Mindshift Backlight 26L

The Backlight 26L in Greenfield Color.  

I have had this bag now for about bout a month or so. The versatility is outstanding. I have always been a fan of back opening bags for ease of use and keeping your shirt clean as well. I find this bag to be very useful for both my landscape and event work. Today's itinerary includes a 80's style Sweet 16 birthday party. Complete with L.A. Backstage Pass performing their awsome covers from the 80's Happy Birthday Sam! In my bags today.  

Canon 5dmiii with Sirui L Bracket and 24x105  attached. 

Canon 7dmii with L Bracket  

Tamron 15x30 F/2.8

Sigma 70x200 F/2.8

2 Canon Speedlights  

Think Tank 4 Dslr battery case (full) 

Mindshift House of Cards  

a bag of AA batteries  

13" MacBook Pro/Accessories 

All of that and plenty of room in both mesh pouches for various other doodads. The bag is awesome for many uses. Click their link on my about page for special offers.

Mindshift Trailscape 18L

Front view less than 20" in height and very manageable.  

Here is a day pack filled to cover a lot of photographic needs. 

I started my afternoon intending to shoot some flowers at Smith Botanical Garden. And maybe a little landscape work. So I packed my Mindshift Trailscape for my days work. I loaded it with 8 filters in the Mindshift Nest insert, a Tamron 180 macro, 15x30, 90 macro and a Canon 5dmiii with Tamron 24x70 attached. Also my Peak design strap and a flash light. Along the side is my small Sirui T2005x tripod and K-10 ballhead. And the Mindshift House of Cards memory wallet and the Think Tank 4 DSLR Batter case as well. And there is still plenty of room in the mesh compartments for shutter releases and other things. The front pouch has room for a 13" MacBook or a Tablet and a place for your cell phone, pens and things like that. All that and it's still incredibly light. I have spent many years now talking about my obsession with camera bags. When in reality I never found one that was just right. This is the perfect day bag. I can even fit a Tamron 150x 600 attaché in here with a wide angle and a massive filter system. My friends at Mindshift have done an amazing job. Click the link at in the "About me" section to get their bags as well as some free gear. 

Boulder Beach

Boulder Beach and Otter Cliffs  

One of the iconic stops we took the Nature In Focus Workshops groups was Boulder Beach for a sunrise. We didn't luck out with the normal vibrant colors that a sunrise brings. But instead we got some cool clouds and did some slow exposures. I also took the time to manually control my exposure compensation while in Aperture priority mode to create three exposures. -1 and +1 stops of exposures. I merged the images in LRCC HDR module. I then tweaked the sharpness and a little vibrance as well as a little noise reduction. image made with Canon 5dmiii and 24x105 at 92mm ISO100 f/11 manually focused at infinity. 

Bass Harbor at Night

Night Shooting at Bass Harbor Lighthouse.  

The Nature in Focus Workshops Participants were treated to some Night shooting over Bass Harbor Lighthouse. We got there during the golden hour before sunset. And stayed until around 9 PM. It was a lesson in patients for sure. But also a lesson in risk reward. There are certain risk we should take as photographers and many we shouldn't. There was never a point anyone was put in harms way. We had plenty of lights and each instructor made sure everyone could see their way out safely. The reward was getting an amazing shot. I see far to often these days people going to extremes to get shots that are rare. In the end making it home safe is what it's all about. Getting to go out and shoot tomorrow or playing with your kids or pets. Be educated on taking care of gods gifts to us. Leave the areas you shoot with all you went in with. Image made with Canon 5d Miii and Tamron 15x30 and 15 mm. F/2.8 manual mode ISO 3200 with a 30 second exposure. Mounted on my Sirui N3204x Tripod and K-30 Ballhead. Carried with my Peak Design Leash strap and Lowepro Flipside 500 Backpack. Edited in Lightroom CC. 

Into The Fog

Black Thunder  

Sometimes as a photographer I like to create artistic images out of ordinary subjects. I am in Acadia National Park instructing with Cecil Holmes, David Akoubian, Fukin' Lou Raimondi (Nature in Focus Workshops) we are haveing some amazing foliage. we couldn't pass up Sieur du Monts Gardens on a overcast day. The Participants were really having a great time finding little things to focus their skills on. Ten students with four instructors really allowed for some individual attentions for the participants. This is an image I really hoped to get while here.any others had similar shots as well.  

Daddy's Alone Time

Femal Northern Cardinal.  

On the days where I am not with my little girl, I get to spend sometime with the other lady in my life. I get to spend a little while with my feathered friends. They fill a void when both Sonia and Amelia aren't home. This morning was a perfect morning to capture a few of my visitors. I moved a bird house yesterday and am hoping next season brings back the blue birds. But today I had some familiar faces. Image made with a Canon 7d and Tamron 150x600 on top of my Sirui N3204x Tripod and PH-20 Gimbal head. Viewed in On1 Browse and tweaked in Lightroom CC. I carry my gear in Lowepro Bags and use many Peak Design Acessories. 

Remembering

White Bellied Nuthatch on the STICK.  

Remembering. After a little family vacation, I decided to take a moment to remember the values my Grandfather taught me many moons ago. Work hard for everything you want. Never take anything from anyone, because they will take more in return. And relax when possible. Never forget the important things in life. Here is where my story today kind of stems from remembering his thoughts. My family and I spent some much needed time at Cape Cod. I didn't shoot a lot. Nor did I really feel like shooting a lot. In fact I took a little break. I spent some time with my wife and daughter. And even played mini golf rather than capture an epic sunset. (It was epic too) This morning I took a few minuets to start my second busy season as a photographer. I love my profession with all my heart. But this break was much needed. Amelia and I captured this and a couple other images together when she woke up. I didn't care if we got great shots we got great moments together. I hope she remembers them many years from now.

image made with Canon 5d Miii and Tamron 150x600 on my Sirui N3204x tripod and PH-20 Gimbal head. Viewed and tweaked in On1 Photo 10 and Lightroom CC.  

Cape Cod Light.

A little long lens work at Cape Cod Light  

Morning light. I was shooting some early morning light at Cape Cod Lighthouse with my Tamron 15x30 and I noticed a bunch of birds flying in a near by brush area. So I switched to my Tamron 150x600 to hopefully capture them. Well as usual they didn't show themselves again. So while I waited I took a couple of hand held shots. I liked the Shadows. I didn't switch to Monochrome, I converted this in On1 Photo 10 and Lightroom CC. Remeber early morning light and lighthouses can really offer some cool perspectives. Image made on my Canon 5dMiii and Tamron 150x600 carried with Peak Design Slide Strap and Lowepro Flipside 500.