11Bravo

I have struggled with whether to bring binoculars on a cruise. We never have, but plan to on the next one.

I have a larger pair of Nikon binoculars I use at home (rarely) to view wildlife on my property, but I recently bought a small Leupold pair that I plan to bring on our next voyage in November.

I expect to keep them on the balcony, not while on an excursion, but we'll see. They are lightweight enough that throwing them in a bag won't be overwhelming.

I sincerely appreciate your detailed and thorough reflection on this voyage, dwHokie. We are on Harmony in 5 days, and all your posts are a wealth of knowledge!

I love your balcony GoPro videos. I ordered a similar tripod and security cables to attempt my own balcony time lapse videos. We too, were on the Allure last year on this same itinerary. This is a fun trip, and we're look forward to making more memories with friends and family!

10 hours ago, donaldsc said:

I bought a used Rokinon 12 mm f2 from KEH. It seemed a good fit for what I need at a price I can justify.  I paid $150 for it.  At the end of the trip I can sell it back for about $60 or else I can keep it.  Will keep you posted once I get it and try it out.

I think you made a good decision. I've seen great results from Rokinon for astrophotography. I'm considering picking one up as a dedicated lens for the same purpose over my 24mm 2.8 Nikkor lens.

We were on Allure out of Galveston last December. The new RCI terminal is really nice and flows well - from arrival and security through embarkation. Be sure to take some time to look at the incredible art in the terminal. Debarkation was just as smooth with luggage pickup and customs taking only a short time.

We flew to Fort Lauderdale two weeks only to find out or cruise was canceled. So the same camera gear and drone I packed for the cruise was used in Yellowstone...

I took this with my drone. Drones aren't allowed in national parks, so I took this outside the park.

Roosevelt Arch - the northern entrance to Yellowstone.

This is a juvenile bald eagle, probably a year old. Their heads don't turn completely white until they are 5 years old. 

The bison use their heads to move the snow to get to the prairie grass to feed.

Coyote - he was really far away with a second one.

I always take my pro photo gear, but not all of it. I use a small bag with the DSLR full frame and a couple of good all-around lenses. When going on an excursion where having a camera doesn't make sense, I use my iPhone. Both have their place, but the images from my DSLR are always better.

When I have my DSLR, I am intentional in looking for photo opportunities. When I only have my iPhone, I often miss photo opportunities as I just enjoy the experience. Again, no right answer for either scenario.

Don - I love your idea of printing an image from each trip for the wall. I think I'll follow your lead!

On 5/9/2021 at 5:15 PM, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

Take it from another pro photographer ....

 

I've never been hired to shoot a wedding because I had the best iPhone  ...

 

I can do things with my mirrorless Sony cameras that are not possible with a smart phone  ... someday maybe but not yet IMO  ...

I agree with you. However, no one ever asked Michelangelo what brushes he used to paint with. Skill, experience and technique are far more valuable than camera gear. A camera is just a tool to get the shot in your mind's eye. I've seen great images from a disposable cardboard film camera and a guy with a Canon EOS 1DX Mark III DSLR take nothing more than snapshots.

Bald Eagles in Montana are as plentiful as pigeons in some places.

** This was a deer road kill.

Captain’s hat and compass on the bridge of the Vision of the Seas.

Long exposure from bridge wing of Vision of the Seas.

My friend is a dedicated climber and cave explorer. When she was captured with her hands out in an unorthodox manner, plenty of people commented on what she was doing. “Eating the world’s largest ear of corn,” “holding a giant pack rat” or “breaking her air guitar.” I brought their thoughts to life.

The wife is right...IMHO

As a professional photographer, my cameras are the tools of my trade. The money I have earned over the years has allowed me to reinvest in more gear to get the shots I seek easier. When I vacation, I have plenty of camera equipment to choose from depending on the trip.

The nicest part is I pay for all my new equipment from my photography paychecks, so it doesn't negatively affect the household.

I'm in the "I'll wait" camp. I would love to be an early adopter like Havoc, but the price drop after a year is usually steep, and I don't need to have the latest and greatest to get the shots I need to get paid.

I remember shooting magazine covers with a 4 megapixel Nikon D2H, and that camera got the job done nicely. Every couple years I upgrade, but I can still get the images I'm after with my old camera bodies.

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I took these photos of the Sprague fire in Glacier National Park. They were taken from the shores of Lake McDonald. Earlier in the week, the fire (sparked by lightning) had burned the 100+ year old historic Sperry Chalet that was used by backcountry backpackers.

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My wife said I have a camera problem. I told her the only problem I have is I haven't collected all the gear I want yet.

I started my professional photography career in 1996 working in the automotive print publishing world. Because all the guys at the magazines I worked at used Nikon gear, I gravitated toward Nikon. It was a great fit because they mentored me with equipment they were very familiar with.

Over 20 years later and a switch from shooting film to digital (2004) and a small fortune in camera equipment gets me the results I'm after!

The best camera to take is the one you will use. If you bring a point & shoot and leave it in your cabin the whole trip, it's worthless. That's why cell phones are so popular.

Then again, cell phones don't always capture the best image and have limited zooms. I, myself, carry about 40 pounds of camera gear with me because photography is important to me. I am often on deck with a tripod and big lens shooting distant features others can't capture. I use a cell phone camera in a pinch when I don't have a DSLR on my hip.

With 90 replies to your original message, your questions have been well answered. As for looking for Nikon enthusiasts, there are plenty of us. When I got into the photography business over 20 years ago, everyone in automotive print publishing that I worked with used Nikon. So when I upgraded, I followed suit. It's more of a Chevy-Ford-Dodge debate when choosing Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc. I chose Nikon because other photographers had Nikon. Now with a small fortune invested in Nikon gear, I would be foolish to change.

Now 20 years later, I still have 3 digital camera bodies, about 10 lenses, tons of Nikon accessories and the experience and knowledge of how to get the shot in my "mind's eye." Photography is a terrific hobby. I wish you the best of luck!

comped = free as in COMPensated- a common term especialily used for casino freebies- "I was comped for my hotel room and breakfast."

 

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=comped&btnG=Google+Search

Sometimes Google searches provide incorrect information. COMP is short for "Complimentary" and a word used since the glory days of the 50's in Las Vegas.