CHRIS BURKARD TRAVEL ESSENTIALS VIDEO

It's often said that most photographers are only interested in gear. Though not entirely untrue, I definitely enjoy  being organized and having the little items that make traveling and adventuring easier. For this reason, I thoroughly enjoy an in-depth gear packing video.

I get that this falls outside of my typical review posts, but this week I stumbled across a video from renowned surf photographer Chris Burkard where he lets us into his well-organized world of travel. Have a look! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Leave a comment. What items are your must-haves for photography/travel?

ADOBE PREMIER WITH LARRY JORDAN - A REVIEW

VIDEOGRAPHER

Larry Jordan

This whole industry movement from photographer to photographer/videographer has been overwhelming for me. I love the change, but I still wanted to maintain control of the editing process and final result. Because of that, I've had this looming mountain to climb in learning Adobe Premier Pro. Luckily, I found Larry Jordan on Creative Live.

I know I'll probably never edit an entire professional project myself, but knowing I can navigate the interface, perform rough cuts, execute on small personal projects, and export jobs to a professional helps me stay in control of my art.

I'm a huge fan of trial and error in the learning process, but often I try to start by using structured materials and coursework to learn the basics. Larry's class was great, entertaining and educational, and I walked away with pages of notes and a half-decent rough edit. The technical (codecs, file types, exporting) is not nearly as overwhelming as it was a month ago.

CONCLUSION

My only complaint is that the class moved a little slow. I know he was being thorough, but the delivery could have used fewer jokes and quicker content. Well worth the money and I would recommend this to anyone and everyone!

WORKING ALONE IN REMOTE LOCATIONS WITH COREY RICH - A REVIEW

Creative Live has another video on their website from Corey Rich that I recently purchased. Even though it was very informative, to be honest, I wouldn't recommend dropping the cash on this video. Unless you're a total gear nerd, which ironically Corey is not, the class doesn't actually talk much about working alone in remote locations outside of a few great stories from Corey. Rather, it gives a tour of the bags and working equipment Corey uses in the field. I think the majority of this content can be found online in other places for free, like Adorama TV.

Here are two very similar videos where Corey covers some of the basics in his camera bag. Note that the content is free!

http://adorama.com One of the most common questions any professional photographer will get is, "What's in your bag?" In this Tech Tip, photographer and director Corey Rich shares not just what camera equipment he relies on for his light-and-fast approach to adventure still and motion photography, but he also provides a bunch of smart tips for how to manage the elements and the unexpected.

http://www.adorama.com Winter is one of the most beautiful-if challenging-seasons for getting outdoors and making pictures. Low light and beautiful snowy landscapes can yield fantastic photographs, yet the frigid and variable elements can present a unique set of challenges for photographers.

IN ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT INSURANCE IS A MUST - PART 2

THE UPDATE

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that my camera was soaked in a canyoneering incident and I wrote this blog post about getting insurance. Just as a quick follow-up, I wanted to finish telling you about my experience getting equipment replaced.

After emailing my rep at TCP, I spoke with the actual insurance company and told them the brief but nevertheless horrific story. The kind lady I spoke with filed a claim and got pricing for replacement equipment, including a discount. I ordered my new lens and camera body a couple of days ago and the insurance company sent the check yesterday. Talk about a hassle-free process. Not that I look forward to wrecking my equipment again, but it is nice knowing that I can be free to take some risks for better images and my equipment won't fall victim to it.

SIDE NOTE

I did pay a $500 deductible to replace my damaged equipment and, like car insurance, my premium went up by $100 or so for the next year. After a year of no accidents, my rates will drop back down to the original amount.