Fleeting Glimpse Images : Visions in words ~ Sagas in light: Travel

Costa Rica Photography Tour Date Change

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:13:26 GMT

In my post dated May 9th, 2008 I announced the date of my next Costa Rican Photography Expedition. The dates have changed slightly and the tour will be leaving two days earlier to enable an extra day in the Arenal Volcano Area.

The new tour date is:

February 17-24, 2009

Information regarding the tour can be found at the Worldesigns Tours web site.

Book a trip and come shooting in Costa Rica with me.

del.icio.us Tags: Costa Rica,Safari,Photography,Tours,Expedition

When Disaster Strikes

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:57:52 GMT

Those of you who know me well know that I am a fanatic about equipment redundancy and data back up. I have written about it many times in the past. Sometimes, the best laid plans and the most meticulous planning will result in a situation whence there is no recovery. Yes, I was caught with my pants down-again.

Mount Rushmore photographed with my
last line of defense-a cell phone camera.

Case in Point:

My late Spring-early Summer expedition West was in day two of twenty-one days. I had just finished setting up camp at Grizzly Bear Gulch near the Rushmore Memorial. Grizzly Bear Falls is the only South Dakota fall I have never photographed. I grabbed my Canon 40D with the 17-40 MM F4L lens and the Canon 5D with the 70-200 MM F2.8L lens and set out on the trail of the elusive falls.

"Some ten or fifteen seconds of
floundering and I was extricated from
the very cold water of Grizzly Creek"

The trail was deceptive but I finally made my way to the falls. Before snapping a picture, I decided to scan the scene from a rock sticking over the pool below the waterfall. Recent rainfalls in the area had removed layers of protective soil from beneath the boulder on which I stood. The rock gave way and slide me feet-first into the chest-deep water.

The 5D was over my right shoulder and went three feet under the water. The 40D was around my neck and though I tried to hold it above the water level but was unsuccessful. Some ten or fifteen seconds of floundering and I was extricated from the very cold water of Grizzly Creek.

Damage toll: 5D=Dead, 40D=Powers on but gives only errors, 70-200 Zoom: interior puddle that measures about 1/4 cup. 17-40: no apparent damage. Signs of moisture on view screens and damp fog everywhere.

With 19 days to go out of 21 both my cameras were out of commission. The first order of business was to remove batteries and memory cards to minimize damage and hopefully save the few images on the cards. I hiked the mile back to the tent and sought dry clothing.

"Just my luck we would have
great light and wonderful fog!"

While I drove to Rapid City to purchase some emergency desiccant I called my wife to have my backup equipment air freighted to me. It was late and I would not see this equipment for three days. My next call was to my my insurance agent. I insure all my equipment and had no doubt I could get material replaced but would it be in time to save my shooting schedule?

Long story short, another trip to a camera store in Rapid City, SD to verify the mortality of the equipment, I had new gear on the way from B&H. It will arrive on day 8 of 21 saving the bulk of my shooting schedule from disaster.

Key Points:

Insure your gear
Keep an inventory list
Leave a backup camera in a safe place
Have your phone numbers and policy numbers available.
Keep your schedule flexible

As a result of having accidentally leaving my 20D backup behind at home, I was forced to live for three days with a 2 MP enV2 cell phone as my primary digital camera. Just my luck we would have great light and wonderful fog! I had to cancel shooting the sculpture workshop at Mount Rushmore and rework my waterfall shooting schedule based on equipment arrival.

The fortunate items in this laundry list of disaster were that my phone and my key fob for my car were also dunked but were in a higher pocket and didn't get damaged. Otherwise, I would have been stranded with no phone (and no disaster camera).

This exercise proved to me that I cannot out-plan disaster but I can plan to cope with it should it strike. Now, if only I had brought that extra laptop…

del.icio.us Tags: gear,camera,water,insurance,disaster planning

Sometimes you just feel like shootin' something

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:17:16 GMT

Well blog readers, I have to actually go into the field and shoot some photographs. We photographers often do that-shoot pictures, I mean.

I will be at a National Monument

for a week photographing and participating in a sculpture workshop. From there it is on to Northern Wyoming for a week of shooting my old haunts:

Devil's Tower

Bighorn Mountains

and then the 50th anniversary part of my in-laws where I will be shooting a 4-generation family portrait.

I will try to blog from the road when Internet Connections and time permit.

del.icio.us Tags: travel

Costa Rica Photography Tour Date Announced!

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:19:10 GMT

"I want to see

you in Costa Rica!"

Fellow photographers, travelers, adventurers and fun seekers, we have set the date for the next Costa Rica Photo Adventure from Worldesigns Tours. Come along with me as your instructor for Photography, Software and the Costa Rican experience. You've walked Balboa Park in San Diego and stalked Bourbon Street in New Orleans with me as your guide. You might even have been with me on my last February's Costa Rica Adventure. You've watched me teach image editing at PowerPoint Live, CorelWorld, the upcoming CorelDraw Unleashed User's Conference and at various Camera Clubs throughout Minnesota. You've read my photographic trials and travails on the blog network and you've seen my imagery at the Fleeting Glimpse web site. Now is the time to go with me on a real photographic adventure.

Costa Rica!

FEBRUARY 19-26, 2009

Gallery from the 2008 Trip

Our tours are limited in size to ensure that our photographic participants receive the individual attention, instruction and aide they require. It doesn't matter whether you a pro with bazooka-sized lenses or a for-fun photographer with a point-n-shoot, we will tailor our training and activities to your needs.

The tour operator has authorized me to offer an early booking discount of $ 200.00 for those who sign up for a tour by June 30, 2008 for the February 2009 tour. Take advantage of this by going to the Worldesigns Tours web site and signing up for this once-in-a-life time adventure. I want to see you in Costa Rica!

del.icio.us Tags: Costa Rica,Photography,Travel,Tours,Instruction,Worldesigns,adventure

Costa Rica - Shock and Awe

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:05:39 GMT

I was hoping to blog from Costa Rica these last two weeks but the internet connection in the rainforest is tenuous at best.

Shock: Taking off from Minneapolis at -5° F
Awe: Landing in Liberia, Costa Rica at 95° F 8 hours later.

Shock: Driving the Pan Am Highway - no awe.

Shock: The multiple microclimates encountered on my way to the resort at which our Photo Tour was housed.
Awe: The incredible beauty of the landscape.

Awe: The people of Costa Rica.

I will write more later but for now this is the official announcement that I have returned to Minnesota and the shock is over but the awe lingers.

One more:

Shock: Getting off the plane in Minneapolis last night at 10°F

Spring must be coming when I left the difference was 100°. Now it is only 80°

Offline for a While

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:50:32 GMT

Greetings, Fleeting Glimpse Images Photography Blog readers. I will be offline until March 4th, 2008. If you read the Shake Down entry, you will know that I am bound for Costa Rica to teach Digital Photography for Worldesigns Photo Tours.

Since you are home reading this, I can safely assume you aren't with me on the trip. Why not? When I get back, I will be doing a deconstruction of the photo safari and what I, as a professional, learned about the experience.

While I am gone, I hope to get another article ready for CorelDraw Unleashed Magazine, prepare some presentations and relax a little in the sun. The snow is 4.5 feet deep beside my driveway. It will 93° in Liberia, Costa Rica tomorrow when we land. I can't wait.

Next year, I hope to see you at La Anita Rainforest Ranch with me.