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I can offer you a couple. First, you ought to score a copy of two books: The first by our ole buddy Peter Burian and Robert Caputo called "National Geographic Photography Field Guide" 2nd Edition, ISBN 2003104002. The second is called "Travel: Secrets to Making Great Pictures (Photography Field Guide Series)
by Robert Caputo, Charles Kogod (Editor) also published by National Geographic ISBN: 0792295056
Pub. Date: April 2005 Both of these are pocket size paper backs that will fit easily in your photo vest or camera bag. They're loaded with useful info that applies to travel photos and also general photograhic principles and tips and a lot of tricks. I highly recommend both. Easy to read on the plane going over. Then read them again on the way back to kick yourself for all the stuff you forgot to do. LOL !!! (just kidding). I can't tell you what to photograph in Italy, but I can tell you that the basic rules of street photography apply; i.e., first and foremost always be aware of your surroundings and what's going on around you. Blend in and try not to either look like a photographer or tourist photographer. While part of that is attitude, the other part is appearance. Your camera bag shouldn't look like one. My preference is to carry a diaper bag instead of a Domke. Not only is this unlikely to be boosted, but it has a certain insulation quality which is good for keeping film cool. ;>) A photo or travel vest is really useful too because you can wear your equipment and that makes it harder to snatch and run. A tripod for low light photography is useful. I really like my Gitzo Reporter for that. It's small and light enough to schlep but sturdy enough for a medium format camera. At night, use pre exposure mirror lock-up if your camera has it. Meter for the highlights of a scene and bracket your exposures at least 1/2 stop in either direction. If you're working on film, there are a lot of x-ray exposure precautions that are useful. Try and carry it with you on the plane. There seems to be some debate as to whether that's still ok since the shampoo scare. I haven't had any trouble doing it domestically, but haven't been to Europe since. Carry the film in the heavy duty lead bags, have it out of the containers or in see through plastic containers for hand inspection in the U.S. airports. European airports are more often using the CTX 5000 scanners on checked baggage as is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. as well. These things can be cranked up to see through just about anything, including your lead-lined bags. Here's a link to the TSA site and one page on traveling with film domestically.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm BTW, the TSA still says film slower than ISO 800 isn't adversely affected by carry-on bag screeners. They're wrong. The effects are cumulative. Their statement still presumes only one pass or two. The Sima Corp makes lead bags for film, their site is at: http://www.simaproducts.com/products/product_detail.php?product_id=45 And...........bon voyage. ;>)
Mark
9/30/2006 10:27:01 AM
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