Neil Corman Photography

Denver Photographer

Thoughts

What’s in the Bag: Travel Version

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I frequently get asked questions about my gear and thought it would be helpful to put together a couple of posts about what photography gear is in my bag currently (August 2019). This first installment deals with travel and the type of gear I have with me on the road. A couple of years ago I purchased an Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark II which is a 4/3 (four thirds camera), this switch has really changed how I travel and downsized my gear bag.

What's in the Bag: Travel

The gear in this image is a representation of how I travel, sometimes it is more than this and other times less. When it is more, I am adding a laptop and external hard drive for downloading and processing images while I am on the road. The instances it is less I usually remove the small tripod, international power adapter and polarizing filter.

The Essentials

Backpack: The most important item when traveling is method used to carry your gear, and I have tried many different bags over the year and do prefer a backpack to other bags. Almost two years ago I found the Tenba DNA 15 Backpack, and this is now the bag I use when traveling near or far with the four thirds camera. I have even used this when traveling without camera gear since it has a removable insert and can hold enough for me to travel over a weekend.

Camera: As I mentioned above I am currently using the Olympus OM-D EM5 Mark II camera along with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 PRO Lens. In the four thirds world this lens is equal to a 24mm-200mm lens in a small compact set-up. I have traveled with this all over the United States and the World capturing images with this camera body and lens and it has worked well for me. Being small it is less intimidating when taking pictures on the street, and it also doesn’t stand out larger DSLR cameras, plus if you spend a good amount of time exploring it weighs a lot less than a DSLR helping you on those hot and humid days.

In addition to the camera, it is important to have a battery charger and cleaning cloth with when traveling. The battery charger won’t always be with you during the day, just make sure to charge your battery fully each night.

Memory Cards: Memory cards are getting smaller and smaller, making them easier to misplace, thus I use a Think Tank SD Memory Card Case to keep them in order. I have around 10 cards in the case and if they are empty they face out with the label and once I have shot on them I put them in the case with the label not showing. In addition I will attach the case to my bag with a short cord to ensure that the case won’t get out of reach of my bag which is extremely important if you are not downloading cards each day as you travel light. There are many speeds of memory cards available, what this translates to is how quickly the data is saved on the card. In most situations a Class 3 card will suffice and give you the speed you need to capture stills or video.

Phone: I use an Apple iPhone as a travel tool with a handful of apps which I use on a regular basis. I also use the phone to capture images as well as video and have found in certain situations the camera on the phone works just as well as camera for capturing a quick image. When capturing video, think about using timelapse in the right situation.

Additional Gear

Filter: I try to have a Polarizer filter in my bag when I travel. This filter will help cut down on glare, help with a little slower shutter speed when that is necessary as well as giving landscapes a little pop with color. Now some of these items you can do in post-processing but shooting it in camera initially helps lower your processing time. The size of the filter will depend on your lens, with the set-up I mentioned above I use a 72mm X2 CPL Circular Polarizing Filter.

International Travel Adapter: Traveling internationally and finding you don’t have the correct plug for country you are in doesn’t really set well. Some hotels are adding plug which will accommodate multiple types of plug put don’t expect to find this is all locations. A
Worldwide All in One Universal Travel Adaptor helps with this issue and will make sure you have the correct plug whether you are in the UK or Europe (which use different plugs).

Tripod: The tripod is a helpful tool when capturing images as it will help steady the camera for those longer exposures, but also will slow down your photography process so you can think about the image you are framing in the camera. The moment you put down a tripod in some locations you will have someone approach you as for some reason it translates to being a professional. The Platypod helps with this and also is small to carry as you travel. There are some differences between the Platypod and a regular tripod you need to get use to when using, however putting a small ballhead on the Platypod does work quite well. With a four thirds camera I use the Platypod Ultra, however with a larger DSLR you will want to consider the Platypod Max.

Computer: When traveling for a longer period of time, I will bring my laptop which the Tenba DNA 15 Backpack will hold up to a 15″ laptop along with your camera gear. At this point I am using an Apple MacBook Pro for processing my work.

External Hard Drive: An external hard drive is a must for backing-up your work while travel with a laptop. At this point when traveling you should consider only a SSD hard drive. The speed of these are quite amazing, and with less moving parts than a traditional hard drive it holds up well when traveling. I am using the Samsung T5 SSD 1TB version at this time, which gives me plenty of room to backup images.

Other Items

Using just one lens I am not changing lenses in the field, thus I don’t find a need to carry a RocketBlower with me when traveling, however it is still good to have one at home. I am looking at other methods to backup photos while traveling on the road and am still doing some research on the best options when not traveling with a laptop. Once I find a good solution I will be sure to share.

 

Disclosure: I have linked to Amazon for additional details on the gear which I have mentioned above in some situations. Purchasing through these links may provide a small affiliate commission, however you should be able to find all of the gear mentioned at your local camera store as well.

Summer Reading Guide 2019

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The summer is a great time to take some time and relax with a good book. It may be one which provides some education or something which is just a fun read. I tend to lean more so towards non-fiction as of late for my reading and have found these books of interest lately and ones you may enjoy.

 

Denver

  • For some interesting history on Denver, check out the various books by Phil Goodstein. I own the Denver Streets and Denver Civic Center books, which may be in limited print but are still available locally.
  • While it is just over ten years old the book Getting to know Denver: Five Walking Tours can also be an informative guide of the downtown Denver area.
  • Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park: When a photographer who has covered almost every mile within Rocky Mountain National Park publishes a hiking trail book you know it will be great. This is exactly what you get from this book and it is a must if you hike in RMNP at all.

 

Business

  • Best Business Practices for Photographers: Currently in its third edition this book by John Harrington sits on my bookshelf as a great reference tool for anyone who is selling their work, or is interested in getting in the market.
  • 100 Side Hustles: Just published, Chris Guillebeau looks at 100 different people and their success in building a sidehustle while maintaining their current job. Reading the stories helps the reader think of ways they can incorporate these bits into their own side hustle.
  • You are a Writer (So start acting like one): This is a good quick read to reinforce the notion which you can be a writer and express your thoughts in various manners. This was Jeff Goins book and which started his writing career.

 

Travel and Photography Inspiration

  • Atlas Obscura: This guide is readily available in my living room and when wondering what there is in the world I pick it up and flip through for a while. Featuring some of the more interesting places in the world it is always fun to pick up and start to get me thinking about places to visit next. There is also an Atlas Obscura website you can browse as well.
  • How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: This best selling book was one the first ways I came across Nomadic Matt and is a great read on how to save money when traveling anywhere. His newest book is due out in July and is part memoir and also looks at why we travel.
  • Obama: An Intimate Portrait: You may not live in the United States or are registered in one of many political parties, however hands down you can not argue about the tremendous job Pete Souza did capturing the presidency of Barack Obama. This coffee table book contains many of the images we have seen published before and those which are new. It is a great reminder of how to photograph and catch the moment.
  • The Thirty Days Project: I may be biased on this book which I released a few years ago summarizing the first five years of The Thirty Days Project which I have done in the past.
  • Treasured Lands: Photographer QT Luong visited all 59 National Parks (now 61) over the course of 20 years to put together this 450+ page coffee table book. There is some amazing photography in this book which will inspire you to photograph, travel and most importantly explore. The new expanded 2nd edition of this book is due out later this summer.
  • Ultimate Journeys for Two: Published just over year ago by National Geographic, Mike and Anne Howard continue to travel and explore their world on an ongoing honeymoon. This book may motivate you to take that trip or find an off the path location to visit. During Travelcon earlier this year I had the privilege of meeting these two adventurers.
  • 1000 Places to See Before You Die: This is one of the original bucket list books and continues to be one to have on your bookshelf. Like Atlas Obscura above it will give you that push to go and visit somewhere new on your next adventure.

Others

  • Danny’s Decades: The story of Danny from the age of ten as he follows his pursuit to become a journalist and communicator. This is also the first book written by my father.
  • Chicago Sweetest ’16: A Baseball Fantasy: This is the second book by my dad. Imagine a baseball season where the Cubs and White Sox both make it to the World Series which hasn’t happened since 1906.

Thank you for taking the time to taking a look at the Neil Corman Photography 2019 Summer Reading Guide. When available I have used links to Amazon for ease, but most of these items can be found at local booksellers in your city.

2018 Neil Corman Photography Gift Guide

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This year I have decided to put together a small gift guide for some of the items which I have used, read or enjoyed in the past year. Based on your needs, you may want to add to your wish list for the holidays or in the future.

 

Denver

Two organizations which I am a member of are the Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Architecture Foundation. Located not far from downtown Denver the York Street location of the Botanic Gardens is the one which I visit most often whether it is for an inspiring walk through the gardens anytime of the year, or for one of their special events like Blossoms of Lights. The Denver Architecture Foundation is one of the organizations behind the annual event Doors Open Denver and various other tours during the course of the year which promotes architecture in the Denver area. Many of the popular venues for Doors Open Denver will sellout and with a DAF membership you do get priority registration.

For some interesting history on Denver, check out the various books by Phil Goodstein. I own the Denver Streets and Denver Civic Center books, which may be in limited print but are still available locally. While it is just over ten years old the book Getting to know Denver: Five Walking Tours can also be an informative guide of the downtown Denver area.

I frequently use the Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer when exploring Denver and beyond. Quite frequently I will make notes in this publication to keep track of places I have photographed or those which I would like to revisit in the future. While it is easy just to use our phones to keep track of these things, not everywhere in Colorado is it possible to get a reliable cell phone signal to access your information stored in the cloud.

 

Photography

I quite frequently am asked which camera set-up I am using for the images on my website and also at art festivals. The answer is, it depends. Most of my work has been taken with Nikon cameras, and at this time I am using the Nikon D810. I would recommend doing your research on what is the best gear for the type of photography which you would like to capture. Over the past couple of years I have also moved to a mirrorless camera, which is smaller and makes perfect sense for me when traveling. I use the Olympus OM-D M5 Mark II with a 12-100mm F/4 lens. This is a nice small set-up which gives the equivalent of a 24-200mm range on the lens, and I have taken it with me across the United States, Cuba, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland, Canada and plenty more locations. These cameras may seem expensive and yes they are, however I also have featured work I have taken with my iPhone including one of my best selling images.

It is not always about the gear itself but how you see and capture the image you are taking. Classes at local camera stores are readily available, as well as online courses like Mastering Travel Photography.

 

Travel

I am always on the search for the perfect travel/camera bag and found one just over a year ago which is perfect for me. The Tenba DNA15 is now always with me when traveling due to the amount of equipment it allows me to carry and also the comfort it brings. One of my first uses of this bag was to Cuba a year ago. It easily held two mirrorless cameras, three lenses, accessories, a 15-inch laptop and other various items while still fitting under the seat on the airplane flight. I have also used this on weekend trips as my only bag since the camera inserts can be removed. From 3-Day weekend flights, or crossing the country on Amtrak it is perfect for my needs and really doesn’t look like a camera bag.

When traveling internationally you will need to use a different plug, thus an all-in-one travel adapter it quite helpful. For under $10 you can find one to handle the various types of outlets especially when we need to charge all of our electronics. This one also includes USB ports for you to charge your gear.

 

Travel and Photography Inspiration

I am always looking for books and other publications to help with inspiration and education for travel and photography. Here is a brief list of some of these items from this year.

  • Atlas Obscura: This guide is readily available in my living room and when wondering what there is in the world I pick it up and flip through for a while. Featuring some of the more interesting places in the world it is always fun to pick up and start to get me thinking about places to visit next. There is also an Atlas Obscura website you can browse as well.
  • Best Business Practices for Photographers: Currently in its third edition this book by John Harrington sits on my bookshelf as a great reference tool for anyone who is selling their work, or is interested in getting in the market.
  • How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: This best selling book was one the first ways I came across Nomadic Matt and is a great read on how to save money when traveling anywhere. He also has smaller guides for specific areas, and during my trip to Hong Kong this year I got a lot of my travel planning information from that guide.
  • Landmass Maps: How else would you show off where you have been in the United States or the World without a map to display. Once you have visited a location you can scratch it off with a coin. Instead of scratching off lottery tickets and hoping you can now scratch to remember all of the places you have visited and also see where you want to go next.
  • NeuYear Wall Calendars: How else can you visually plan for your year in travel or other projects which you are working on other than with a wall calendar. I have used this to plan the year for projects, trips and everything else which comes up in life. I would recommend the dry erase option as we know plans can change. [This link will also save you 10%]
  • Moleskin Notebook: A good notebook is always a tool which you have with you to write down notes, ideas or anything else which may come to you at the spur of the moment. I have a stack of various sized of these notebooks on my shelf and will have one with me when traveling.
  • Obama: An Intimate Portrait: You may not live in the United States or are registered in one of many political parties, however hands down you can not argue about the tremendous job Pete Souza did capturing the presidency of Barack Obama. This coffee table book contains many of the images we have seen published before and those which are new. It is a great reminder of how to photograph and catch the moment.
  • The Thirty Days Project: I may be biased on this book which I released a few years ago summarizing the first five years of The Thirty Days Project which I have done in the past. This is currently on sale as well.
  • Treasured Lands: Photographer QT Luong visited all 59 National Parks (now 60) over the course of 20 years to put together this 450+ page coffee table book. There is some amazing photography in this book which will inspire you to photograph, travel and most importantly explore.
  • Ultimate Journeys for Two: Published just over year ago by National Geographic, Mike and Anne Howard continue to travel and explore their world on an ongoing honeymoon. This book may motivate you to take that trip or find an off the path location to visit. During Travelcon earlier this year I had the privilege of meeting these two adventurers.
  • 1000 Places to See Before You Die: This is one of the original bucket list books and continues to be one to have on your bookshelf. Like Atlas Obscura above it will give you that push to go and visit somewhere new on your next adventure.

 

Charity

Lastly I would like to point some of the non-profits which I support due to personal ties to the work they support. As I mentioned at the beginning of the year the Ocular Melanoma Foundation and Cure OM (through the Melanoma Research Foundation) is something personal to me. In addition the National Brain Tumor Society I continue to support due to way too many people I know who have been lost from brain tumors.

 

Thank you for taking the time to taking a look at the Neil Corman Photography 2018 gift guide. When available I have used links to Amazon for ease, but most of these items can be found at local camera stores or other small businesses in Denver or wherever you call home.

A Simple Note of Thanks for 2016

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This post is originally from 2012, however the elements included are still true in 2016.

 

Over the past few weeks you have been receiving presents and cards from friends and family as well as people you do business with on a regular basis.  For the most part this is kept to the holidays as a way of saying thanks.  However like the New Year’s resolution you set just a few of days ago why do we limit it to just this time of year.  The end of the year and the start of the year marks a set time in our mind where we perform tasks like saying thanks.  Let’s look at the resolution you created earlier this week.  If the resolution was so important why didn’t you start it on any other day instead of waiting until the first of the year?

As I looked at the holiday greetings I received this holiday season, I have noticed the difference between a card received via “snail mail’ and one which was sent in an e-mail or even yet a link to a web page with a generic holiday greeting.  This is one of the first years I have really have noticed the difference between getting a note in the mail and one electronically.

At the gallery which I own in Denver, this season I received one holiday card in the mail and countless others by e-mail.  The one card which I received in the mail hung alone for a few weeks waiting for others to join it, but the only greetings were via e-mail and after a quick scan they were quickly deleted from my inbox.  I can clearly tell you the name of this individual who sent the holiday card and if they inquire about having a show at the gallery in the future it may help them get added to the schedule.  Should preference be given to someone who sends a physical card versus an electronic card?  The process of communicating with a potential business partner is to make yourself memorable when doing so, and in this instance the physical card was memorable.  Will this be the same in 2012?  Most likely it will be, but I will find out in less than a year from now.

I know there is much discussion these days about being green and stewards for the environment when it comes to printed items.  This is the reason why a lot of people have moved to the electronic or ‘e’  method of saying thanks at the holidays or at any time during the course of the year.  Or is it for other reasons, including the savings in purchasing cards or even more so the speed in which the electronic cards can be sent quickly removing one additional task from our busy lives.  Hopefully this is not the same way you are treated when doing business with this person.

The bottom line is customer service is king in today’s business place.  Taking the time to write a thank you note is something which is appreciated by the person who received the card.  Who knows, one of those business cards you include in a handwritten thank you note can make it to some they know resulting in a new customer for you this year.  I am sure that alone will be worth the couple of minutes which is took to say thanks.

If you do want to have a resolution for 2012 2016, why not make it setting aside fifteen minutes each week and writing a handwritten thank you note.

Flying into Juneau, Alaska

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Last year I spent a good amount of time in Juneau, Alaska which prompted some questions about Juneau and I tried to answer all of those.  There are three ways to get to Juneau; Boat, Air and being born there.  Flying into Juneau is not easy as highlighted on this video taken earlier this month on a clear morning during final approach out the window of the combi aircraft.

As you can see it is quite a scenic place to visit, especially in the summer.

2013 Brain Tumor Walk

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The fight against brain tumors is very close to my heart. This is why I would like to do a post in regards to a fundraiser I am doing in March in Phoenix.

At the end of 2011 a close college friend lost his battle with a brain tumor he had been diagnosed with eleven years earlier.  Venu was courageous with how he lived those years.  It was not always easy for him, but he continued to live life to it’s fullest and this is something I will always remember as it is an inspiration for all.  Another friend, Christina who was diagnosed with a brain tumor just before Venu and like him was extremely strong and courageous with her fight which ended just over six years ago.  Venu and Christina are not the only ones I know who have been impacted by a brain tumor, and as the numbers show this year alone over 60,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a brain tumor and another 150,000 will be diagnosed with a brain tumor as a result of other types of cancer in their body.

Each year in March I normally get together with a group of friends from college and other friends who have joined the group in Lake Tahoe.  For the second year instead of visiting Tahoe we will be taking part in the Phoenix Brain Tumor Walk on Saturday March 16th to make a difference in the fight against brain tumors as this is something very dear to this group of friends.

National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) is a putting the search for a cure into overdrive. Progress is being made, but there is so much more to be done. I hope that I can count on you to help support my efforts!

The Week-End (Saturday November 24th)

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Is there still leftover turkey in your house?  If so this may be a great day to explore what is happening this weekend around the Denver area.

  • Today is Small Business Saturday.  While small business owners hope you will make everyday one where you shop at a small business take a moment to find one today as they may have a great offer for you with minimal lines and top notch customer service.
  • The Rocky Mountain Toy Train Show is today and tomorrow from 10am – 5pm.
  • At the Colorado Convention Center through the weekend is the Rocky Mountain Auto Show.
  • Today is the Victorian Holiday Home Tour just east of downtown in the Upper Colfax Business District.
  • The holiday lights have been lit at the City and County of Denver Building in Civic Center Park so be sure to check out this annual display.
  • Various markets are around the Denver area for the holiday season through Christmas including Skyline Park.

What do you have planned for this weekend?

The Week-End (November 3rd)

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It is the first full weekend of November and plenty is happening in Denver.  This is also the weekend when daylight savings ends resulting in an extra hour on Sunday morning as the clocks fall back one hour.

What do you have planned for this weekend?