Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/10/04

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Subject: [Leica] On the road with greg Locke
From: bdcolen at earthlink.net (B. D. Colen)
Date: Mon Oct 4 11:08:06 2004

Hayzeus! Of course as you point out, the good old days weren't really
very good either in terms of equipment. It's one thing if you're going
in for a week or two to shoot and then reemege with all your film for
processing at home. But if you're going to have to transmit photos - or
copy - from the road, it gets dicey. If you were going to write on the
road, of course, you used to have to carry a portably typewriter plus
all your photo equipment. And the ubiquitous Oliveti - or Olympia - was
heavier, and much bulkier, than today's laptops. And today, if you are
going to shoot digital exclusively, you at least eliminate the bricks of
film.

But when I did my one little third-world gig in 93, going into Somalia
with a hotelroom/base in Nairobi, I had to carry a Trash80 - which was a
close as we came to a laptop then, plus two camera bodies, winders,
lenses, flash, meter, etc., and enough film for whatever number of days
I was going in. Oh, PLUS all my own water to keep me fully hydrated in
the daily temp up to 132....etc.etc....

It is insane....Funny, though, you're talking about what you left behind
- I did precisely the same thing, walking away from sleeping bag and
some other camping type equipment.

B. D.

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Greg Locke
Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 1:48 PM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: [Leica] On the road with greg Locke


Actually, BD, this is light for REAL work. If I didn't have to file from
the road I would not need the sat phone or a computer. And THAT is the
killer for the travelling journalists these days. Having to file daily
or weekly...and I should not complain as it is much easier to do today
then the "old days";

This trip I downsized from a Toshiba laptop and decide to try one of
those iPAQ's with a folding keyboard.

A number of years ago I was headed for a two week stay on an offshore
oil rig. Everything gets weighed for the two hour helicopter trip and my
Domke bag with lenses, 2 F3's and 140 rolls of film came in at 37
pounds.  I realised when I got the there it was impossible to shoot
ANYTHING with a 300 f2.8 on an oil rig.

The WORST trip ever, which cured me of overpacking, was a three month
assignment in Bosnia where I needed to carry a colour processing kit,
enough film for 3 months, a laptop, Nikon Coolscan and all the assorted
wires, adapters, cables needed to make it all work ...and of course the
spare and redundant bits in case of failure or loss. Not to mention
winter clothes and, OH, YEAH!, ..the camera equipment.  One large
hardshell shipping case, one large backpack, one small backpack and a
camera bag.

I knew it was a lot but it was still better then the "OLD DAYS" of
having to carry a colour enlarger and a UPI 16s drum transmitter!!!
...so I didn't give it much thought. Besides, it was going on a Canadian
air force Hercules so what did I care?

I CARED early one morning in Sarajevo when the message came to my little
Inn that a UN Herc had finally made it into the airport and if I wanted
to get out I have 30 minutes to get to the airport. The inn keeper was
more then happy to drive me but I soon came to realise that all my gear
would not fit into he VERY SMALL eastern European car on undetermined
make.

...his family ended up with a full sized expedition backpack full of
clothes, 40 rolls of film and new pair of winter hiking boots.

My Africa Kit will be:

2 Leica M6's
21, 35, 90, 135 lenses
1 Nikon D100
1 Nikon D1X (I honestly don't expect the Nikons to be coming home) 17-35
35-70  ...have not secured a longer lens yet. Some film (I am making
arrangements for film and processing in Cape Town) iPaq Pocket PC with
folding keyboard for writing and sending digital photos 1 Change of
clothes.

....with a packed photo vest, this will actually fit into a small
non-descript carry on MEC backpack which will send the airport security
goons into apoplectic fits. You should see the look on their faces when
it appears on the xray monitor. I actually feel sorry for them because
the look on their face says they now don't have a clue how to deal with
this.  But I am always helpful and security in St. John's is now well
versed in camera and optical design theory and mechanics.

Satellite phone, clothes, more film, back up cables, batteries, tools
and pointy things and "non-essentials" go in another, larger backpack,
for checked luggage.

This seemed to work on my last trip to central Africa and wandering
around Rwanda, Congo and Kenya.

What it comes down to is that when its work, its work and you need the
tools to do the job. The trick is to figure out the minimum you will
need. It also makes a difference if you are going to have a "base of
operations" to leave stuff or if you will have to carry everything with
you every day.

When it's a holiday you have some flexibility.


Greg Locke
St. John's, Newfoundland
http://blog.greglocke.com
-----------------------------
Independent journalism from
Newfoundland & Labrador
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+locke=straylight.ca@leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+locke=straylight.ca@leica-users.org] On 
> Behalf Of B. D. Colen
> Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 2:03 PM
> To: 'Leica Users Group'
> Subject: RE: [Leica] WAS: Zeiss Ikon NOW: " LIFE QUOTATION" ;-)
> 
> At some point, Greg, I'd love to know what your 'required'
> kit - the digital camera, lenses, etc., sat phone, mini-disc 
> recorder, pocket pc., etc., weigh in at. :-)
> 
> B.D.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On
> Behalf Of Greg Locke
> Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 12:04 PM
> To: 'Leica Users Group'
> Subject: RE: [Leica] WAS: Zeiss Ikon NOW: " LIFE QUOTATION" ;-)
> 
> 
> ...and the corollary..
> 
> "if you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space."
> 
> ..and, Ted, just in case you getting were worried I had given
> up the road for the easy domestic life in St. John's, I just 
> found out I'm headed to Africa in November ...with Leica's in 
> hand along with the new tools of the trade, digital camera, 
> mini-disc recorder, pocket PC and a satellite phone.
> 
> Life is a hoot!  ...if you choose to experience it to the
> full...right?
> 
> Greg Locke
> St. John's, Newfoundland
> http://blog.greglocke.com
> -----------------------------
> Independent journalism from
> Newfoundland & Labrador
>  
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: lug-bounces+locke=straylight.ca@leica-users.org
> > [mailto:lug-bounces+locke=straylight.ca@leica-users.org] On
> Behalf Of
> > Ted Grant
> > Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 12:48 PM
> > To: Leica Users Group
> > Subject: [Leica] WAS: Zeiss Ikon NOW: " LIFE QUOTATION" ;-)
> >
> > It's just to shake up a Monday morning in case some of you
> think about
> > taking a trip! ;-)
> > 
> > "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well
> > preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, 
> > shouting "...holy
> > shit...what a ride!"   ;-)
> > 
> > And a Leica in yer hand! ;-)
> > ted
> 
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In reply to: Message from locke at straylight.ca (Greg Locke) ([Leica] On the road with greg Locke)