This beautiful building stands next to the ultra modern Welsh Assembly which I posted yesterday. Such a contrast in architecture - so modern and here so full of history. I am not sure what this building is - any Cardiff people on here who can let me know? See Alison's comment for the information on this building. Thanks for the info!!
Many thanks for your great comments and Favs on yesterday's uploads two of which reached the PP!!
Wow Pam -- this is really so clear and beautifully framed! I had a thought...think about what lenses you've used on the Cardiff trip. Those are the ones you'd want in Chicago, minus any that are about wildlife at a long distance!
@taffy I think I have answered my own question Taffy. Much as I love the 100-400mm I won't need it in Chicago and I cannot carry that big boy as well as my 24-70mm which also weighs a ton! I am wondering about my 70-200mm. Gone are the days when I can carry a heavy camera bag full of all the lenses I may need! One thing - what bag do you use?
What a great old building.....reminds me of some of the architecture in Boston.....red brick and clock towers! @pamknowler I could not help but see the conversation with Taffy about lenses to bring to Chicago. For Chicago I would probably bring a wide angle, the 24-70, and the 70-200 as a last resort, if you feel like carrying it. I am actually looking at teleconverters to increase the range of the 70-200 to a possible 300 with the 2x, and those do not take up much space. @taffy Taffy, I would also be interested in knowing what your traveling bag is! I own a number of LowePros, but I am currently looking at Think Tank, their Backpacker Pro Harddrive model as I will be bringing most of my big lenses with me (24-70, 70-200, 150-600)....it will weigh a ton, but apparently it is carry on size, and could fit above and also under the seats on a plane.
@pamknowler I discovered that I had a 1.4x Tamron teleconverter in my bag of tricks, and I had to ask the guy at the camera shop to put it on my 70-200 and slip it on my camera as I was afraid of damaging something!! I am trying it out to see how the photos come out as it is something to drop down one stop, and I also want to make sure the quality is good! The Nikon 2x has great reviews, but costs almost as much as the 70-300 f5.6.... I used to have that died on me recently!
@panthora I have so many camera bags and am still searching for the right one. It's ridiculous as I have a closet shelf full of perfectly 'fine' ones but none that I love. Right now, my favorite system is a Victorinox backpack (can't remember the spelling -- you know the brand I mean) that has a fairly good size middle section. Then, into that, I put an EMS three-section padded case where I can fit three lenses. Then pull the top closed and sit the camera on top of it. I put my little kit in the small front pocket. And my computer/papers can go in the back sleeve. So not conventional, but so far better than my other systems.
@panthora@taffy I also have so many camera bags all good for different things. Now I am thinking of bringing the 24-70 plus the 70-200 I think that I know which bag to bring - my Lowepro rucksack. I must get out the converter and try it out and then have a trial run with my bag packed. The laptop I have is soooo heavy there is no way I could bring it. perhaps I need to buy a Mac laptop - they do seem much lighter. Can I convince myself I need one? LOL!! Do I actually need to bring a laptop with me? I could just wait until I get home to look at any shots I take!!
@pamknowler@taffy Now, there's another discussion....laptops!! I have been struggling with that one for awhile now....I usually do not bring my laptop on trips as I figure I can always wait till I get back home to upload, process and post. However, our Africa trip will have some photography workshops, so I need to bring a laptop and an external hard drive. My Dell 15" is to big and heavy for travel, so yes, I have been looking at smaller and equally powerful ones, and Macs are in the running. I just hate to bring another item of high value on a journey, but it might have to be done. Let me know what you all use, and what you travel with! And, I think we are all in agreement that we are camera bag junkies, and use the excuse that we have not yet found the perfect one to buy more!! ;-)))))) BTW, Daryl O'Hare (can't remember her screen name here), had posted the bag and gear she had taken on her Bali trip....it was a bright orange Lowepro, and she was really happy with it!
@panthora@pamknowlerhttp://365project.org/discuss/tips-n-tricks/26168/traveling-hope-this-helps
Here's the link to the thread @darylo posted.
Re laptop -- I use a macbook pro 13" and an HD Passport external drive for my photo files. I carry it everywhere -- it has a slot for your HD card so no need for camera cord, and plenty of memory. When traveling, I usually bring enough cards that I don't have to erase anything -- save them when they are full. And use 32 to 64 GB cards even though larger are available, since I shoot in RAW. I backup/download the original files each night, so that the photos will be on my card AND on my hard drive in case something happens. An alternative is the new macbook air which weighs nothing. If I were buying one, I'd consider buying that and an external large monitor to use for processing photos at home. With an external drive attached for backup at home and the small portable one for everyday use while traveling, that would be a reasonable system as well.
@pamknowler I cannot say enough about my pack. You do not have to get the large one and it doesn't have to be orange. They have a wonderful blue one, more discreet. My pack flips to the front so i never take it off. It's not very "citified" but I used it so easily in Tokyo. For plane travel too, itvwas a no-brainer.
@darylo thanks Daryl I will check it out. Lots to think about when you are travelling with your camera and lenses etc. Your travel post is very useful! I just hesitate taking too much heavy gear. I once did a photography course on Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire Coast - mainly for puffins. I took everything they told me to bring - just in case - and only used one lens. The heavy tripod I carted around was the worst thing! I was always at the back of the group struggling with all my gear! Never again. Less is more! I would like a cheap very lightweight tripod though. More research to do!
@pamknowler I was fortunate in my travels to be able to pick and choose each day what I wanted to carry (except for two days--and honestly, I could have left those things behind for the day). I ended up with my 18-135 most of the time and was quite happy. I would not take a heavy lens (my 35mm prime is very heavy, but I only took that as the "other" some days). I would not take a tripod unless it was somehting you could just pull out to use for the odd times you really need one--and cheap and light. The bag, however, is the key element for comfort. Now my bag is big, but the smaller versions of it may be exactly what you need. I go in it all the time with just one lens and use the pockets for other stuff honestly, but weather cover, the storage on the plane for everything, well, it's just a good pack. Do you skype? I just realized I could show you some of the details if you wanted.
@darylo Thanks so much for the info Daryl - very much appreciated!! I have been checking out the Lowepro Flipside 20L and have seen lots of video demonstrations. It really does look good and I think I will be going for it. I think I would like to handle it before I buy - if you know what I mean so am going to try to find a shop which stocks it.I am now looking for the very light weight tripod - I will let you know if I find anything strong enough for my Canon 5Dmark 111 plus a big lens. I am unable to skype as something has happened to my sound on my PC - I think Finlay has been under the desk and chewed something!! Thanks for the offer!! I think all the videos I have seen have really helped. It does look like a great bag.
Here's the link to the thread @darylo posted.
Re laptop -- I use a macbook pro 13" and an HD Passport external drive for my photo files. I carry it everywhere -- it has a slot for your HD card so no need for camera cord, and plenty of memory. When traveling, I usually bring enough cards that I don't have to erase anything -- save them when they are full. And use 32 to 64 GB cards even though larger are available, since I shoot in RAW. I backup/download the original files each night, so that the photos will be on my card AND on my hard drive in case something happens. An alternative is the new macbook air which weighs nothing. If I were buying one, I'd consider buying that and an external large monitor to use for processing photos at home. With an external drive attached for backup at home and the small portable one for everyday use while traveling, that would be a reasonable system as well.