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