoshop features. If you do edits, deal with large volumes of photos, and deal with generating and categorizing intricate groupings I’d say you should look into Lightroom. That’s not to say for a moment that IPhoto is under powered. I still like it. Lightroom just gives me a lot more in features, especially when dealing with larger shoots.
Thanks, Rich. I’m a snapshot kind of photo gal and an Elements user. I do digital scrapbooking. RAW is a little out of my league at the moment. I’m taking the 1-1 training at the Apple store and am really impressed with Leopard’s iPhoto. I wish it would batch label, but I’m impressed with its other features. I’m a Kinder teacher and take photos of my kiddos every year. The most intricate groupings I do are by child. So, from your description, I think iPhoto will fit the bill at this point.
I haven’t actually upgraded to Leopard yet. I’m frontloading myself on its features. I have a G3 iBook and a G4 PowerMac. I can tell I’m going to have to get my act together and update, though. That will be my gift to myself for surviving this little bunch.
Thanks for the info. Love your photos. I’m still sorry about sending you to Mesa Verde with your Airstream that time.
No apology necessary regarding Mesa Verde. I loved the area, stayed for weeks, and for the first time in a while I was happy and comfortable. My time in Cortez was necessary. The ride up and down Mesa Verde with the Airstream was ok. A little spooky, but I made it through.
Sounds like IPhoto will work for you well. Good luck with the upgrade!
Breathtaking shot! Told you so!!!
Laura