Antarctica and Sth America trip - advance planning - advice

[Spooky]

Hello all

Apologies for the length of this post but I am pretty excited about this
whole thing, it is also a once in a lifetime opportunity and I want to
do it right and would appreciate your thoughts.

I am off on an 8 week trip to Antarctica and South America leaving on
Boxing day.

I have a few issues I would like your input on but to give you some
background my itinerary is basically as follows.

Fly to Ushuaia on the bottom tip of South America via Sydney, Auckland
and Buenos Aires.

Expedition voyage for 24 nights visiting the Falklands (3days), South
Georgia (7days) and the Antarctic Peninusla (7days) (rest of the time
is at sea as there is a lot of sea to cover over often very rough water)

The voyage does plan for a lot of shore time and is geared towards
photographers. There will be a couple of pro nature photographers on
the trip and they will conduct workshops etc on the ship and on location
with the wildlife.

There will be great opportunities for both landscape and nature/wildlife
photography including icebergs, glaciers, whales, seals, penguins,
seabirds etc.

After the voyage I will be on my own backpacking for about 4 weeks in
South America.

Heading north from Ushuaia my first stop will be Torres del Paine
National Park, in Patagonia for trekking. Will probably do an orgainsed
5 day trek in the park. This is glacier and mountain (Andes) country.

Then I plan to go on to El Calafate and view the Moreno glacier and the
Fitz roy National Park which is similar country to Torres del Paine but
probably day treks.

Next leg is a flight to Buenos Aires for a day or two and then onto
Brazil to see the Igauzu falls for a couple of days.

After that to Campo Grande in Brazil to visit the Pantanal for 4 or 5
days. This is a flood plain area that is rich in wildlife.

From Campo Grande to Rio for the main four days of the "Carnivale" 2007
then fly via Buenos Aires, Auckland, Sydney and finally home to
Brisbane.

________________________________________________________________________
______


So, the first obvious question - what do I take with me in the way of
camera gear?

While I am on the expedition voyage leg of the trip weight and bulk of
gear is not that much of a problem as I don't have long treks to make
and have the ship as a base. Once the voyage is over however I
basically am in backpacker mode for 4 weeks and will have to hump
everything around, on and off buses, trekking etc.

Obviously I have to take a fair bit of essential clothing for the trip
including warm stuff and wet weather gear so my main pack will all ready
be fully loaded up with that.

I think I really need to limit my camera gear to what I can take in my
Lowepro Mini Trekker. That way I can hang that off my front and have
the big pack on the back. Maybe even this amount of camera gear is too
much?

This is my current list of gear I plan to take and pretty much
everything I own anyway (I do also own the Nikon 50mm 1.4). I am still
waiting on the D200 but am sure Birdy will come through well before
Boxing day!!!!!


Lowepro MiniTrekker AW (plan to take as carry on luggage on aircraft)

* D200 body incl battery and spare battery (awaiting delivery)
* D70S body incl battery and spare battery
* Charger for camera batteries
* Sigma 10-20mm (yet to purchase but I think I need a wide angle
lens)
* Nikon 18-70mm lens
* Nikon 70-200mm VR lens
* Nikon 1.7x TC
* SB800 flash incl 4 new AA alkaline batteries
* 77mm and 67mm polarising filters
* Lens Cleaning cloth
* Pocket knife
* Torch
* Tripod camera plate fitting
* Tripod (Will put in pack for flights)
* Compact Flash cards (2 x 2GB, 3 x 1GB)

Anything else I need?
Anything I could leave out or do differently?


Other photography issues

Storage of data.
One thing I have picked up researching is that everyone takes way more
images than they think they will on a trip like this. I recently
purchased a small laptop with a 60GB HDD. It only has a 12.1" screen
and weighs about 2Kgs I think. It just fits inside my Lowepro
Minitrekker sitting on top of everything but is a bit of a squeeze. I
am wondering if this is going to be to much to tote around and I am
better off with a Nexto CF drive or something similar instead. The idea
of not being able to review my images does worry me a bit with these
things. Also if something happens to the portable drive I am stuffed.
With the laptop I can see the images are okay and also burn CDs and post
them home. Just don't know if the laptop is plausible with the extra
weight and bulk and security concerns.

Your thoughts?


Tripod
I currently have a fairly cheap Velbon aluminium tripod that has done
the job for me over the years with small lenses like the kit lens.
Should I upgrade to something I could also mount the 70-200 on?
Could people recommend a suitable tripod and ballhead that would handle
up to the 70-200? As light as possible please.


Are there any other photography issues I should consider?


Other non photography matters

I would also appreciate other travel tips (not just about photography)
especially like to hear from anyone that has visited any of the areas I
am going to as I am still planning the details.



Thanks for any input.

Brett

[losfp]

This won't address all your thoughts and concerns.. But I do have a couple of suggestions that may work for you.

Is there any reason why you are taking 2 DSLR bodies? Not too bad when you have a ship as a base, but the 4 weeks of backpacking worries me. The D70s would be an extra 600+g to carry around.

I would also leave out the kit lens. Maybe stick the 50/1.4 in the bag for mid-range portraits, it's a bit smaller and lighter. I reckon most of your travel shots will be using the wide-angle, with the 70-200VR for the times when you need a bit of extra reach.

Another thing, if you have a compact digital, throw that in there as well! You can leave it in your pocket even when it is not practical to lug around a DSLR.

A laptop is useful if you can afford the extra weight - you can start PPing while you're on holidays But again that's more stuff to lug around. I reckon go with as many CF cards as you can afford, plus a portable drive thingie. You can also sit down every night and be a bit ruthless with your captured images. Every time I go out taking photos, I come back with at least 50% that are completely useless, so there's space to be saved there lol.

Good luck and have fun We are planning to go to Alaska/Canadian rockies on our honeymoon next June/July.. and will have to go through some of the same considerations then too!

[big pix]

you will need me to help carry your equipment........ sounds like a great trip, but you will either need a lot more storage cards or storage device...... or small laptop but this will add weight........as the photo oops will just keep coming ........

[birddog114]

Spooky,
It sounds to me you'll have a very looooooooooooong trip!
May I suggest the following:
- The D200 with 10Mp so larger size of CF card is recommended as 4Gb.
- The Epson P2000 is another handy toy.
I'll add more to the list later for your consideration.

[wendellt]

hi
sounds liek a grand trip, amazing

I just have soem advice about the amount of carry on lugage you are planning to bring along with you, ,last time i went overseas i flew emirates and quantas on seperate trips
each time i had a problem with the weight of my carry on luggage

i had my d2x 12-24, 70-200, epson p2000, battery charger for epson, d2x and one spare d2x battery not much stuff right, but when i got my backpack weighed they refused to let me on 7-10kg max weight tolerated

i was liek 14kg

lucky i had room in the suitcase so i repacked at the terminal

now this weight issue has happened to me lots of times it really depends who is on the counter at tahe time, sometimes they just let you go or pass some excess but soem airlines have a strict carry on weight restriction

you should investigate this before you go nothing worse than putting camera stuff in your check in luggage

whatever tripod you buy they wont let you bring it on carry on as carry on luggage for international flights, it's a security risk could be used to knock someone over the head
so whatever tripod you buy don't get a expensive one, you will have to check it in numerous airports namely in south america it may get lost

[radar]

Hi Spooky,

as others have said, you will need way more storage, there are lots of options, like the Epson p2000, I personally use a PD70X CompactDrive. Took it with me to Africa. With my D70, I was there for two weeks and took 20Gb worth of photos, so be prepared for lots of storage.

I would also take the 50mm instead of the kit lens.

That is a lot of weight you plan to backpack with. Only take one body and have a pocket camera just in case. Is there anywhere you can leave some of your gear once you start backpacking? I don't know how much you can carry, but I'd be close to my weight limit just in camera gear you list.

The mini-trekker will be awkward to carry in the front with that much gear. Get a toploader instead that can be carried comfortably in the front and pack the rest in your main pack. This is assuming you can leave your mini-trekker gear with the extra gear with someone in SA. For that part of the trip, the WA lens, 50mm would probably be all that I would carry, maybe the flash.

Also, make sure your travel insurance covers everything. The standard insurance from travel agents only cover a max of $4000 and $1000 per item!

Anyway, sounds like a great trip, I also volunteer as a porter if you do want to carry all your gear with you

Cheers,

André

[Andyt]

........don't forget to take a universal AC adaptor, so you charge the batteries in your travels! .........oh!, and thermal underware sounds apropriate!

Suggest when able to mail back up copies of pics to your self as insurance.

Good Luck! Andyt

[DaveB]

A flash with 4 alkaline batteries? I guess you're only expecting to take a few shots with flash then... Personally I take a couple of sets of NiMH cells along with a charger.

As has been mentioned you'll need data storage, especially in Antarctica where you will probably take LOTS of images (especially at that time of year when the days are long - almost 100% "golden light"). Each of us will shoot a different amount, but on a trip like that I would be taking at least two lots of 80GB.

You don't want all your images on just one device (whether it's a laptop, a P-2000, a Nexto, a PD70X, whatever): drop it during your trip and EVERYTHING could be gone.
For that matter, given what the images from a 2-month trip might be worth to you (even if not as money) I think it's worth careful disaster planning. I'm currently gearing up for a trip to Tanzania: I won't have the same backpacking limitations as you (and I need more telephoto than you will) but I am trying to travel "light". Either I will have a 12" PowerBook with card reader plus an external 60GB drive plus a 60GB PD70X, or a pair of PD70X + P-2000. If the card reader dies I can read the cards with the PD70X, and vice versa. I may be paranoid, but that's better than losing images (for me at least).
FWIW, my cameras are all 8Mp, not the 10Mp of the D200. I'm also factoring in my wife's camera as well (an LX1) which although it generates ~14 MB files will not be taking quite as many images as my cameras will...

Have you investigated shipping some of your equipment back to family in Australia after the Antarctica leg of the trip?

Have you considered a tripod? Even a small Ultrapod or similar for when you're backpacking.

[dooda]

I strongly disagree with taking a fixed lens in lieu of a zoom. The zoom could mean getting a shot that you'd potentially miss with a 50 mm You may find yourself in a situation where you don't have the ability to move around enough. I think the most ideal would be an 18-200, atleast there'd be a minimum of missed opportunities.

[birddog114]

I strongly disagree with taking a fixed lens in lieu of a zoom. The zoom could mean getting a shot that you'd potentially miss with a 50 mm You may find yourself in a situation where you don't have the ability to move around enough. I think the most ideal would be an 18-200, atleast there'd be a minimum of missed opportunities.

Dave,
I can see you mind always with the 18-200VRII now, even in you sleep

[TonyH]

Hi,

I really think you will need to rethink numbers of batteries for the cameras.

In the cold they drain really quickly. I normally get well in excess of 600 shots per battery (D70, some flash) here in Queensland. In Europe and the UK at Christmas I was only getting around 400 shots per battery. The temps in the UK were around 1 deg cel to minus 5 deg cel. Helsinki was the worst at -10 deg cel.

Another consideration would be a waterproof pelican case for your gear specifically thinking about transfers from the ship to the shore. I'm sure you'd want your backup gear with you when you're shooting. It would also protect the equipment from the extremes in temp and wind etc. You could also use it to check the extra equipment through on the plane if necessary.

Cheers

Tony

[Spooky]

The idea of two bodies was in case I have a failure.

Good idea on the compact digital. My wife has a powershot A70 I could borrow.

The thought had occurred to me of sending some stuff home after the voyage. If there are some Aussies on the voyage with me I will contact them and find out if they are willing to take some of my gear home to Australia. If I can arrange that I would probably ship the D70 body and the laptop home with them. I would keep the portable backup drive with me. (Making sure all the data on the laptop is on that as well.)

I am a bit iffy about posting this sort of gear home from Argentina. Their Postal service is known for things going "missing".

I may invest in another CF card probably follow Birdies advice and get a 4GB that should be enough with what I have all ready, I will be able to download them most nights to my laptop or portable drive.

I will have to have another practice of packing the Lowepro Minitrekker and check the weight, thanks for the tip Wendell. I will check what the limit is on Aerolinas Argentinas.

The tripod I was all ways going to pack into my main pack for flights.

I will have travel insurance for all the gear. Will cost extra to cover all the camera gear but worth it I think.

Universal adaptor is on my packing list thanks!

I was thinking of posting home burnt CDs (if I take the laptop) as an additional backup.

I didn't think I would need my flash that much (was actually considering relying on the onboard flash) so I was just going to buy alkalines as I needed them if the originals run out. Maybe I need to reassess this.

I will probably get a Nexto CF of 80GB to cover the storage for the trip even if I do take the laptop for part or all of it.

Hadn't considered taking the 50mm instead of the kit, I think the kit would give me more flexibility for general shooting, but will consider this.

I have read that the Li-Ion batteries are not as badly affected by the cold as NiMhs but I will consider two spare batteries for the D200.

For water proofing I was relying on the AW cover on my Minitrekker, I have heard these work well but in truth have never needed myself so can't confirm that. Can anybody vouch for the AWcover on the minitrekker in wild weather?

Thanks for your responses, please keep them coming.

[radar]

For water proofing I was relying on the AW cover on my Minitrekker, I have heard these work well but in truth have never needed myself so can't confirm that. Can anybody vouch for the AWcover on the minitrekker in wild weather?

For having your camera/gear waterproofed, may be worth also taking one or more drysacks. They come in various sizes and are not that expensive. I have a 13 litre one from SeaToSummit, very good to have that extra protection, around $20. They are also very light. You can have a look at them at any good camping shop. I would not trust only the AW cover in wild weather. You can probably get one that the minitrekker would fit in.

A bean bag may also be useful, especially in places where settting up a tripod may be difficult. Take it over empty and get rice from the ships kitchen once you get there.

Cheers,

André

[rookie2]

If there are some Aussies on the voyage with me I will contact them and find out if they are willing to take some of my gear home to Australia.

I hear that Schapelle Corby will be on your cruise if you need a hand!!

R2

[TonyH]

Spooky,

I was suggesting the pelican case more for the fact that you will transferring from the ship to an inflatable boat, I'd be worried about the gear going "over the side".

The pelican case will protect your equipment (or at least your 2nd set) in case of wild weather.

If you are cruising around in the inflatable, water will spray everywhere and ultimately finish up inside the dingy, an AW set up won't work real well if it's actually sitting in the water, a Pelican case will.

I don't know much about these trips but was thinking if the weather got a little hairy whilst you are onshore, they may not take you back to the ship until it subsides....
Under those circumstances you'll need your gear to be water and wind/sand proofed I'd imagine.

It may be a little overkill, but I'm a belt and braces sort of bloke.

[DaveB]

For Antarctica I would be giving serious consideration to a LowePro DryZone bag, even if you then resell it after the trip. The DryZone 100 and 200 are traditional photo backpacks: the new Rover is a split photo/general pack for much less gear. These will even float if they go over the side of a Zodiak...
I have a Ortlieb waterproof camera shoulder bag (the top of it has a similar seal-and-roll mechanism as a drybag) which I sometimes use on boats, but it doesn't carry a lot of gear.

When flying with my photo gear I try to avoid scenarios such as putting Pelican cases in check-in luggage (you can't lock them these days, and they've obviously got something valuable in them...). I have non-descript duffle/cargo bags (one of which will often have the tripod down its centre. Things like battery chargers, etc may go in checkin, but I try to sort my camera gear so it's always with me as carry-on luggage. This takes some careful planning, but so far it's worked for me.

[Steffen]

First of all, I'm green with envy, this is the kind of trip that tops my travel wish list...

* SB800 flash incl 4 new AA alkaline batteries

I'd say, ditch the alkalines and pack several sets of AA lithiums. The don't weigh a lot and won't die in the cold.

* Lens Cleaning cloth

I'd take at least two or three. They get soiled or lost easily, and you don't want to clean your lenses with your anorak sleeve all the time...

Cheers
Steffen.

[Mitchell]

Brett,

Sounds amazing! The itinerary you have listed will be just spectacular - I covered similar territory in 2000.

I can only echo the suggestions about memory. Things happen down there and you just can't stop shooting. We followed 8 humpbacks along the antarctic peninsula for over 40 minutes while they took it in turns to breach every 15 seconds or so.

For the mammals and birds in flight a bit of zoom is great, 70-200 will be very nice, however the penguins, albatrosses, etc will just sit there and don't appear too concerned if you get close (although it has been shown that they do get a bit scared and their heart rate goes up when people come close). Often if you just sit on a rock they will waddle on up to you.

I would tend to go for the zoom rather than the prime, sometimes it is difficult to zoom with your feet because of animals, cliffs or other tourists.

Obviously a polarising filter will be invaluable.

Torres del Paine is stunning and obviously there is good trekking so the weight factor could be an issue. There is always a risk of equipment failure, but perhaps one body is worth the small risk so you don't have to lug the extra gear.

Of all my trips that one was the most incredible - but unfortunately before my new found interest in photography! I can't wait to see some of your shots.

Mitchell.

[Spooky]

Mitchell, if you don't mind I might PM you to ask some more specific quesiton not of interest to the general community.

Brett

[robw25]

WOW brett this sounds fantastic.... we plan a trip to alaska in a couple of years, would be good if i can find a voyage with some pro's on it ! where did you find this voyage with the photog's on it ?

cheers rob

[Mitchell]

No problems at all.

[Spooky]

Rob
Its a Cheesman Ecology Safari.

http://www.cheesemans.com/antarctica_sg_dec06.html

Thanks for the offer Mitchell.

Brett

[robw25]

thanks brett..... keep us updated on whats going on ..... boxing day is comin !!

cheers rob

[Spooky]

Hi all

Getting very close now, I have just packed all my gear, must say I am paranoid about leaving some critical bit of kit behind or screwing up somehow.

Between packing, arranging all the other travel things, and taking care of home issues due to being away for so long I have been very busy.

I have set up a blog at

http://www.travelblog.org/bloggers/Brett-and-Corinne

if anyone is interested, however while on the ship I won't be able to update it, so the first update will be on the 23rd of January. From then I hope to happen atleast weekly

Cheers and merry xmas and happy new year everyone.

[marc]

Hi Brett

Who did you get for your Travel Insurance? (We'll be off to Zambia, 15 nights Sept '07)
Hope everything goes well, have a great time. Sth America is a wonderous place, I travelled O'land for 6 months there in '93, lugging a film SLR Canon Eos 100 around!
Cheers
Marc

[stubbsy]

Brett

Have a safe and exciting trip. Looking forward to your pics when you return

[Killakoala]

Good luck with your trip Brett. Our thoughts go with you.

Just remember to pack your batteries and charger, then double and triple check to make sure they are packed.

[Spooky]

Thanks guys

Marc

I think it is Suresave I went with. Turned out cheaper to get a 12 month policy.

Brett