Nevada Wier  
 

PRIMARY CAMERA BAGS

I primarily use the Lowepro Orion AW or the Street & Field 85 AW; both have a built-in hip belt and can also be used as a backpack. I carry my computer in a Lowepro Tropolis 1250. I carry my Infrared Camera separate in a Lowepro TopLoad Zoom AW. www.lowepro.com

CAMERA GEAR

CAMERAS

  • Primary Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III or Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Backup Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II
  • Converted InfraRed Camera: Canon 5D
  • Compact Camera: Canon G10 (for fun and underwater use)
  • Film Camera: Canon EOS 1V with a Power Drive Booster PB-E2 or Battery Pack BP-E1 (I am primarily digital but I am keeping my film cameras for backup on extended expeditions without electricity.)
  • **Note: I use a Ec-D Laser Matte with Grid Screen in all my cameras and protect my LCD with a Hoodskin film. www.hoodmanusa.com
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LENSES (in camera bag)

  • Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye
  • Canon EF 28mm f/1.8
  • Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II
  • Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
  • Lensbaby Composer for Canon cameras www.lensbabies.com

FLASH ACCESSORIES AND REFLECTORS (in camera bag)

  • Canon 580 EX II Flashes (with a Kodak Wratten 81A gel taped to the output)
  • Canon Transmitter ST-E2
  • LumiQuest FX. I use it without the gels or sometimes with the amber gel.
  • S.B.M. Supreme Light Diffuser
  • Gary Fong Lightsphere Cloud C4
  • LumiQuest Pocket Bounce with Gold Reflector
  • Photoflex soft-gold reflectors (12" in camera bag, 24" carried in separately)
  • Canon Compact Battery Pack E-2 (only put in bag when I need extra recycle power)
  • Visual Echoes Flash X-tender (I rarely use this, for ultra long lens use for wildlife)

FILTERS

  • I use Singh-Ray Hi-Lux filters on all lenses for protection.
  • Singh-Ray LB warming polarizer
  • Singh-Ray Vari-ND (Variable Neutral Density Filter)
  • Singh-Ray Graduated Neutral Density Filter (a set of four: 2 & 3 stop each of hard line and soft line filters) Note: I sometimes (but less and less) use these for landscapes.

BACK UP GEAR -- SOMETIMES BROUGHT ON TRAVELS & ASSIGNMENTS OR AS BACKUP EQUIPMENT

  • Canon 1.4x II tele-extender
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
  • Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS
  • Canon EF 50mm Compact Macro f/2.5
  • Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
  • Wireless Controller LC-4
  • Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3

CAMERA STRAPS

In camera bag: cable release (Remote Switch RS-80N3), micro-fiber cleaning cloth, rechargeable batteries, tabletop tripod, small soft-gold reflector, compass, pen, small mag-lite flashlight, dust brush, model release forms, Swiss army knife, ASMP press card, business cards, and small notebook.

In separate small zipper bag: Camera and flash manuals, extension for cable release, Canon off-camera shoe cord 2, Tripod remote cord, black duct tape, camera manuals, small towel, film leader remover, lens cleaning fluid, super glue, screw drivers, Leatherman tool, Q-tips, cleaning cloths, rechargeable batteries, lithium and AA batteries, extra lens caps, extra model release forms, pens, Sharpies, and extra quick release tripod plates for my tripod.

For Digital: CF card recovery disk, backup Mac OS disks, extra USB and Firewire cords, Monster-Power Outlets To Go Power Strip.

For Sensor Cleaning: Visible Dust Sensor cleaning brushes and swabs. www.visibledust.com

TRIPOD and BALLHEADS

  • Gitzo Traveler Tripod 6x Carbon G1550T (my favorite lightweight tripod.) www.bogenimaging.com
  • Gitzo Mountaineer 1227 carbon fiber tripod with Manfrotto Proball 468RC
  • Gitzo Explorer 6227 carbon fiber tripod with Gitzo G1276 M

FLASH CARDS

  • SanDisk Extreme IV 8 - 16 GB. Sandisk 4 - 8GB SD (for 2nd slot in Canon 1Ds MarkIII)

CARD READER

  • SanDisk Extreme (Firewire). Currently the fastest download with Sandisk Extreme IV cards.

PORTABLE STORAGE

NOTE: I usually bring a 15" MacBook Pro on my travels for simple editing. I download the CF card to two portable hard drives. When I have limited electricity or do not want to bring a computer, then I use the two Colorspace O digital wallets. I edit off of one hard drive and do not touch the RAW files on the 2nd hard drive or digital wallet until I have a backup at my main office.

COLOR MANAGEMENT

WORKFLOW AND FILE MANAGEMENT

  • For Digital editing: Adobe Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4 www.adobe.com
  • For Digital cataloging: Adobe Lightroom 2
  • For Film: Fotobiz www.fotobiz.net

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS4 PLUG-INS

DIGITAL PRINTING

PAPER AND PRINTING SUPPLIES

Currently my favorite paper is Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White

PRINTER PROFILES

DIGITAL WEBSITES

BOOKS

  • Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS4 by Fraser and Schewe
  • The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book by Martin Evening
  • Color Management by Fraser, Murphy, Bunting
  • Photoshop LAB Color by Dan Margulis
  • Photoshop Restoration and Retouching (3rd Edition) by Katrin Eismann
  • Adobe Photoshop CS4 for Photographers by Martin Evening
  • The Adobe Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
  • The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes by Joe McNally
  • The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
  • The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book by Martin Evening
  • The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book by Martin Evening
  • Lessons in DSLR Workflow with Lightroom and Photoshop by Jerry Courvoisier

PODCASTS

  • Adobe Lightroom Podcasts on iTunes
  • Photoshop TV
  • The Russell Brown Show

EQUIPMENT FOR OTHER TRAVEL SITUATIONS

Trekking:
Lowepro Orion AW, a shoulder bag with a waist belt and a detachable day pack.
Lowepro Street and Field System: I like the Light Belt with various pouches for a comfortable lightweight system when I don't want to be carrying a bag. I also attach different S&F pouches to my Orion AW on the belt.

Sea Kayaking/Rafting/Snorkeling:
Tundra SeaKing or Pelican hardshell cases. Pelican cases are also integrated into the Lowepro Omni Extreme Series
Ewa-Marine flexible housing for most cameras and camcorders. www.WeatherOrNotPhoto.com and www.rtsphoto.com

Horseback riding:
Lowepro Topload Zoom AW or Topload Zoom 2

Running or hiking:
Lowepro Photo Runner
Occasionally, I use the Pro Photo Trekker AW or (if I really need to carry a ridiculous load) the Super Trekker AW.

Expeditions and General Travel:
For checked luggage I use either a Switchback Plus Large or Pick-Up Trunk (has wheels) or a large Cargo Duffel if I need a sturdy duffel (no wheels). I put my clothes in Pack-It system Folders and Cubes so they stay relatively intact inside the duffel. They are great, compact and lightweight. I use the Latitude Expandable or Switchback for carry-on (a good choice for the new one carry-on policies). I carry my valuables in the Departure Pouch attached to my belt; I've never been robbed with one of these (sometimes I also use an undercover money pouch in conjunction with the Departure Pouch). And, I lock everything with Eagle Creek's 3 dial security locks. I use a lot of their other products but I know this is beginning to sound like a commercial - but, truthfully, I was using Eagle Creek products since they first came on the market (this is true also for Lowepro, Canon, Gitzo, and others.) www.eaglecreek.com