Solo Overland Travel Offshore - People Snaps

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.    

Disappointing Travel Snaps - Out Of Focus

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.  

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 images below taken decades ago are out of focus. Was this caused by camera/lens issues? No, this was user error. The other images on both roll films were all in focus. The SLR body, an F2 Photomic never faulted getting shots perfectly since early '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 limitations like other lenses. This is one of those wasted shots.  

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. 

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 thought I rarely use the D800 for closeup snaps, 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

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