Peru - Questions...

firedancing4life · June 20, 2009

Just wondering if anyone had any tips for taking pictures in Peru, specifically Machu Picchu.

Did anyone have issues with bringing equipment into South America?

eenusa · June 21, 2009

We were there in April. I had a 70-200 on my DSLR most of the time and no one questioned it at any of the places we visited. (I left the tripod behind; too much to carry at high altitude.) My husband was using a professional-looking HD video camera on a tripod and he was questioned on two occasions (Sacsaywaman and Machu Picchu) -- explaining that it was his hobby seemed to solve the problem pretty quickly.

I had my 17-85 with me for wide-angle shots, which worked quite nicely, but I quickly left it behind, using my Canon G-10 (shoots RAW) for wide angle shots.

I found the 70-200 to be too much lens for most of the places in the main body of ruins at MP, unless I was shooting detail; it was great for shots from Intipunku and distant terraces. If you take a tripod to MP, keep it out of sight or you will have to check-it at the entrance. My husband brought his smaller tripod (with rubber tips, by the way) and was asked to check it the first time we went in. The second time around, he had it in his backpack and had no problems getting it in or using it (in view of the guards) in the higher reaches of the ruins. It would have been impossible to use in the main body of the ruins because of the crowds.

Be prepared for the crowds is all I can say for MP ... once I found the quieter spots away from the main ruins, I was a happy camper.

Are you goiong on your own? I ask because we hired a private guide who accompanied us most of the time. It was great because he knew the regular tour schedules and we were able to work around that and have most of the sites to ourselves before or after the crowds descended.

You'll find a lot of costumed locals approach you to take their photo for a sole or two. I did this infrequently as I don't care for posed photos. The 70-200 was great to capture more natural photos.

There are some rules about the number of cameras/flash cards you're allowed to bring into Peru. I was worried about this at first, but it turned out not to be an issue. You can check TripAdvisor.com for discussions on this topic.

I'm still posting my blog (getting close to the end now); photos will be a while coming. However, if you want to see some of my shots from our trip you can check out the blog at http://2totravel.blogspot.com/. All of the Peru postings are under the April archive.

Have a great time ... Peru is a lovely country with lovely people.

Qarik · June 22, 2009

I have been there but before my photography days. We stayed at Aquas Caliente which I reccomend. It appeared photography friendly and there weren't too many shady characters around. I would feel very comfortable bringing my back up body and a couple $500 type lens (a standard and an ultrawide would do very well). Leave the pro stuff behind.

In fact you could almost get away with a high end P&S like G10 or LX3.

firedancing4life · June 24, 2009

eenusa wrote:

We were there in April. I had a 70-200 on my DSLR most of the time and no one questioned it at any of the places we visited. (I left the tripod behind; too much to carry at high altitude.) My husband was using a professional-looking HD video camera on a tripod and he was questioned on two occasions (Sacsaywaman and Machu Picchu) -- explaining that it was his hobby seemed to solve the problem pretty quickly.

I had my 17-85 with me for wide-angle shots, which worked quite nicely, but I quickly left it behind, using my Canon G-10 (shoots RAW) for wide angle shots.

I found the 70-200 to be too much lens for most of the places in the main body of ruins at MP, unless I was shooting detail; it was great for shots from Intipunku and distant terraces. If you take a tripod to MP, keep it out of sight or you will have to check-it at the entrance. My husband brought his smaller tripod (with rubber tips, by the way) and was asked to check it the first time we went in. The second time around, he had it in his backpack and had no problems getting it in or using it (in view of the guards) in the higher reaches of the ruins. It would have been impossible to use in the main body of the ruins because of the crowds.

Be prepared for the crowds is all I can say for MP ... once I found the quieter spots away from the main ruins, I was a happy camper.

Are you goiong on your own? I ask because we hired a private guide who accompanied us most of the time. It was great because he knew the regular tour schedules and we were able to work around that and have most of the sites to ourselves before or after the crowds descended.

You'll find a lot of costumed locals approach you to take their photo for a sole or two. I did this infrequently as I don't care for posed photos. The 70-200 was great to capture more natural photos.

There are some rules about the number of cameras/flash cards you're allowed to bring into Peru. I was worried about this at first, but it turned out not to be an issue. You can check TripAdvisor.com for discussions on this topic.

I'm still posting my blog (getting close to the end now); photos will be a while coming. However, if you want to see some of my shots from our trip you can check out the blog at http://2totravel.blogspot.com/. All of the Peru postings are under the April archive.

Have a great time ... Peru is a lovely country with lovely people.

Wow...thanks for the input. I'm trying to scale down my gear. I'm at least bring the 17-50, however, I'd love to have the 5D and 16-35 by then

Right after MP, I'm heading to the jungle, so I'll probably be storing the 70-200 at the hotel...don't worry..it's insured. I'm guessing I need that for all the wild life.

-Kevin

eenusa · June 24, 2009

firedancing4life wrote:

Wow...thanks for the input. I'm trying to scale down my gear. I'm at least bring the 17-50, however, I'd love to have the 5D and 16-35 by then Right after MP, I'm heading to the jungle, so I'll probably be storing the 70-200 at the hotel...don't worry..it's insured. I'm guessing I need that for all the wild life.

-Kevin

We didn't go to the jungle, so can't say if the 70-200 will be enough lens for wildlife in that environment. If you have an extender, you'll probably want to take that along just in case.

firedancing4life · September 7, 2009

OK...I GOT THE ANSWERS!

Been back for a couple weeks now.

...Inca Trail was brutal. I hauled the 70-200 2.8 lol. Mostly had the 16-35 on my 5D.

Peru is a photographers dream.

Here is my brief itenerary:

San Francisco - > San Salvado (layover)-> Lima ( stayed one night) -> Cusco.

We hung out in Cusco about 2 days...to acclimate. Departed from Cusco to the Inca Trail. Inca Trail was 4Ds, 3Ns. The last day we arrived at Machu Picchu...tired and excited. We bused down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, took a train to Ollantaytambo and vanned back to Cusco. Next day we took a 30 minute flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonaldo and took a boat to the Tambopata Reserve(Jungle). Spend 3Ds, 2Ns here and head back to Cusco for a couple more days. Made a day trip to Pisac and left for home the next day. Vacation...no really...a trip...yes. We were always busy.

I should have a photographic journal up of the trail with captions....what I was able to shoot when I wasn't trying to breathe.

Here are my favorite...just to summarize the trip....much more on my website.

Cusco

Inglesia de la Compania - Plaza de Armas

Cusco Kids

Hills of Cusco

Inca Trail

1st Day - say goodbye to Mt Veronica

2nd Dai - Dead Woman's Pass - The hardest day of my life. 1,300ft climb, 2,000ft down.

Ruins at the on the way to the second pass. 1,400 ft up, 1,300 down to camp.

3rd day - drop 3,000 ft....stone Inca Steps..yay

Phuyupatmarka

Winaywayna - 10 minutes from our night 3 campsite

Day 4.....3:30am wake up call....2 hours hike...= Machu Picchu

My first view of MP...from the Sun Gate as the fog rose. I will never forgot this moment.

The classic shot:

The group!

Puerto Maldonado in 2 pictures:

I will summarize the jungle in one picture:

My favorite picture from Pisac

my second

Reverb · September 7, 2009

Fabulous photos (well I could go without the last one but:D). I will be doing a similar trip sometime soon I hope. Thanks for sharing.

eenusa · September 8, 2009

Glad to hear you had a terrific time. Peru really is wonderful. I've been back four months and still working on photos. Looking forward to browsing through your gallery.