| Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and | | | | camera case and equipment ready to pack safely I |
| enjoy the journey.--Babs HoffmanOutdoor | | | | bubble wrap each piece of equipment that is most |
| photographers in the 21st-century, we live in a world | | | | fragile. Drop-off center: I also know were the |
| of uncertainties. I am writing this article to ensure | | | | drop-off center is from the home base, you can do I |
| you that there are many ways to lessen the hassles | | | | web search or call 800 numbers. Reconfirm: well this |
| of traveling nowadays. Ever since the horrible disaster | | | | is commonsense do I really need to explain this one? |
| that America has faced with September 11, 2001, our | | | | But make sure you get a confirmation number from |
| security has been beefed up at our airports with | | | | the hotel of where you will be staying for your photo |
| professional federal employee, these young & | | | | adventure, placed this number somewhere on the |
| mature men and women as I have personally | | | | shipping container, but only for the first hotel base. If |
| observed are friendly and courtesy and do their job | | | | you're going to be using multiple hotels you can |
| extremely well. I had never had any problems with | | | | transport the equipment in your rental car to the |
| these professional. Before I go on a photo trip I | | | | next hotel. Clothes: pack for ideal climate, forecast, |
| usually start planning well in advance within a year to | | | | watch the weather channel for your forecast, at |
| six months before I depart, I do major researching | | | | least 2 weeks prior to your departure, this will give |
| on the Internet, as well as networking through the | | | | you an ideal of what to expect. Paperwork: make |
| photographic organizations I belong to. I truly fine this | | | | sure you have copies of any prescription medications |
| valuable information to contact photographers who | | | | you may need, also have any photographic lab |
| live in the area. I do 90% of my bookings online I | | | | paperwork, always have copies of your itinerary, and |
| find this to be the quickest and easiest way, after I | | | | your state maps and or road atlas, plus your |
| have the hotel, car, and a home-based hotel. I do not | | | | instruction manuals for your photographic equipment. |
| book Airlines online due to the fact I do not want to | | | | I still prefer shoot transparencies I feel that Digital |
| be surprised, I preferred to have a fixed schedule | | | | photography is more or less point and shoot. |
| 95% of the time I can book the airline at the same | | | | Remember back when you had them Polaroid |
| price from online. I'll also FedEx all of my photographic | | | | cameras, well that's basically what Digital photography |
| equipment and film, as with my film which is placed in | | | | is. I still prefer to use my mind and skill and education. |
| x-ray bags I do not worry, besides, I take all my film | | | | For the photographic lab bags, are consist of bubble |
| an tape the box at the FedEx center. So if they | | | | bags and I use the bags to mail film from my home |
| want they can check the contents of the box. I | | | | base hotel to the laboratory, I also carry an organizer |
| have never had any problems with federal express, | | | | that has all the photographic numbers and other |
| and if you follow the instructions that I am going to | | | | important numbers I need, as well as other |
| give you'll have no worries whatsoever. But I assure | | | | information, always be prepared. Emergency/meds: |
| you my very expensive photographic equipment is | | | | it's always good ideal to have a small first aid kit |
| safely delivered to the home-based hotel. I have read | | | | available specially when you're out in the field, and by |
| and seeing so many articles and suggestions on this | | | | all means use commonsense, always have your |
| topic. I just had to show you the best way and put | | | | medical card, blood type, Social Security number, |
| it a nutshell. Granite the majority of the articles I | | | | driver's license, any medications you are taking. Have |
| have read are insulting your intelligence, its | | | | it written down and placed somewhere on your |
| commonsense. Please Note: that these guidelines and | | | | person, you never know if you travel alone like I do, |
| suggestions are for domestic travel and if you're into | | | | what happens if you're unconscious? Well, at least |
| outdoor photography, this will benefit you greatly. So | | | | the medical emergency personnel will have some |
| here are my guidelines and suggestions to the | | | | information. Other equipment: I use a GSP unit as well |
| outdoor photographer for the 21st-century with | | | | as a compass this help me stay on track and find my |
| great success.In the beginning:. Intense research- (at | | | | way back. I also use and have my cell phone, CB |
| least six months-a year). Networking- (within | | | | radio which gives me constant updates on weather, I |
| professional organizations). Budgeting- ($200 a month | | | | also like to use a 7 foot chain with locks to secure |
| for six to 12 months)In the beginning these are the | | | | the shipping case and camera case in the home base |
| three keys: intense research, networking, and | | | | hotel.At the airport hotel:This is the first leg of the |
| budgeting. Researching which includes: Internet, | | | | trip; I usually stay at the airport the day before |
| mappings, literature, brochures, professional | | | | departure. I truly believe that by staying at the |
| photographers, commerce, national wildlife refuge, | | | | airport hotel the night before is less stressful than |
| travel agents, all of this takes time that is why I | | | | rushing around the day of. The first things I do is |
| personally take the time at least six months to a | | | | check-in and ask for a wakeup call, approximately 4 |
| year to research the area or areas of interest. | | | | a.m. I catch the early flights. I then catch the shuttle |
| Networking: if you belong to a well organization like | | | | bus that will bring me to the departure gates of my |
| the Photographic Society of America or North | | | | chosen airline.At the airport:If you catch the earliest |
| America Nature Photography Association or any | | | | flight to your destination, which I always do. There |
| other well-established organization you have the | | | | are fewer passengers at these early times. The |
| great benefit of your membership to network. By | | | | check-in counter usually opens about 5 a.m. at least |
| contacting photographers who are in the area that | | | | the one I use, always check to be sure, the only |
| you desire to visit, besides I have personally met | | | | thing I check in our my clothes bag which also |
| new and wonderful people who are like-minded by | | | | contains my tripod and some other inexpensive |
| networking. Budgeting: now this is the tough part, I | | | | equipment, per this writing transit authority now have |
| personally put $200.00 a month aside for photo | | | | locks you can purchase which they have the key |
| travels for six to 12 months this gives me plenty of | | | | too, this is usually a combination lock,this way if bags |
| money to participate in activities I so desire, I do not | | | | are in question the transit authority can open your |
| stay in luxury hotels or rent luxury cars nor, do I | | | | bag without destroying it. My, carry on would include |
| have luxury meals. By all means I stay at hotels that | | | | my laptop, cell phone, money, ticket, credit cards, |
| are clean, and I usually try to get rooms with a | | | | and perhaps a book. As you're getting ready to go |
| refrigerator and I usually shop at local grocery stores, | | | | through security be prepared to have your ticket and |
| this way if I am in hot climate I can keep my film | | | | driver's license out and ready, it is amazing to see |
| cool, and have some food also. If a refrigerator is | | | | people stumbling around to get their driver's license |
| not available I would use the air condition to keep at | | | | out. Also prepare to take off your shoes, I wear |
| least the film cool, I usually buy salads, and slimfast, | | | | running pants and docksider easy to slip off, take |
| so refrigerator or an air condition does me find.Part | | | | everything out of your pockets put them in the |
| Two:. Confirm- (confirm reservations). Photographic | | | | plastic bowl, take out your laptop put that in a |
| equipment- (cleaning, testing, packing). Locating | | | | separate container and walk through the metal |
| drop-off center- (FedEx in my case). Reconfirm- | | | | detector simple right? Wrong, if every passenger did |
| (double checking). Clothes- (pack for ideal climate). | | | | this we would not have to stand in line very long just |
| Weather- (forecasting for the area). Paperwork- (any | | | | for commonsense. I would like to note to pack your |
| and all). Lab Bags- (transparencies and prints). | | | | tripod in you're checked luggage bag any non-fragile |
| Emergency /Meds- (first aid kit & prescription | | | | item w/clothes. I usually have the biggest duffel bag |
| medications). Other equipment- (gsp, cell, two radio, | | | | I can find. May your travels be a pleasant |
| cb hand held, laptop chains/locks)Part two, and with | | | | one.Resources: helpful websiteDanielle's CASE |
| these nine keys: confirm, photographic equipment, | | | | Company: specializes in carrying cases, shipping cases |
| location for drop-off, Reconfirm, clothes, weather, | | | | and wheeled cases designed to transport your |
| paperwork, lab bags, emergency meds. Confirm: this | | | | equipment with care. Security Administration: A MUST |
| is where you will call, hotel, airline, car rental, and | | | | for anyone traveling by air. Express: open an account |
| hotel(s)-(home-based). Photographic equipment: this | | | | or conduct business with any FedEx company. |
| key could continuously be dragged on but I will put it | | | | Society of America: Travel Aid We are a worldwide |
| all in a nutshell. First of all if you are going to use a | | | | interactive organization for anyone interested in |
| carrier service like I do you're going to need to set | | | | photography, be they casual or serious amateurs or |
| up an account. I know that federal express is free to | | | | professional photographers. line: delivers huge savings |
| set up an account; if you do not have an account | | | | on airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars and |
| with a carrier service I strongly suggest you get one. | | | | vacations. Name Your Own Price and save for all |
| So let's say you do have an account. What we need | | | | your travel needs. ... Discount cheap travel - last |
| to do now is to have our shipping container and | | | | minute deals an. |