Do you want all your non-film possessions thoroughly nuked? The outline
of your alarm clock burned into your shorts? Putting something in
checked luggage that they can't identify will either really piss them
off when they have to hand check it or result in the powerful x-ray
being put up to full power, probably both. Do you really want somebody
pissed off going through all your stuff? Hand carry your film.
Costa Rica is a wonderful place to photograph. Some parts are very
humid, no matter the season. Take something to keep your equipment dry.
There is lots of discussion in the archives. You might search on 'silica
gel' .
You are taking mostly slow lenses. Fine for many parts of the country,
but a problem if you spend time in the rain forest. I was there in
June/July, rainy season, so it was often overcast, although also often
sunny. In any case, it is not bright on the rain forest floor, rain or
shine above, so make sure you have enough fast film. If planning to
spend much time in the forest, I'd make sure to also take at least one
fast zoom covering the middle focal lengths or a fast wide and fast
moderate tele. It's not like temperate zone forest. It's often
impossible to walk over to the thing of interest, set up the tripod and
shoot. In the cloud forest I visited, the trails are narrow, uneven and
often deep mud and the forest floor is often not suitable, or even safe,
for entry. Even with binoculars, I found that the Nik*ns were not as
useful as the cheap backups that focused close.There were so many things
we wanted closer views of that weren't far away, but could not be
approached. If I go somewhere like that again, I'll take a monopod. In
the coastal forest, travel is by boat, and you can't get any closer than
the boat goes.
There is nothing unusual about exposure metering there. We didn't have
much trouble with biting bugs. Did meet a tricky coral snake, though,
but it didn't fool us.
Have a great trip. I certainly enjoyed my 3 weeks there.
Moose
Matt BenDaniel wrote:
In a few days I'm going to Costa Rica for a week. I'd appreciate advice on the
photography I'm going to do. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to photograph,
but I'll be hiking to go find plants, animals, landscapes. Planning to bring
the following equipment (hand carrying on flight!)...
1. OM-4Ti
2. Sigma 600/8 mirror lens and tripod. Want to shoot birds, animals on fast
film. Close focus is 7 feet!
3. Zuiko 135/4.5 and telescopic tube w/tripod mount for flowers, bugs, etc.
Also T20 flash and shoe/cord. Have twice read Shaw's Close-Ups in Nature.
4. Zuiko 50/1.8.
5. Zuiko 16/3.5. I love fisheyes.
Do I need to adjust my exposure meter or should I do spot metering with any of
the above?
Have hoods for all lenses except 16. Small reflector/shade/diffuser, 49mm and
55mm polarizers, extra batteries, vest. Assortment of films (Velvia, E200, Fuji
400 and 800) in lead bag, in checked baggage.
Any other items not to forget? Mosquito suit? (It's dry season)
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