Posts | Dan Bailey's Adventure Photography Blog

Everything is On Sale At My Brand New Web Store

I’m excited to unveil my brand new web store, which features all of my published photography guides and courses. And, to celebrate, everything is on sale. Well, almost everything. Everything except the apps. I have no control over the iTunes store, so those are still a whopping 99 cents each.

With this new layout, you can find all of my books and eBooks, as well as my brand new online video course and my two iOS photography apps in one place.

Here’s the deal. I love photography, and I get excited when other people share my passion for outdoor and adventure photography. I love it when other people get killer shots, and so I’ve spent a vast amount of time during the past few years writing and producing these guides, all of which are designed towards helping you become a better outdoor photographer.

From the reviews and feedback I’ve gotten from my readers, I’ve been successful in helping a number of people improve their technique and their way of seeing the world through their camera. That’s very rewarding to me, so I hope you’ll check out what I have to offer

I realize that each person has a different learning style, and so I’ve tried to provided a number of different learning options, from iOS apps that offer quick, instant tips, to short, how-to field guides, to extensive, highly detailed books and an online course where you can get direct feedback from me. No matter if you shoot travel, action, adventure, landscapes or environmental portraits, there’s something for everyone here.

I hope you’ll visit my web store and take advantage of the sale! And if you’ve purchased any one of my products, I’d like to thank you for your support, and ask that you consider leaving a review.

Thanks! – Dan

November 6, 2015

Everything is On Sale At My Brand New Web Store

Personal and Pro Insight

There is No Failure in Creativity

Creativity is one of the most significant abilties we possess as human beings. It’s, by far, one of the most beneficial super powers we’ve gained from these big brains we lug around in our heads. This weird and phenomenal gift makes it so that we’re able to come with new ideas, concepts, and stuff that NEVER existed in the world before.

Whether it’s a simple sketch, a photograph, a story, a song or the blueprints for an invention or mindset that will change the world, each person’s unique personality type, cognitive process, history and physical skillset, all come together to form ideas that are entirely new to the world.

That, my fiends, is simply mind blowing.

So why is it so hard to be creative sometimes? It’s because we’re afraid of failure. We’re afraid that the product of our creative labors might suck. That other people might thing it’s stupid, or even worse, that WE might think it’s stupid.

Or that it won’t be received by our audience as we intended. Or that it will be compared to the works of other people, who, God forbid, might have come up with something even better.

It all comes back to fear and failure. We’re afraid that our time and energy will be wasted and that our creation won’t live up to our own expectations, and this paralyzes us. It locks up our creative process so much that we’re almost afraid to even start a project, for fear that it might not be… (Insert lame reason here)

For whatever reason, probably age, confidence, experience and certain lack of inhibitions, I don’t experience these blocks in my photography as I do with other creative outlets. Put a camera in my hands, and I know what I’m doing. I’m confident that I’ll be able to make a photo I’m happy with. Note, that doesn’t mean it always works out that way. Sometimes my photos suck, but I seem to be ok with that.

However, put a pencil in my hand and I make crappy drawings. I know they’re crappy, and even though that shouldn’t matter, it still affects my confidence to even try.

I’ve read thousands of books and stories. I have a pretty good imagination and an idea of how stories are constructed, but put me in front of a keyboard, and I’ll freeze up like Han Solo in a block of carbonite. I’m terrified to even start because I’m afraid I’ll write something stupid.

I’ve been a musician for longer than I’ve been a photographer. I know chords. I know scales. I know the theory behind songs, but for how long I’ve been playing guitar, my history of written music is pretty slim. I play with confidence, but I have enormous blocks when it comes to writing songs. Don’t even get me started with lyrics.

So how do we (including me) get around this?

You start by looking at creativity as a process and not an end game that needs to be critiqued. It’s an exercise, an escape, an activity that’s supposed to be fun. Not everting you put down is supposed to be good. In fact, if you do it right, most of what you make will, in fact, suck, and that’s ok.

If you do it enough, though, eventually you’ll come with something really special, often times when you least expect it. That’s how the process works. If you’re too afraid to start, those highlights won’t ever come, because creativity require the constant exercise and mental liberation you get by practicing and sketching, (I use that term to loosely describe the process of “practicing” in any creative outlet.)

Don’t put Creativity on a pedestal, take it down and stick it in your pocket and don’t be afraid to wrinkle it up and get it dirty. Creativity is not something to be worshiped and revered, it’s something to use. The more you work those muscles, the more they’ll be in shape when that really awesome moment or idea comes.

Remove the element of failure from your creativity. Those two things don’t even belong together. They’re not related. They’re not even on the same planet. Once you do that you’ll become more comfortable with the entire process. You won’t be so paralyzed by the notion that your endeavor might not be perfect. It rarely will be.

So lighten up. Make creativity a regular thing. Practice. Make stuff. Do stuff. Write. Play. Shoot pictures, even if it’s all just for fun. That’s actually the best kind of creativity, because when you’re having fun, you’re not putting pressure on yourself. You’re not TRYING to come up with something really cool, you’re just…

Being creative.

November 5, 2015

There is No Failure in Creativity

Personal and Pro Insight

You’ll Never Regret Buying High Quality Lenses

The unfortunate irony of the modern camera industry is that when it comes down to finally bringing potential new members into this amazing club of lifelong creative awesomeness, many manufacturers do a disservice to their customers by placing more emphasis on the camera than on the lens.

Eager-eyed, aspiring photographers often find themselves at the sales counter, their heads brimming with colorful vision about all the wonderful images they’ll take with their fancy new gear. Then, when the moment of truth unfolds and the credit card comes out, they end up with a really cool camera that comes bundled with a mediocre kit lens that’s neither exceptionally sharp, nor exceptionally fast.

It should be other way around. Why? Because bodies come and go. Good glass lasts forever. Well, maybe not forever, but a great lens will give you many years of use.

While the camera is the central hub of the entire system, your lenses are by far your most vital tools. They’re what determine the overall look and feel of your photographs, and more important, the quality.

Features aside, the reality, is that every just about modern mirrorless and DLSR camera you’ll find today will give you a crisp, sharp image with excellent color rendition. The same can not be said about every lens.

Lenses vary widely in quality and performance. Overall sharpness, as well as focus speed, edge-to-edge distortion, chromatic aberration, bokeh and the ability to shoot in low light are all things that largely revolve around what lens you’re using.

Cheap kit lenses simply do not perform as well as higher end glass that has wide maximum apertures, anti-reflective coatings, low dispersion elements and fast autofocus motors. Period. They’re inferior in every single way, and that will affect and often times limit your photography. I’m not saying that you’ll see a huge difference in every shooting situation, but over time, those limitations will add up, and that will frustrate you.

Of course, the tradeoff is that good glass and fast lenses aren’t cheap. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for, and high performance tools are more expensive. However, when you’re on location in unbelievable, magical light, what will matter more, having the right tool, or a few hundred extra dollars that you probably spent on something not nearly as fun as a lens.

I understand that everyone has a different budget and a different approach to photography, but if you’re serious about this camera thing, you should always try to buy the best, and fastest glass you can afford, even if you need to save up or limit the number of items that you buy. Even if you like your kit lens or if you simply can’t justify or afford a whole bag of expensive glass, consider buying at least one really good lens.

I promise you, you’ll never regret it.

November 2, 2015

You’ll Never Regret Buying High Quality Lenses

Books, Publications

My Brand New Book is Out!

I’m excited to announce the publication of my second book, a Backpacker Magazine title called Adventure Photography, published by Falcon Guides.

This is an easy-to-read, pocket-sized how-to guide for taking great pictures in the outdoors. Written in a very concise style, Adventure Photography offers a wide array of information tips and photo examples that will help you improve your technique and your understanding of the basic factors that go into shooting compelling photographs.

I’m really excited about this release, because I feel it appeals to a VERY wide audience. Just about everyone loves to take photos outside, but not everyone uses an expensive camera or has any aspirations for being a pro.

Most people love photography as a hobby and a passion for creative expression and escape from the busy-ness of life, although they may not have time, nor the interest to read a 300 page book that’s filled with extensive detail and advanced techniques, they want something to give them simple tips about how to take more exciting pictures.

That’s where this book comes in. In Adventure Photography, I present simple, tried and true tips that you can use and remember, and more importantly, it’s small enough to take with you.

With a trim size of only 7″ x 4.5″, and 155 pages, it easily fits in any backpack, camera bag and most jacket pockets. It’s small enough to toss in the glove box or up on the dashboard. Sure, it might get dog-eared and faded up there, but that won’t affect the words, I promise. The stuff inside will still be good. In fact, I would love to see it used and abused- maybe we can have some kind of a contest down the road to see who’s copy has seen the most milage.

It’s also available as a Kindle eBook, which, of course, makes it even more portable.

Either way, Adventure Photography is designed as a reference book- something that you can read and use on location, or right before you head out onto the trail. In every chapter, I present specific techniques that are easy to remember and apply, no matter what you’re shooting.

Here’s the chapter breakdown:

Introduction: Photography and Adventure
Digital Photography Primer
Technique in Photography
The Quality of Light
Creativity and Composition
Classic Outdoor Subjects
Field techniques
Ten Essential Tips for Better Photos

Whether you shoot with a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or even an iPhone, which has come into its own right as a viable photography tool with apps like Manual, and the new, seriously cool DxO One iPhone camera, this book is both helpful and highly relevant.

I love photography, and I get excited when other people love photography too. I love it when other people get killer shots, and I’ve spent much of my time during the past few years creating a number of resources that teach people how to get those killer shots, with all of my eBooks, my first print book, which came out earlier this year, my Outdoor Photography Essentials online video course, and now this book.

I recognize that everyone learns in a different way and each person responds to a different style and method of teaching. I also know that I have vast stores of information inside my brain, and that I’m pretty good and teaching this stuff, at least that’s what other people have told me, so I’ve worked really hard to get this stuff out in ways that I hope will resonate with a wide audience.

I was talking to one of my recent workshop participants the other day and he was telling me how much fun he’s been having processing, posting and printing his pictures from the trip. That kind of thing makes me feel really good inside. I like that I made an impact and could contribute to his enjoyment of photography.

I hope I can do that for you.

In other words, buy my book. You’ll get more likes. Thanks! 🙂

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October 30, 2015

My Brand New Book is Out!

Press, Interviews and Info

I’m A Featured Presenter at Kenmore Camera Expo in Seattle, Nov. 7-8

During the weekend of the November 7-8, Kenmore Camera in Seattle will be holding their 2015 Digital Photo Expo. This event will features 25 photo industry vendors who will be showing off their latest gear and offering special deals on just about everything, from cameras, lighting gear, bags, tripods, memory cards and more.

In addition, there will be a number of guest speakers and pro photographers giving free seminars on a variety of styles and techniques. I’m one of the featured presenters, and I’ll be giving a seminar on shooting outdoor adventure and action photography with Fujifilm X Series cameras.

In my seminars, I’ll discuss the benefits that mirrorless cameras offer for shooting fast moving outdoor work and travel photography, and how you can use the technology to your advantage. I’ll also be giving tips and tricks for getting the most from your camera.

Many of these techniques apply to just about any brand of cameras, so whether you shoot Fuji or not, drop by if you’re in the Seattle area and check out my presentation, or just come say hi.

I’ll also have copies of my book with me, so if you’d like a personally signed copy of Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography, you can pick one up at the Expo.

Check out the Kenmore Camera website for more info and the complete schedule of events. I know that a number of my readers live in the Seattle area, so I hope to see some of you there!

Speaking at the Fujifilm booth at this year’s PhotoPlus Expo.

October 28, 2015

I’m A Featured Presenter at Kenmore Camera Expo in Seattle, Nov. 7-8

Camera Gear

Recap and Special Deals From the 2015 PhotoPlus Expo

Another great PhotoPlus Expo show this year! As always, I had a great time touching base with clients and business contacts, attending informative and inspiring seminars, seeing old friends, meeting new friends, walking around New York City and filling up on pizza. My favorite this time was the “Fresca” slice at Famous Famiglia on 8th Ave, just south of 43rd St.

I also got to see my book, Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography on display at the Focal Press booth, which was very exciting.

On Saturday morning, I was a featured presenter at the Fujifilm booth, where I talked about shooting adventure photography with the X Series cameras.

Then there’s the gear. If you’ve never been to a photo trade show, it’s a little overwhelming, with aisle after aisle of stuff you want, stuff you need, and stuff you probably don’t need or want, but that looks cool nonetheless.

Here’s a rundown of my favorite new pieces of photography gear I saw at this year’s show.

Fujifilm 35mm f/2 and 1.4x Converter

Fuji just released two new items, the much anticipated XF35mm f/2 WR lens and a 1.4X WR Teleconverter.

The new 35mm f/2 is a big update from their previous 35mm f/1.4, and although it’s a tad slower, it’s got a sexy new design that comes in both black and silver, a very fast autofocus motor, and it’s weather sealed.

The design is very “summicron” like, and not only is it a great performer, giving you that classic 50mm view, it just looks so damn classy on the X bodies.

I got to try it out briefly and I’m very impressed. I think this will make an awesome travel lens. Too bad I didn’t have one in Romania! Street and portrait photographers will also love this one, as is anyone who wants a slim little all-around lens for day to day use. It’s expected to ship on November 14, although you preorder it here.

The new 1.4X WR Teleconverter is also weather sealed, and it’s compatible with the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 lens, and also with the upcoming 100-400 tele zoom that’s expected next year.

Effectively, it turns your 50-140 into a 70-200, which of course, equates to an effective view of 105-280mm, with only one lost stop of light. However, with the incredible OIS image stabilization on the 50-140, one stop is hardly even a factor.

As with the 35 f/2, the 1.4X WR Teleconverter will be available on November 14.

DxO One

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or have implemented a three month media blackout, you’ve probably heard about the new DxO One Digital Camera that plugs into the iPhone and gives it I’ve been seeing the ads ever since the first announcement, but this was the first time I actually saw it in person and tried it out.

I have to say, I’m really impressed. When you plug this thing into your iPhone or iPad, you suddenly up your mobile photography capabilities in a huge way. The DxO One features a one-inch 20.2 MP sensor and a fast, fixed lens that’s effectively a 32mm f/1.8. The dedicated iOS app gives you full control over every parameter, including shutter speed (up to 1/8000), aperture, ISO (up to 51200), autofocus, tap-to-focus, single shot and continuos shooting modes, Full HD 1080p/30 video recording, and RAW.

The DxO One is configured to record in DNG+JPEG- it stores the DNG file on a microSD card, and the JPEG on the mobile device. It also has a Super RAW mode, which you can edit with dedicated DxO applications.

The DxO One is a seriously cool little tool that gives you huge new options for mobile photography. It’s already shipping.

LaCie 4TB Rugged RAID and 4TB Rugged Mini

External storage keeps getting bigger, and LaCie has just come out with their 4TB Rugged RAID drive. With both Thunderbolt and USB 3.0, this drive allows you to either use it as a full 4TB drive, or run it as a 2TB RAID, where your data is mirrored across both drives. Plus it’s water and shock resistant and is designed to withstand a 5-foot drop.

For a couple hundred dollars less, LaCie also has the new 4TB Rugged Mini, which is just a straight 4TB USB external drive with the same water and shock resistance. Both are great for backup or taking your photo library on the road with you.

SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD

Another cool little drive I saw is the brand new SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD Drive. There are quite a few portable SSD drives coming out now, but this one seems most suitable for outdoor photographers.

Coming in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB, the Extreme 500 is a tiny, waterproof, rugged storage solution that’s about the size of a drink coaster. Seriously, it’s tiny. Fits in your shirt pocket tiny. Or clips to your pack. With a single USB port, the drive offers extremely fast data transfer to and from your computer or laptop, and is made for use in the field.

Of course, the deal with SSD drives is that they have no moving parts, so they’re highly durable, resist vibrations and wide temperature swings, and enormously fast read and write speeds. Ideal for outdoor or travel photographers and videographers to backup data in the field.

Slik Sprint 150 Aluminum Tripod

The Slik Sprint 150 is a special deal product from Slik and it’s probably the best deal around for a good quality, lightweight tripod. With a max height of 64″, it folds down to less than 20″, and only weights 2.3 lb, and that’s WITH the included ball head.

Featuring 4 leg sections, a bubble level, and a carrying case, the Slik Sprint 150 is ideal for mirrorless shooters who like to go fast and light, and who don’t want to spend a ton of money on a tripod. Best part, it’s only $59. That’s one tenth the cost of a Gitzo, and while it obviously doesn’t give you same performance, I’m pretty impressed. It’s quite sturdy for how light and small it is.

If you’re looking for a decent budget tripod, I highly recommend this one. I like Slik products. My first tripod ever was a Slik and I think they make good gear for the price.

More Great Photo and Camera Deals

B&H Photo still has their 2015 PhotoPlus Special Deal Page up, and even though the show is over, these deals are still available.

October 26, 2015

Recap and Special Deals From the 2015 PhotoPlus Expo

Publications

Read My Article in The New Issue of CLARITY, Vol 6

The latest issue of CLARITY: Photography Beyond The Camera is out on virtual stands and ready for download.

In addition, CLARITY, Vol 6 features an article written by me called The Secret Ingredient Behind Luck, in which I discuss how to apply the concept of anticipation to shooting action and adventure.

In our fast moving world, moments often pass by before you can even register that they actually happened. when the dirt is flying and your adrenaline is spiking, there’s barely enough time to raise your camera, let alone, pull off a successful shot.

If there was only a way to improve your luck, or better yet, see into the future…

The eight-page article features a number of photos and tips that will help you increase your percentage for success when shooting things that move quickly. Check it out.

I’m excited to be featured in CLARITY again, I had the cover photo on the last issue, Volume 5. That issue featured an article about cold weather photography so if you missed it, you might want to give that issue a look too, since winter is just around the corner here in the Northern Hemisphere.

If you haven’t seen CLARITY before, it’s a very well done PDF magazine geared around the lifestyle of photography. Rather than focus on gear, CLARITY features in-depth topics that surround things like light, composition and technique.

With regular contributors like Kevin Kubota, Piet Van den Eynde, Sean McCormack, Chris Corradino and Ian Plant, the journal contains some really articles, fantastic imagery and even video. The current issue features 37-minutes of video content, and 70 beautifully designed eBook spreads.

And, as I’ve said before what I love most about Clarity: Beyond the Camera, is that it’s published by a super nice guy named Dave, who apparently just sent his little girl off to First Grade this fall. Dave pours his heart and soul into CLARITY and shares his passion for photography in such a way to enrich the lives of other shooters. In my book, that kind of thing is worth our support.

I think that Dave does an excellent job with the magazine, so be sure and check out the latest issue– it only costs a few bucks- about the same as a coffee and a pastry. Good inspiration is worth that.

Here’s the full list of content that’s included in CLARITY, Volume 6:

Mixing Flash With Natural Light Outdoors: Learn from the master of lightweight lighting, as Kevin Kubota demonstrates his setup for mixing flash with natural light outdoors. Video tutorial included!
Digital Darkroom: Learn how and why digital photographers should embrace post-processing tool as being just as much a part of photography as is the development process of film photographs.
The Secret Ingredient Behind Capturing “Lucky” Moments: Action and outdoor photographer, Dan Bailey shares the secret ingredient to capturing the perfect shot right when it happens, so you’ll never miss another unique moment again.
Moving (Back) to Film: Whether you are a digital or film photographer, learn how to shoot with both passion and purpose every time you press the shutter button.
Color Theory for Photographers: Color is an entire toolbox for photographers. In this first of a four-part series on color, Cheryl Machat Dorskind breaks down the basics of color as it relates to digital photography and how our cameras record color. Understanding this aspect of your gear will help you to make better decisions when it comes time to frame your next composition.
Why Image File Formats Matter in Photography: The age-old debate between RAW vs. JPEG never burns cold. You’ll learn the real pros and cons of each format, but it’s not just about RAW and JPEG anymore – there’s a new player in town…
A Photographer’s Guide to a Happy Life and Prosperous Career: Chris Corradino is a respected photographer with a long list of impressive credentials. In this piece, Chris shares his top 10 tips for staying passionate along with his code of values for building a prosperous and rewarding career.
Creativity Unleashed: In this spotlight feature interview, photographer Ian Plant provides insight into how he creates his striking photographs through his use of color and contrast. Ian shares his process, intention, and techniques for scoping out the right scenes to photograph.
Long Exposure: Long exposure images have a surreal and zen-like quality as we capture motion in a single frame. In this piece, Piet Van den Eynde shares his 7 top tips for making stunning long-exposure photographs.
Photoshopping Tourists (Video Tutorial): We are proud and pleased to welcome expert Photoshop and Lightroom instructor, Serge Ramelli, who will take you through a simple process for removing unwanted distracting elements (like tourists) from a busy street scene using Photoshop.
Lightroom Video Tutorial: Learn when to go black & white, and how to create dramatic black & white photographs using Lightroom with Serge Ramelli.
Lightroom for Photographers: In our continuing series on the Lightroom Develop Module, Sean McCormack reveals how to created black & white and toned black & white images in Lightroom.
Sharing the Craft: Editor-in-chief, Dave Seeram, discusses his thoughts on the future of photography as a result of new education platforms as they replace traditional photography education venues. Free video course included on how to shoot professional looking family portraits (courtesy of our friends at Craftsy).

October 19, 2015

Read My Article in The New Issue of CLARITY, Vol 6

Press, Interviews and Info

My Online Photography Video Course is Now Live!

I’m excited to announce that my brand new video instructional course, Outdoor Photography Essentials is now live! And right now, you can get the special introductory price and save $25 on the course. Don’t wait, though, because this price won’t last.

Let’s face it, it’s hard to capture great adventure and action photos, no matter if you’re shooting extreme sports or your kid’s soccer game. This kind of photography requires a special set of techniques and a comprehensive bag of creative and compositional tricks. If you don’t have that stuff down, you’ll have trouble nailing great images.

In my work, I strive to create dynamic imagery that shows the power and mystery of the greater scene. Above all, my goal is to capture the intensity, the personalities and the relationships of my subjects as they interact with the world.

More than anything else, I like to think that the hallmark of my style revolves around being able to quickly respond to constantly evolving situations in the outdoors. That’s why I created this course- to give you the tools and tips you need to make it happen. These are the techniques I’ve developed and adapted over the past twenty five years as a photographers, and nearly twenty years as a working pro.

It’s really exciting to team up with Craftsy in this regard, because they approach learning in a way that’s unlike any other. With every Craftsy class, you can watch your lessons anytime, anywhere and revisit as many times as you’d like — forever. You can ask me questions and even get direct feedback from photos you upload.

During the class, you’ll learn the settings you need for great results and how to anticipate potential scenes before they unfold. Then, you’ll learn the best adjustments to make in the face of quickly changing conditions. At the end of each lesson, I break it all down into three simple concepts and I give you an assignment that will help you practice these techniques in real time.

Here’s what you’ll learn: To begin, I’ll show you some important camera settings to check before shooting and how to adjust them for optimal results. I’ll also give you some tips for anticipating the potential for a great scene before it even unfolds!

We’ll also focus on handling your camera in the field. I’ll teach you to capture handheld shots from multiple perspectives, keeping your camera stable and secure the entire time. Then, I’ll share pointers for proper exposure, so you can get fantastic results from scenes with high dynamic range.

I’ll also walk you through the process of choosing the right lens, and give you tips to make the most of wide–angle, normal and telephoto lenses. That way you’ll always know what you need for a savvy selection. All the while, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of selective focus, depth of field, framing and composition, even with difficult action scenes.

My goal with the class is to make it as close as possible to a personal workshop with me, and I worked hard with the Craftsy producers in order to achieve this idea. After seeing the final result, I think we did a great job creating a course that matches my style. I hope you’ll think so too.

You can watch the trailer for my course here.

And, remember, for a limited time, you can get the special launch price of $25 off.

September 21, 2015

My Online Photography Video Course is Now Live!

Adventures with Dan, Trips and Expeditions

Our First Week in Romania

If there ever was an awesome destination for an extended mountain bike tour, it’s Romania. Having ridden in a number of different countries, I’m blown away by what Romania has to offer the adventuring cyclist.

I’ve been looking forward to this trip for months, and now that I’m finally here, I’m having an even better time than I would have imagined. In just a few days, we’ve already experienced some truly great biking, both on and off-road, awesome camping, fun urban riding, wonderful food, and incredibly warm and friendly people.

That fact alone easily makes up for the intense 90+ degree temps, nose clogging dust, language barriers and the occasional route finding glitches we’ve endured so far. The Romanian people are some of the nicest, friendliest folks I’ve ever met during my travel to different parts of the world, and despite the stories and warming I’d heard about safety over here, I have yet to feel anything but safe and comfortable, even in the big city of Bucharest.

I’m amassing stories, which I’ll share at a later date, but here are a few photos to bring you in on the adventure. Enjoy!

September 19, 2015

Our First Week in Romania

Adventures with Dan

Off to Romania For a Month Long Bikepacking Trip

It’s been a busy year. After writing two books, the second of which comes out in October, working with a developer on my two new iOS apps, planning and shooting my upcoming video instructional photography course, which comes out Sept. 21, plus all the workshops and everything else, it’s time for a vacation.

It’s time for a bike trip. A long one. Earlier this summer, I took four short bikepacking trips out to the Knik Glacier, along the Oregon coast, the Denali Higway and the Nome-Teller road, but now it’s time for the real deal. We’re talking plane ticket, passport and a country where English isn’t the regular language.

For me, that place is Romania. Transylvania, to be exact. A month-long bikepacking and mountain biking adventures in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, the land of forests, fortified Saxon castles, vampires, and, oddly enough, lots of brown bears. Sure, I know what you’re thinking. Don’t I have my fill of brown bears in Alaska? Well, yes. I didn’t exactly plan it this way, that’s just an odd coincidence.

I leave tomorrow morning, and here’s what I’m taking:

1 Salsa Fargo 29″ drop bar mountain touring bike (pictured above)
Revelate Designs frame bags
Salsa Anything Cages
Black Diamond Mega-lite shelter
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 sleeping bag (on right fork)
Thermarest Pro-lite sleeping pad (on left fork)
Ridge Rest
MSR titanium cook pot
Beer can stove and pot stand made from 3 spokes
Garmin eTREX 30 GPS
Mallet
Wooden stake

Then there’s the camera gear and various other electronic doodads, most of which will be carried in my F-Stop Kenti camera pack. I’m pretty sure that F-Stop has discontinued the Kenti, but there are still some available in their online store.

I like the Kenti because it’s fairly lightweight, has side zipper access and it holds two camera bodies with lenses, and has a separate top and back compartment for clothing and accessories. I don’t like to carry a ton of gear on my back when I’m bike touring, and the Kenti holds just enough to give me lots of options without weighing me down too much.

My other favorite packs in this style are the Lowepro Flipside Sport AW and the Lowepro Photo Sport, but since this is a longer tip, I wanted a little more space for doodads and gizmos, and a second camera body.

For camera gear, I’m going with a pair of Fuji bodies and just three fast primes.

Ingredients

Fuji X-T1
Fuji X-T10
Fuji XF 14mm f/2.8
Fuji XF 23mm f/1.4
Fuji XF 90mm f/2 lens
Fuji EF-20 flash w/ sync cord
Lumiquest Softbox III
Goal Zero Nomad 7 Solar Panel
Goal Zero Venture 30 Power Pack
6 Fuji NP-126 batteries
OAproda NP-126 USB Rapid Charger
USB AA battery charger
6 Eneloop batteries (for GPS and headlamps)
Joby Gorillapod
Lots of SD cards

Also, I’m leaving the laptop behind and only taking the iPad mini, a ~~cheap bluetooth keyboard~~ (decided not to take the keyboard) ,and a Western Digital Wireless My Passport Hard Drive. The wireless My Passport has an SD card slot to back up cards, and also allows wireless browsing and transfer of images to the iPad or iPhone.

I stuck about 5,000 of my best images on the drive, so no only will I use it for backup, if I need to send any photos to clients while I’m away, I can pull them off the drive and email or upload to Dropbox or Google Drive when I get a WiFi signal. Not taking the laptop will save me lots of weight, and so I’m pretty excited about this new solution. I tried it on my recent Labrador trip and it seemed to work fine.

I’ll be posting image when I can on social media and stuff, so follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep in touch!

Ok, time to box up the bikes, so I hope you have a great fall, and I’ll see you back in the states sometime in October!

September 10, 2015

Off to Romania For a Month Long Bikepacking Trip