Solo Overland Travel Offshore - People Snaps

When traveling offshore, do you take more images of yourself rather than taking images of other people?

More than often, I randomly capture street snaps of other foreigners offshore. Other street photographers are always interesting to watch and photograph of what they're doing. Sometimes watching other people how they capture shots adds positive ideas increasing the learning curve. Foreigners strolling around offshore using real camera gear isn't as common as it used to be from only a few years ago, although one can be lucky enough spotting the odd tourist using real cameras instead of junky smart phone cameras. Smart phone travelers all appear to think alike having the hive mindset of taking more images of themselves rather than of other people. We now travel within a world full of narcissistic selfie addictive social media junkies. Can it get worse? You betcha, as long as newer innovated smart phones keep rolling out, the selfie addiction continues. Smart phone travelers reading this - hey no offense, but do try breaking away from smart phone photo snap addiction and use real cameras instead. Below, random DSLR long shot, AF-S Nikon 200-400 f/4 VRII @ 600mm.    

Out Of Focus - Disappointing Travel Snaps

Snaps taken by others of yourself - out of focus - bad composition - overexposed - underexposed - grainy. 

Above, a classic snap taken of me in the '90s in Asia. The composition is ok and would have been a good image if it was in focus. The person probably had difficulty focusing one of my SLR F2AS cameras. The other Nikon F2AS on the table had an MD3 drive that could finish a 36 roll film in 3.6 seconds. Below left, whoever grabbed this snap with a point and shoot must of been in a rush for another beer. Below right, I took this image using a D800 DSLR.  

There's nothing worse than someone taking images without knowing how to capture images properly. Today, there's no excuse, especially with all the user friendly cameras that have flooded the market over the last decade or so. The issue is more apparent with those addicted to using cell phone cameras who can't handle the weight of holding DSLRs.  

Others grabbing snaps of you, cut off captures, out of focus, blurry, wrong composition, overexposed.

Below, a night snap taken by me as a test shot using a high end point and shoot camera to determine adjustment settings on a DSLR camera for better results. Now and then, I use point and shoots like how instant polaroid cameras were used for final adjustments on 6x7 120 roll film cameras. The foreigner in the image doesn't even know this quick snap of him feeding wild hyena exists, and would probably be satisfied with it, although he does look a little tense showing symptoms of fear.    

Below, as you can see, this would of been a great snap if the person, another foreigner taking the shot had known how to hold and use real cameras. This is a typical user error out of focus low light night shot. Handing heavy DSLR cameras to smart phone travelers capturing images like this may end up disappointing. Smart phone travelers are the worst for this, they can't handle heavy stuff. I had returned to the same location a few nights later with another street photographer swapping DSLR cameras capturing some great wild hyena feeding shots. Always check images taken by others if they're in focus, not cut off at the feet, and have the finished composition that you wanted.

We're not all perfect street photographers by a long shot. We all make our own mistakes. These below, taken decades ago are out of focus. Was this caused by camera/lens issues? No, this was user error. All other images on both roll films were in focus. The SLR body, an F2 Photomic never faulted getting shots perfectly since '82. The lens, a standard 50mm f/1.4 AI was also flawless. This was probably caused from incorrect focus or slight hand movement when depressing the shutter. What I should of done was to take several shots ensuring one of them would of been in focus.

Below, an issue sometimes with camera lenses is fogging. This occurrence happens when photo gear is stored inside rooms with colder temperatures than outside. Camera gear inside air conditioned rooms in the Amazon require time adjusting back to outdoor temps. The below image shows lens fogging caused by damp cold storage with a difference of only 10C. What I should of done, is to have placed the camera bag in a shady spot outside for an hour or so. The worst scenario with lens fog, is if lens elements contain dust specs which can then quickly turn into fungus growth spreading across lens optics.  

We all have our share of off-days using camera gear. It can be simple as being out and about only to find the battery's flat without any backup battery, or using the wrong lens. Make no mistake, most camera issues are the result of user error. Maybe this is why the majority of people today prefer cell phone cameras to get their shots. The below image is one of those calculated duds, a capture that was already known it would end up like this. Some may ask why did I take it anyway? Actually, these cranes were in flight passing close by without enough time to grab another lens and body. The 800mm 5.6 AIS manual focus lens has its limitations like other lenses. This is one of those wasted shots.  

Typical user error DSLR camera still snaps. Wrong exposure or the incorrect lens ends up like these examples.

No, this wasn't an intended black and white silhouette snap, it ended up this way because of camera user error. Adjustment settings were incorrect creating this no brainer image i.e. wrong exposure compensation and ISO. 

Below, No this isn't one of those hidden trip cameras in the wild. It was a no brainer misfire that happened accidentally getting to close to this passing wolf. I missed what could of been a great closeup shot. This image is here to remind myself and others that sometimes user error happens when the one chance to capture images like this goes up in smoke. We are human, all humans make mistakes.

Getting the shot using full frame DSLR photo gear is by knowing your photo gear, how it works, how it functions, and trusting the lens to do its job. I use DSLR full frame lenses to capture images. I use full frame DSLR bodies and lenses for random street portraiture, landscape, astro, and off course, for wildlife. 99% of image failures out in the field is user error. A flat drained battery without any backup battery is user error, out of focus shots is user error, under and overexposed shots is user error. It's best to be familiar with photo gear before heading offshore. There's usually only one chance capturing a single shot like below before disappearing - forever. 

Below, location snaps may sound meaningless at the time, but as the years roll by, all those quick location shots taken by others keep their value captured at certain locations. Even if one travels solo, the ease of asking locals to grab a few shots with a backup camera like below isn't difficult.

Offshore - Foreigner Snaps

Did you know, if the entire global population trashed their smart phones down the toilet, the world would be in a better place. No more surveillance, no snooping, no spying, no more tracking, no personal data breaches, no more forced Apps, no more narcissistic selfies, no more control by social media platforms - Got It?  George Orwell knew what was coming.  ​

The difference between cell phone camera snaps and real photo gear is apparent in these images. Both were captured using 12 MP sensors. No wonder wildlife, landscape and Astro photographers use real photo gear and leave cell cameras in their back pockets. 

This original Golden Triangle monument in the mid-1980s with a backdrop of the Mekong river.

It's not only me capturing images of other foreigners offshore.

The days of using manual focus lenses aren't over yet. Street photographers far and wide around the planet still use those solid all metal made constructed lenses. Here's one of them, a Noct 58 f/1.2 AI 7 blade lens coupled to a 12MP D3 body capturing the shots.  

Burger Queen located in Pai has the best mouth watering beef burgers, fresh salads and cold ales  

A friendly local Indian street photographer showing an image he had just taken of the Sadhu. He explained that some Sadhus disliked being photographed for numerous reasons. This Sadhu also didn't want to be photographed until being told his portraits play an important roll for future generations and will be archived along with other Sadhu images captured randomly through the country.        

Even though I rarely use the D800 anymore, the body already had a lens attached to it, so I used it capturing this portrait. There was enough sufficient light although quickly fading. Nikon AF 28mm f/1.4D @ f/5 : 1/50 sec : 800 ISO

Taking random street snaps of other foreigners offshore are captured with anything available at the time. These snaps were captured with a DSLR D3 and 35mm f/1.4 AI lens years ago.     

The classic days of using roll film SLR camera bodies. I bumped into these foreigners en-route to Afghanistan. They didn't travel with cameras, so this image is probably worth more to them now than when it was taken if they knew it existed. Below, one thing I learnt early taking snaps of other people is the camera angle. How many times have you seen images that could of looked better if they were only taken at lower levels? Even this classic snap captured with a cumbersome Mamiya RB-67 in '96 was taken at the right angle at ground level.

One of those don't care snaps taken in low light of a fellow traveler - D3 Nikon : 85 Prime 1.4 @1.4 : 1/40 Sec : ISO 1000

Do I use point and shoots myself? Sure do, I've used numerous brands with different results. The most reliable mini pocket point and shoot I'm still using capturing great snaps, is the Canon Ixus Power Shot from 2009. A fully designed and assembled camera made in Japan. The Sony RX100 V is another lightweight camera that was recently used in minus -20C in high altitude with no issues, apart from fast battery drainage. Spare batteries are a necessity for point and shoots. Images of both cameras can be seen on this page.        

Not the best snap of this Swiss traveler, but at least there's one surviving image from that time period.

Another street photographer took the above snap. He knew what he was doing, even with my Nikon D3.