Posted by Kent Staubus on July 20, 2008 at 1:44 AM
I'm in the middle of a family vacation in Northern Californy. I guess you could divide this trip into three sections: City, Trees, Ocean. For the past week we've hiked through some of the big redwood groves, and also poked around a few tide pools. Next is Yosemite and a three day camping deal. I went very light on camera gear this trip, partly because of airline restrictions and partly because I wanted to concentrate more on the "family" part of vacation. Last year I went through my photos and realized I spent more time diddling with photography than I did with my kids, so this year I'm trying to something a little different. I am taking fewer but better photos, and trying to include the family into more of them. I'm also trying to make the most of every opportunity at hand rather than chasing all over.
I have with me Nikons 17-55mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8 VR, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, Nikon TC-17E, cheap Bogen tripod, and Canon 500D macro diopter. I'm finding I have a lens for just about everything despite leaving the trusty Nikon 80-400mm VR home this time. I've done a big switch in how I approach taking photos and it seems to be paying off, so far.
In addition to the lenses, I also have three Nikon SB-28 and one SB-800 flash plus Elinchrom radio triggers for each. I had hoped to place the flash in zip lock bags and put them in the small tidal pools to light them up, but the tide is low only during daylight hours right now. I have been experimenting with other uses for them though. This allows me to spend more time with family during the day, and I can slip out at night to take photos while they are watching TV and winding down for the day. All in all, my reduced camera bag has not impacted my ability to take photos at all, and I have been able to concentrate more on my family. I don't want to remember my kids through a viewfinder.
Whole-heartedly agree. Less equipment to manage = more quality time to enjoy the experience.
My office currently looks like a UPS store as I'm selling off a great deal of my gear to focus on one format (digital stays, 4x5 goes...), reduce my SLR lens inventory to an easily manageable 3 lenses, eliminate redundant tripod setups, etc.
20% of my gear has made about 90% of my images over the years. Keeping the additional 80% of gear to add a few more images each year seems counterproductive to the primary goal of enjoying my time in nature.
Posted by Richard Wong on July 20, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Definitely nice to have that balance Kent. I think when you look back you'll probably cherish your family time more than any photo shoot can do. I know I would.
I haven't tried it, but your ambitions for the strobe setup make me wonder about night shots in the redwood grove near the SW entrance of the park. A bit of a drive from the valley, but it would sure be neat up there without a bunch of people.
When we travel, it's usually to visit family. I take most of my essential gear, you know, the stuff I can't do without. It usually doesn't get unpacked. I use my 28-135 to make pictures of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, et al. In the last couple of years, these are the best (to me) pictures I've made.
We're at the family lake home right now for a reunion, and in my quest to photograph all 43 orchids that occur in Minnesota, we made a trip to a preserve where one of the most rare (western prairie fringed-orchid) blooms. We got some great images. We're making a trip to another such area Tuesday, and we do it as a family (well, at least all who want to slog through bogs).
When the family doesn't feel like coming along on these excursions, I stay home at the cabin with them. As my kids (18 to 23) pursue their diverse lives, time with them is precious. I must say it IS nice to have the photographic kit along, though, as it makes for some wonderful memory-producing images.
Hey Kent - Might be too late posting this, but if you get the chance, check out this posting on Strobist. Might be a neat kind of thing to try out there...
I take way too few pics of my kids, and I convert far too few of them from RAW also. I have been working on doing better. I have learned that I can get a decent shot of my kids that I end up liking much better than a wonderful nature shot.
Nathan
Posted by Kent Staubus on July 25, 2008 at 2:01 AM
I get back home on Sunday. I haven't been at all handicapped by my 3 lens kit. I'll post later about flashing trees in Yosemite. I'll sum up it with one word--WOW!!! Should have done this years ago.
Discussion
10 repliesI have with me Nikons 17-55mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8 VR, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, Nikon TC-17E, cheap Bogen tripod, and Canon 500D macro diopter. I'm finding I have a lens for just about everything despite leaving the trusty Nikon 80-400mm VR home this time. I've done a big switch in how I approach taking photos and it seems to be paying off, so far.
In addition to the lenses, I also have three Nikon SB-28 and one SB-800 flash plus Elinchrom radio triggers for each. I had hoped to place the flash in zip lock bags and put them in the small tidal pools to light them up, but the tide is low only during daylight hours right now. I have been experimenting with other uses for them though. This allows me to spend more time with family during the day, and I can slip out at night to take photos while they are watching TV and winding down for the day. All in all, my reduced camera bag has not impacted my ability to take photos at all, and I have been able to concentrate more on my family. I don't want to remember my kids through a viewfinder.
Kent in Northern Californy
My office currently looks like a UPS store as I'm selling off a great deal of my gear to focus on one format (digital stays, 4x5 goes...), reduce my SLR lens inventory to an easily manageable 3 lenses, eliminate redundant tripod setups, etc.
20% of my gear has made about 90% of my images over the years. Keeping the additional 80% of gear to add a few more images each year seems counterproductive to the primary goal of enjoying my time in nature.
I haven't tried it, but your ambitions for the strobe setup make me wonder about night shots in the redwood grove near the SW entrance of the park. A bit of a drive from the valley, but it would sure be neat up there without a bunch of people.
When we travel, it's usually to visit family. I take most of my essential gear, you know, the stuff I can't do without. It usually doesn't get unpacked. I use my 28-135 to make pictures of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, et al. In the last couple of years, these are the best (to me) pictures I've made.
We're at the family lake home right now for a reunion, and in my quest to photograph all 43 orchids that occur in Minnesota, we made a trip to a preserve where one of the most rare (western prairie fringed-orchid) blooms. We got some great images. We're making a trip to another such area Tuesday, and we do it as a family (well, at least all who want to slog through bogs).
When the family doesn't feel like coming along on these excursions, I stay home at the cabin with them. As my kids (18 to 23) pursue their diverse lives, time with them is precious. I must say it IS nice to have the photographic kit along, though, as it makes for some wonderful memory-producing images.
Kudos to you for your approach!
I take way too few pics of my kids, and I convert far too few of them from RAW also. I have been working on doing better. I have learned that I can get a decent shot of my kids that I end up liking much better than a wonderful nature shot.
Nathan
Kent in Californy
Did you make it out to the redwood groves, or were you shooting in the valley?