DeepShadows
9th of January 2009 (Fri), 02:45
I am getting married in April (only 3 months away!!!) and my best man and my other best friend/photography business partner are heading on a long awaited photography roadtrip in a months time. We all live in and are coming from Edmonton in Canada. We are heading down to Yellowstone National Park, then down to Joshua Tree National Park, to the Grand Canyon, and then back up the west coast from California into British Columbia. We only have 11 days to complete this crazy roadtrip and we will be taking shifts for constant driving on our designated driving days. Now before anyone says anything, I know all of these places deserve much more time taken to fully explore hidden gems and natural beauties, but unfortunately time requirements exclude such a luxury for us. We all wanted to see all these locations and I am hoping you guys can help us get the maximum enjoyment and fulfilling photography experience from this long journey! So I am looking for actual experiences from you guys on and about trips of this nature, specific must see places/experiences at these locations or on the way to, gear suggestions(storage, lenses, tripods/pano, bags, etc), shot suggestions at specific places (IE. Sunset at grand canyon, Star trails in Joshua tree, etc.), and/or general advice about road trippin' in the states with photography gear. Gear I have available/hope to have before trip:
Bodies: Canon 20D, 30D, 40D, 5D Mark II
Lenses (W/hoods): EFS 10-22, EF 17-85, EF 17-55, EF 50 1.4 & 1.8, EF 100 Macro, EF 135 2.8 SF, EF 70-200 F4, 70-200 F2.8 IS( Maybe, debating purchase/might not be able to afford), 1.4X II Extender
Tripods: Bogen/Manfrotto O55XPROB, Velbon 343 Maxi, Joby Gorillapod SLR-zoom & orig
Head: 322RC2 Joystick ballhead
Storage: 8 GB Extreme III 30MB/S, 2x4 GB Extreme IV knockoff, 3x4 GB Ultra II, 3x2 GB Ultra II, 2x1 GB Ultra II, 1 GB Extreme III, Various External HDs( WD Passport 120, 160, 250 GB)
Laptops: Macbook Pro 2.4 GHZ Santa Rosa, Older Dell & Compaq
Timers: TC-80N3, Knockoff TC-80N3
Filters: UV, CPL for all lenses, 1 cheap ND Grad filter, one 77mm ND2 Filter
Grips: 1 BG-E2N for 40D, hope to get BG-E6 for 5D2
Batteries: 8 Bp-511A between the 3 of us, 2 Lp-E6
Adapter, etc: 58MM Reverse ring adapter, tripod collar for 70-200 F4, Metal extension tubes(cheapbay version)
Accessories: CP730 Card printer, A710 IS P&S
Bags & Cases: Lowepro AW Computrekker x 3, Pelican 1510 & 1410, Lowepro AW Slingshot 200, Debating/ hoping to afford ThinkTank Modular system with SpeedBelt/Racing harness and various lens changer acc. (what do you think? Useful?
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Limited (Debating a Thule roof carrier, any incite here? Prob for camping type gear and whatnot for more room for Photog stuff)
So obviously in addition to location and trip suggestions, I'm looking to flush out my equipment and to not forget anything that I don't have yet that I would regret not having on the trip. Also looking for suggestions on whichequip/ bags you guys would take or leave behind. How about storage? Would you dump the photos on laptop in offtime and backup to the passport drives or is there a better way I am missing? Filters are the biggest thing I am wondering about. I know I should get ND Grad for landscapes and that is most likely on the way in the form of Cokin P filter system (any benefits to this system or detriments BTW? Figured it easier to buy cheap holders for diff sizes rather than not as flexible glass screw on type). Looked at variable ND filter but much too expensive for me, remember I am trying to get married in 3 months so gotta save money somehow :)
Thanks for reading this long and very in-detail post, feel free to take your time and comment/ respond to small things at a time, I appreciate all your help! You guys are an awesome community, both POTN and FM forums have been a huge learning and enjoyment for me. Thanks!
Bodies: Canon 20D, 30D, 40D, 5D Mark II
Lenses (W/hoods): EFS 10-22, EF 17-85, EF 17-55, EF 50 1.4 & 1.8, EF 100 Macro, EF 135 2.8 SF, EF 70-200 F4, 70-200 F2.8 IS( Maybe, debating purchase/might not be able to afford), 1.4X II Extender
Tripods: Bogen/Manfrotto O55XPROB, Velbon 343 Maxi, Joby Gorillapod SLR-zoom & orig
Head: 322RC2 Joystick ballhead
Storage: 8 GB Extreme III 30MB/S, 2x4 GB Extreme IV knockoff, 3x4 GB Ultra II, 3x2 GB Ultra II, 2x1 GB Ultra II, 1 GB Extreme III, Various External HDs( WD Passport 120, 160, 250 GB)
Laptops: Macbook Pro 2.4 GHZ Santa Rosa, Older Dell & Compaq
Timers: TC-80N3, Knockoff TC-80N3
Filters: UV, CPL for all lenses, 1 cheap ND Grad filter, one 77mm ND2 Filter
Grips: 1 BG-E2N for 40D, hope to get BG-E6 for 5D2
Batteries: 8 Bp-511A between the 3 of us, 2 Lp-E6
Adapter, etc: 58MM Reverse ring adapter, tripod collar for 70-200 F4, Metal extension tubes(cheapbay version)
Accessories: CP730 Card printer, A710 IS P&S
Bags & Cases: Lowepro AW Computrekker x 3, Pelican 1510 & 1410, Lowepro AW Slingshot 200, Debating/ hoping to afford ThinkTank Modular system with SpeedBelt/Racing harness and various lens changer acc. (what do you think? Useful?
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Limited (Debating a Thule roof carrier, any incite here? Prob for camping type gear and whatnot for more room for Photog stuff)
So obviously in addition to location and trip suggestions, I'm looking to flush out my equipment and to not forget anything that I don't have yet that I would regret not having on the trip. Also looking for suggestions on whichequip/ bags you guys would take or leave behind. How about storage? Would you dump the photos on laptop in offtime and backup to the passport drives or is there a better way I am missing? Filters are the biggest thing I am wondering about. I know I should get ND Grad for landscapes and that is most likely on the way in the form of Cokin P filter system (any benefits to this system or detriments BTW? Figured it easier to buy cheap holders for diff sizes rather than not as flexible glass screw on type). Looked at variable ND filter but much too expensive for me, remember I am trying to get married in 3 months so gotta save money somehow :)
Thanks for reading this long and very in-detail post, feel free to take your time and comment/ respond to small things at a time, I appreciate all your help! You guys are an awesome community, both POTN and FM forums have been a huge learning and enjoyment for me. Thanks!