Muench Workshop: Isle of Mull, Scotland - May 2008

schmoo

Just curious (because the weather is pretty wet here this week)

What's the weather like around Mull in May? I've seen general reports of how the west is wetter than the east, but in other words is there anything we need to keep in mind about keeping our gear dry while we're shooting in it? Do we need to consider things like this?

Andy

schmoo wrote:

Just curious (because the weather is pretty wet here this week)

What's the weather like around Mull in May? I've seen general reports of how the west is wetter than the east, but in other words is there anything we need to keep in mind about keeping our gear dry while we're shooting in it? Do we need to consider things like this?

I'm planning on having my raingear for me... and some covering for my camera, too. And plenty of extra ziplocks and plastic bags. And towels.

schmoo

Andy wrote:

I'm planning on having my raingear for me... and some covering for my camera, too. And plenty of extra ziplocks and plastic bags. And towels.

I'm going to need clarification on the "some covering" for the cameras.

Andy

schmoo wrote:

I'm going to need clarification on the "some covering" for the cameras.

http://www.ziploc.com/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Camera-Zip-lock/

schmoo

Andy wrote:

http://www.ziploc.com/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Camera-Zip-lock/

I assumed there would have been some efficient methods of keeping your gear dry when you're standing out in the rain looking through the viewfinder. I guess it's crossing fingers for our non-weather-proofed bodies and wiping the glass clean when water gets on it?

Sam

Schmoo,

How about this?

kata E-702 element cover | B&H Photo Video

Sam

Sorry about link color. I can't figure out how to change it.

Andy

schmoo wrote:

I assumed there would have been some efficient methods of keeping your gear dry when you're standing out in the rain looking through the viewfinder. I guess it's crossing fingers for our non-weather-proofed bodies and wiping the glass clean when water gets on it?

TBH, I was serious - the only thing I've ever used is ziplocs and plastic coverings. There are some things, yes, I think I'll ask Ian to chime in

Marc Muench

schmoo wrote:

I'm going to need clarification on the "some covering" for the cameras.

I think Andy keeps many other things in ziploc bags so they are handy:D

Underwater housing is the only way too keep a camera really dry! Shy of that, I either use a small travel umbrella or my jacket. Usually I don't shoot when the heavy stuff is coming down:cry maybe that should be a new technique

DavidTO

Marc Muench wrote:

I think Andy keeps many other things in ziploc bags so they are handy:D

Underwater housing is the only way too keep a camera really dry! Shy of that, I either use a small travel umbrella or my jacket. Usually I don't shoot when the heavy stuff is coming down:cry maybe that should be a new technique

Yabbut you're shooting with a sealed camera!

schmoo

Marc Muench wrote:

Usually I don't shoot when the heavy stuff is coming down...

Well then, thank goodness Scotland is also known for their whisky!

Seriously though, OK I take the hint with the Ziplocs and raincoats.

thebigsky

Mmm, I've just had to hand over my 1ds to Canon for a warranty repair, I do hope it doesn't disappear into a black hole only to emerge too late for Mull.

I have a 5d but I'm not sure it's the best camera to rely on in what may well be quite damp conditions, I'm sure I've read somewhere about its aversion to water.

Charlie

Llywellyn

schmoo wrote:

Well then, thank goodness Scotland is also known for their whisky!

Seriously though, OK I take the hint with the Ziplocs and raincoats.

Hey, you weren't alone! I was looking at waterproof covers at B&H. I usually use the ziplocs to pack my clothes tighter, but I guess I'll need a few extra this go round.

thebigsky

Is everyone else taking a laptop? Will I be seriously disadvantaged without one?

Charlie

Frogwell

thebigsky wrote:

Is everyone else taking a laptop? Will I be seriously disadvantaged without one?

Charlie

Steady, you'll be in danger of starting a cargo cult

schmoo

thebigsky wrote:

Is everyone else taking a laptop? Will I be seriously disadvantaged without one?

Charlie

Charlie,

At Utah, many of us brought laptops simply because it's very hard to go so many days without seeing your shots big! It's not required unless Marc has changed the way they do things, but it's nice to have. Given how much shooting and critiquing we did, there wasn't a whole lot of time to do actual processing but sometimes it's nice to have the laptop to preview and select some images before Marc drags your whole CF card up to the chopping block.

I lugged it from home but left it in the hotel room when we were out shooting during the day. So even though it might seem like a pain to tote, it wasn't.

thebigsky

Thanks Schmoo, so essentially, to clarify, what you're saying is that really I have no choice but to buy a new Macbook Air?

Charlie

Llywellyn

thebigsky wrote:

Thanks Schmoo, so essentially, to clarify, what you're saying is that really I have no choice but to buy a new Macbook Air?

Charlie

Funny, I'd come to that same conclusion a few weeks ago. :giggle

schmoo

thebigsky wrote:

Thanks Schmoo, so essentially, to clarify, what you're saying is that really I have no choice but to buy a new Macbook Air?

Charlie

And the pre-workshop shopping begins! :smo

I better get ahold of that RRS Pano Head...

thebigsky

Well, you couldn't head into the trip of a lifetime ill-equipped could you, you'd never forgive yourself?

Charlie

thebigsky

Llywellyn wrote:

Funny, I'd come to that same conclusion a few weeks ago. :giggle

Great minds....

Charlie

schmoo

thebigsky wrote:

Great minds....

Charlie

I can already tell it's gonna be a great workshop! :smo

Llywellyn

So...what's on your shopping list to get before the trip?

So far on mine:
- One of the new Nikon wide-angle lenses (I hate, hate, hate my current WA lens--figure I should like putting that piece of glass on if I'm going to be shooting tons of landscapes)

- New Crumpler barge bag (I have the 7 billion dollar bag, which will be too huge to tote and won't accomodate a laptop for tricky carry-on packing)

- Rain slicker

- More batteries and extra memory cards

- And either a Mac Air or D200--I haven't yet decided if the smaller laptop or second body is more important to me right now

So dish! :eat Whatchoo gettin'?

Andy

From "a friend"

Hi Andy, IM away when the scotland workshop is on, otherwise I'd be interested

So I was looking through the workshop details and just thought I'd mention - Bug Spray. Yup you might find you need more of it than you expect.

The West coast of Scotland is renowned for it's man-eating midges! Dusk is feeding time - you have been warned!

Seriously though , Im not sure of the worst time of year but midges ( tiny gnat thingys) rise up in huge head-hugging swarms if you're anywhere near water. Drove me crazy last time I was up there!

DavidTO

Andy wrote:

From "a friend"

We'll make sure that our location scout and local, Kevin Cowle has a couple of bottles to pass around, too. No need to carry it on the plane, after all!

Andy

DavidTO wrote:

We'll make sure that our location scout and local, Kevin Cowle has a couple of bottles to pass around, too. No need to carry it on the plane, after all!

Good, because you know how demanding that prissy Marc Muench can be!!!!!!!!!!!

DavidTO

Andy wrote:

Good, because you know how demanding that prissy Marc Muench can be!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm....Andy, he's got nothing on you!

schmoo

Llywellyn wrote:

So...what's on your shopping list to get before the trip?

I don't think I'm really allowed to divulge my entire list because I'm always the worst-equipped photographer in the pack.

I think it's safe to say that the RRS pano head is going to find its way onto my tripod very soon so I have time to figure out how it works. I already discussed the merits of an ND filter. I'm going to second needing a decent rain coat.

I'm trying to think of things that I might have wanted on the last workshop that I forgot to bring, but I'm drawing a blank. On the contrary I found that I brought too much and most of it got in the way or weighed me down.

But, eh, I already got a pair of wellies and a camera so that's really all that matters, right?

Marc Muench

Just remember Stephanie, what you forget, Andy will have:D:D:D

I always like to be more efficient than overloaded. Even if that means I get a few bug bites a little wet or even cought with the imperfect focal length lens. However, that being said, I will be bringing :

1ds M111 body with RRS L bracket
24 tilt-shift lens
70-200 2.8 zoom
Nikon 16 fisheye w/adaptor to canon
Xtra battery

Two ND filters
HOya NDX 400
Hoya NDX 8
Hoya polarizing

back up
Canon G-9
wide lens 28mm
this will really be used for blackmail shots of Andy and David

Tripod with RRS ball head and pano tools

Mac Book
La Cie external HD
Several 8 Gig cards

In addition to reg clothes I will be packing a rain parka and lightweight rain pants and boots

Oh and toothbrush, as the Scotch leaves bad breath

schmoo

Marc Muench wrote:

Just remember Stephanie, what you forget, Andy will have:D:D:D

Spoken by the master himself! :smo

So Marc, you won't by carrying a flash with you on this trip? Just checking, 'cuz I lugged it around Utah but on the last day finally chucked it into my suitcase.

Marc Muench

So Marc, you won't by carrying a flash with you on this trip? Just checking, 'cuz I lugged it around Utah but on the last day finally chucked it into my suitcase.

The flash will not accompany me to Scotland:cry as I figure multiple exposures will have to do, to capture the shadows. I do like the effect of a well placed flash in the landscape, but when space is limited I leave it behind. I have been know to use the flash on a point and shoot as "fill" during a long exposure