Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I have decided to take a trip with my best friend this summer across most of the United States(From Denver, PA to Denver, CO; with a pit stop in Boston). My cargo list includes: 1 M6 with 35 and 50 summicrons, 1 Minolta Autocord, 1 Holga 120s, 1 Olympus Stylus, 2 flyrods, and a small amount of toiletries and clothing(Carmen Ghias are *small*). XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Paul, you could make more room in the Ghia by leaving your best friend [I presume a dog] in the kennels at home ;-) Only joking. The trip sounds wonderful, and the ideals are equally lofty. Suggestions: * Think carefully about the film you will use, and whether you would want to process on the run. For the documentary side of things, I'd use Kodachrome: its so USA to me. * Take good "cleaning" equipment--- the Carmen's I've been in are pretty dusty before they travel ;-) * Visit George Lauterstein's site to get some ideas on imaging the great American outdoors, and pack a tripod, and fine grain film [oops you now need the second M back; an M2 perhaps * Visit Tina Manley's site and review her images of people to inspire your empathy with the locals you encounter on the journey. * If you still insist on taking your dog, use him as a prop. My two are great additions, and the model fees are low. You will encounter many such models on your journey, so use them to "break into" the conversation with people. If I see a dog and its owner [in fact any pet and its owner] I find I have an instant "in" to the lives and an introduction that now usually leads to a good photo-op. Tina obviously uses children in the same way. She offers to send copies of the images and claims this works - I think it would, but I'm too cheap ;-) so I use dogs. * Visit my site to see how not to do it ;-) * Have a great time. Cheers Alastair Firkin http://users.netconnect.com.au/~firkin/AGFhmpg.html