F9 Photo

The challenge I have found is developing a workflow that’s supports the photographer that travels and uses multiple computers to edit and process data.  I had a simple workflow revolving around my laptop but once I added video into my workflow I quickly needed to use more storage space and a faster desktop computer to handle the HD Video.  I use a MacPro desktop as my “home base” and developed a workflow that would allow me to quickly transition between my laptop traveling and back to the home base.  I shoot on the Canon EOS 1D and the 5D Canon camera systems.  I also use a Lumix GF1 for my portable rangefinder.  I use Adobe Lightroom 2 to manage my photos.  I do most of my initial processing on a laptop because I am in the field then transfer it to a desktop machine for backups. The problem is Adobe Lightroom does not import the video clips when you import your stills.   I implemented a workaround solution, but It’s not a very good one.

I have been on the search for a small portable camera that I can have when I am not carrying a full size Canon EOS 1D or 5D body.  I like point and shoot camera and believe the most important thing is to have a camera with you.  Any camera.  The problem I have had with point and shoot cameras, were the slow focus acquisition along with slow shutter speeds.  Bottom line is I found a great, compact, fast camera that takes great photos.

I picked up a Lumix GF1 with the 20mm 1.7 pancake lens.  This camera has been great and has been the perfect blend between my 1D and a small portable system.  The camera has a very solid build and looks like it will take a beating. I added a GGS glass screen protector and a 46mm UV filter to make sure it could handle bouncing around my backpack, truck, etc.

Due to popular request. I am writing another way to get high(er) speed internet in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.  Ethiopian ETC has introduced EVDO high-speed wireless Internet to Ethiopia. The service is not high speed compared to the U.S. or Europe but it is the best in Ethiopia and is available in 14 cities in Ethiopia.  There appears to be confusion between the CDMA wireless Internet introduced last year and the new EVDO service.  Both services use a USB fob in Ethiopia.  The CDMA uses a SIM card that connects via a USB device at a max actual rate of <128k.  With the new EVDO I am getting up to 750k.  The big mistake people are doing is buying a CDMA only device or a EVDO device and then purchasing a CDMA SIM card that downgrades your device to the old CDMA service and speed.   EVDO USB devices can do both CDMA and EVDO.

Well I forced myself to set down my 1D Mark II for two months to use only the 5D Mark II.  I like the 5D Mark II , the video and full size sensor, image quality is fantastic. I use wide-angle lenses most of the time, so the extra wide from the full sensor has made me even close down my wide-angle shots to 24mm (hmmm is it time for the 24mm 1.4L II).  I am not sure if I am just used to the 1D buttonology, but I have found myself grumbling at the 5D buttonology multiple times now.  Often I bump the settings dial knob on top of the camera and change my RAW to JPEG or other annoyances. This is a pain and I have missed several shots because of the camera being bumped into an odd mode.

Just because of my hate for the 5D button layout I will probably dump the 5D when the 1D Mark IV comes out in October 09.  Not sure I will get one until after the Olympics because the large photo houses will get first dibs.  I wish the new Mark V would come with a full sensor to make it all that I need.  Canon would not want to loose its 1Ds megapixal superstar for a faster shooting 1D that does not have the mega numbers that the camera magazines like to fight the megapixels game.

This is nothing against the 5D itself, I just like having the two button push to change most modes on my camera.  I picked up the new pocketwizard remote for my speedlights and I hold it off the camera shoe.  I love the fact I can control the EV value from the 5D menu, its just that the combination of having to plug in the info then bumping the dial into some odd mode with not the settings I want make we wish for the two button requirements of the 1D.

People often ask if I am nervous traveling to places like Afghanistan and Pakistan and other far places on the earth.  My regular response is that I have the same chance of being injured in the shower in my house or on the DC beltway as traveling.  Well it looks like the same type of "it's gonna happen wherever you are" happened to one of my more traveled Canon camera bodies.  As poor luck would have it, my workhorse 1D Mark II flash shoe had become loose and was not firing the speedlight.  So while I was back in the US, I sent it off to Canon for a tune up and repair of the flash shoe.  Now fully encased in bubble wrap, and a pristine box, it just came back from the CPS Canon repair center in NJ with a large crack on the magnesium frame.  The crack is on top of the camera where the camera shoe had been replaced.  I’m guessing during the repair that the technician put a little too much tension when he was replacing the flash shoe.  CPS was very professional and immediately sent me a FedEx return label, but I am tight for time to return from Montana to Ethiopia.  Luckily I have a 5D Mark II as my extra body so I’m not out of a camera while in Montana.

To my surprise, I found myself far more upset about the sentimental value of the camera.  It has traveled to the harshest sides of the world, is heavily worn, and has become the solid companion I trust.  Due to the large frame crack, I am guessing that Canon will have to replace the entire magnesium frame, leaving little of the nostalgic paint-free rub marks, and duress marks that proved it was not the camera of a fashion photographer or one that sat on a shelf. Like a good set of jeans, I am very upset to have to get a new one.  I also find it ironic that its final days were at the Canon repair center and carefully transported in a large box surrounded by bubble wrap and not on some mountain in Nepal being crushed by a run away yak.  Well, with a sad heart I placed it in the same box it arrived in to go back to Canon.  I will ask Canon if I can have the frame back for sentimental reasons.  Will hope they honor the request because the camera has become more than a tool, but a solid travel companion.

I try not to jump into the next camera each year and have been shooting my set of heavily worn 1D Mark II bodies for a few years and just sent one off to Canon repair to get a tune up. (Canon repair in New Jersey is super fast and Canon Professional Services (CPS) has been great!).  I make a habit to send in my lenses and bodies in every year to get the old camera doc to give them a physical.  I have started to carry only one camera body on most trips to be more minimalistic with the equipment I bring.  I would like something of high quality but small in the point and shoot arena.  I dream this magic “small” camera would always be in my pack, even when I don’t plan to go on a shoot.  I have found I use my iPhone as a family quick shoot and mail camera for plain fun shots (I started working on developing an iPhone tether for the 1D Mark IV when it comes out with integrated 802.11 to allow quick sending of select images via email).

I do a large amount of “drive by shootings” from a vehicle and available light shots; so this requires a fast shutter that no point and shoot has.  I was toying with the idea of a Leica M8 digital range finder. I was hoping the Leica M9 would come out this summer to make all the Leica junkies get the new shiny thing and sell their barely used M8s on eBay for a steal.  After much review of the quality of the sensor and the camera, I finally think I have myself convinced that even though it is a beautiful camera it just does not have the functionality and would soon become a toy and not a workhorse.  When I talked to my photojournalist friend Guy Calaf about my toying with getting a Leica, we both agreed we would love one, but for circa 6000 USD w/ a lens, it just is not worth the bang for the buck unless you are a trust fund baby.  I am leaning towards picking up a 5D Mark II with a 1.4 24mm lens (if canon will ever ship the damn 24mm 1.4L II to the market).  I think a 5D and 24mm L would not only be less expensive than a M8 but also be far more functional.  It would also be a kick ass documentary camera with the glass quality and video option.  And before you Leica fanatics get all up and arms about my questioning the M8’s functionality and its magic “glass”, please be aware my photo requirements may be different than yours..... (READ MORE)

OK if you are using ETC in Ethiopia on an unlocked iPhone you have to reset the SMSC to work in Ethiopia.  To set the SMSC on your iPhone enter on your keypad:

**5005*7672*+251911299708# Sets the SMSC to SMSCNUMBER (international format).

Then hit call.

 Thats it!  To check the SMSC type the following on the dial pad then hit call.

*#5005*7672#   

In the continuing quest to find some sort of Internet connection in Ethiopia, I have been looking for a good way to have internet.  Ethiopia only had dialup available and high speed internet (256k) which costs several thousand dollars a month. A friend of mine who is a photojournalist (www.guycalaf.com) in Addis Ababa bought a Huawei EC 325 portable USB2 CDMA modem, which comes with a driver for both OSX Mac, XP and Vista.  He reported it worked well and I went to purchase a CDMA modem, which works with the Ethiopian 

This is the trek route we took to the Mt Everest base camp.  Our trek went via the recently opened Nangpa Valley. Cross Renjo and Cho la. Climb both Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar and camp overnight at Everest Base Camp. 

The trek travels to the remotest parts of the Khumbu Himal and visits all the main valleys of the region. We can explore fascinating Sherpa villages and visit the Buddhist monasteries at Tengboche and Pangboche, whilst the names of so many famous mountains including Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Pumori will become part of our vocabulary. Not only does this trek include ascents of both Gokyo Ri and Kalapattar, we even camp overnight at Everest Base camp, allowing us to soak up the atmosphere of this hallowed place.
 
In common with most Everest treks we fly up to the mountain airstrip at Lukla and head north along the well-worn trail, which follows the mighty Dudh Kosi river to Namche Bazaar. This sizeable Sherpa village is situated at the heart of the Khumbu and all the principal valleys of the region converge here. Most parties continue to follow {mosimage}well-trodden paths, but we leave the crowds behind and head up the remote Nangpa valley to Marulung. Only recently opened to trekkers, this valley was off-limits for many years owing to its proximity to the sensitive Tibetan border. Its unspoilt authentic Sherpa villages offer a unique insight into how the area would have been when Hillary first walked these paths fifty years ago.