A Great Time to Travel

Got a great rate to Paris after reading your article.  I'll admit I was a little nervous getting on the plane but the flight was boring.  It just seemed to take forever getting there.  My pictures aren't going to make it into National Geographic but I had a ball!

Herm

I always wanted to take a cruise to Bermuda.  The low airfares and cruise discounts made it possible.  My husband and I will be leaving the second week in December.  I am SO looking forward to this trip.

Thanks for the idea,
Cindy and Steve

I just returned from my first business trip since September 11th.  What surprised me was how normal the flight was.  There was extra security in the airport but not as much as I expected.  I had three flights over a five day period and all were full or nearly full.  It makes me wonder why we're paying so much to "bail out" the airlines.  BTW I also got some great shots in New Orleans.

MikeK

I read with dismay your article titled "A great time to travel". Every day we hear more reports of more terrorist acts on the news. I think it's irresponsible of you to suggest that anyone get on an airplane in the current climate of attacks. What if someone got on a plane at your recommendation and something happened to that plane. How would you live with yourself? People died in those plane crashes. As dangerous as flying is right now how can you recommend it? I don't think that anyone should fly until it is absolutely safe.

Regards,
Jerry Coretti

If I invite someone out to dinner they could die in a car crash on the way to the restaurant. I wouldn't feel that the accident was my responsibility and the remote possibility that my dinner invitation could cause someone's death doesn't keep me from meeting friends for dinner.

Yes people died in those planes and we should grieve for them but life MUST go on. People have died in car wrecks, motorcycle crashes and Sonny Bonno skied into a tree. In spite of all that I'll continue to drive, to ride a bike, and to ski because those are things I enjoy. That's called life. And it is critical to our way of life and to our economy that we continue to live our lives.

As for your assertion that flying is too dangerous - get a grip! You have a better chance of being attacked by killer bees than terrorists. Not to mention the fact that just about every American male flying is practically hoping that a terrorist shows his face on a flight so that they can tear him limb from limb. Absolutely safe? We are given no such guarantees.

Jerry you need to turn off CNN and get back to living.

I'm finally going to Las Vegas!  I'm doing my part for the economy by buying a TON of film for the trip!  I'll be there 10 days.  Besides the strip where else can I shoot in Las Vegas?

JoRa2001

There are some great places to shoot in Vegas.  First you'll be overwhelmed by all the great photo ops on the strip - particularly in some of the new mega casinos such as the Venetian, Belaggio, and Caesars.  Outside the city check out Hoover dam, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, and a Howard Hughes ranch near Red Rock (called Silver Springs ranch if my feeble memory is working).  It's definitely worth getting up early and driving out to either Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire to catch the sunrise in the desert.  It's truly incredible.  You can check out some Vegas shots in our review of the Nikon 28-105.

Traveling with Film

Hi Guys, I just finished reading this months issue & will throw in my two cents on the current "flying with film" situation. I just returned from a weeklong hiking/photo trip to the Grand Canyon. Went through all the agonies, including an address @ the lodge in Grand Canyon Village willing to accept & hold my film shipment until I arrived on site. Unfortunately or fortunately for me, I guess, a second call to FedEx revealed the FAA has been imposing random High Intensity X-ray exams of air freight shipments, INCLUDING FEDEX. I decided to include my film in my hand carry baggage & request a hand exam. It worked both ways for me, (BWI & Phoenix Sky Harbor), this time, but apparently, as your article stated, different airports are handling film as they each choose to interpret the FAA rules. I was considering checking with a tech in the local hospital X-Ray lab to see how much one of those little X-ray exposure badges that they wear would cost to buy & include in a minimal film shipment. At least that way you know.  Really enjoy the Mag., Keep up the good stuff....

Regards,
Bill Crabill

Bill raises a great point.  We made several calls to the 800 number for FedEx and received some conflicting answers regarding X-Rays.  For the next few weeks things will probably be a bit confused as shippers and airlines try and get up to speed on news rules and procedures.  Bill's approach was probably best.  Ask for a hand check.  If you don't get it, at least you know your film was only exposed to low level X-Rays.  For the time being, your safest bet if traveling to developed countries is to buy and, if possible, process high speed films locally (ISO 1000 and faster).

Moose & Gary

Another GREAT article by Moose Peterson ! Keep him around so he can keep informing us !

Glen DeKlein

I would like to thank B. Moose Peterson for his advice on Bird Photography. I love the little darlings and I have fed them for the past four years and each year I get new and different birds. I have printed both parts and will study it and keep it and read it over again and again. I'm new into photography and have a Minolta X 700. Wish me luck and thanks again.

Bob

I enjoyed Gary's article about Photo workshops.  I've thought about attending one but I've always felt a little intimidated.  Having an idea what to look for helps a lot.

Thanks,
PhotoBob

Big Gun Pro Lenses

Your article in this month's issue on the 300/2.8 is valuable reading for the budding sports photographer, but why did you choose the 300?

As a sports photographer/photojouranalist I can assure you, the 400/2.8 formula is the standard. I don't even own a 300/2.8 anymore, the 400 is where it's at for it's incredible versatility. If I could only pack one lens for shooting sports, it would be the 400/2.8.

Also, I was curious as to why Canon was left out of the group? I shoot Nikon and wouldn't trade for anything, but it seems curious you would leave out the other big name. Instead, you used...Minolta!? I only know of one professional sports shooter who uses Minolta.

We picked the 300mm lenses over the 400mm's because we were shooting what was primarily an indoor event. Honestly, for some events the 300mm was a little too long and our 80-200 2.8 got a workout. When we wanted some extra reach for tight shots and detail we used a 1.4 teleconverter. If we were shooting outdoor sports such as baseball or football we'd have definitely reached for a longer lens.

We noticed that the photographers covering the event for a variety of publications were using the Nikkor 300mm almost exclusively (new and old version) backed with both longer and shorter lenses (depending on the photographer) but it was definitely the primary lens for indoor events at the X games. Among all the photographers present we only saw a few Canon shooters, one Minolta shooter, and a couple of medium format guys with Mamiyas.

As for including Canon we fully intended to. They were supposed to provide us with a 300mm f2.8, teleconverter, and EOS body.  But for some reason they weren't able to get us a lens in time.

The Ultimate Equipment Bargain

I bought a couple of rolls of Ektachrome and tried your suggestion.  I was so surprised at the results that I bought more rolls and did the whole series that you suggested.  I felt like I already knew a lot of what I relearned but I really didn't know it if you know what I mean?  I keep going back and looking at my slides and my notes and I keep finding new things. 

Cool idea,
Heather

I'm not happy with you guys.  I showed your article about getting to know film to my photography professor and he gave it to us as an assignment.  Just what I needed.  More homework.  All those notes are giving me writers cramp. :^)

Monica

Jim, You're right. Most people won't believe that shooting 20 rolls will help but it does. I've done this exercise several times over the last few years and have learned a lot each time I've done it.

One thing you might want to consider is that some people are very lazy when it comes to notebooks. I tell people to buy a small portable cassette recorder. After you take each shot press the record button and speak the settings along with any notes. I've found that many people who won't write in a notebook will use a small tape player.

Congratulations on another excellent article.

Steve Munyan

Steve, excellent tip! Taking notes is pretty much ingrained into my thick skull. But several people have mentioned that taking all those notes feels too much like "doing homework". The best tips are the simple ones. Thanks.

Shoot digital and never worry about film again!

ZMan1975 - Cruising the Web on auto pilot

Umm, ZMan you kind of missed the point didn't you?

I liked your article on learning all about film but I can't figure out how to put all that film into my D30.  Any suggestions on where I should put it? :)

D30Dude

Is that a straight line or what!  Nah, it's too easy...

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