Panama

Rio Chagres
Green leafy things #1
There is a 1-way bridge into Gamboa
Motmot bird
Green leafy things #2
Mateo’s Gamboa B&B
Tamarin monkey
Bird
Leaf-cutter ants
Green leafy things #3
Dinner on the deck at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort
Agouti
Follow the yellow wood bridge
Another bird
Midwestern migratory photo guy (Photus clickious)

Travel Tip #64…Go Green

When I photograph nature, I like to stay close to it. If I wanted all the comforts of home, I would stay there. So when I had the choice to sleep in a big ol’ fancy lodge in Gamboa, Panama, or Mateo’s humble little B&B, it was an easy choice. Not to mention, I spent…

not a lot of extra room in the locks
big ol’ beefy tugs help steer the big ships toward the locks
fees for passage are partially determined by water displacement, so the ships all empty their ballast before passing through
large crowds gather to watch ships pass through the locks
towing locomotives actually pull ships through the locks
crews are currently widening the canal passage at Gamboa
cargo container ships
Panama built a new bridge over the canal a decade ago
if it were me, I’d feel a little intimidated
crew changing boat after delivering new sailors at Gamboa
gates open to let a ship pass through to the next stage at the Miraflores locks complex

Travel tip # 119…Get in the Zone

How’s your history? Here’s what I understand about the Panama Canal… Sometime in the early 1900s the US wanted to connect its Atlantic and Pacific fleets. At the time, Panama was a part of Columbia. So we asked them if we could dig a canal. They said no. We said “Pretty please?” and they said…

This was round 1 of packing for this trip…it got thinned out a bit to save on baggage fees
2 lights…an Einstein and an Alienbee, plus battery to power them, cords, remotes, and reflector
GoPro / misc. case. Gaff tape (even better than duct tape), mounts, batteries, external mic
Clothes, pre-treated with permethrin for bugs and whatnot
2 stands, mini soft box, umbrellas, and a tripod
Ditty bag (that’s what my dad called it anyway…tooth brush, floss, soap, allergy meds…and ear plus…in case the critters or the night life won’t shut up
My three favorite travel items…Tevas for wading into streams, headlamp for hands free light, and a big ol’ knife…mostly for cutting cheese
Mud boots for the Panama rain forest…the subject said, “they will protect you from the mud… and snake bites.” Yay.
Sun screen, bug spray, cards, a whistle, light duty rope, reusable silica gel packs, and zip lock bags for drying out unhappy electronic gear
A couple Canon 5dMarkll cameras, lenses from 16-400, extra batteries and cards, and a self-timer gizmo thingy (technical term)
Lots of waterproof bags, skeeter nets, rain coats, and footwear
Briefcase with the all the work stuff

Anatomy of a travel shoot

  Just a closer look at the gear that comes along on a travel shoot. More info is in the captions…just click on each image. This is why I like to drive places. I made one last pass and thinned out a bit before the flight…but this is the gist of it.

I hate these things…but they are better than the alternative

Travel Tip #41….Never ever (ever) let a ticket go to waste / and Travel Tip #53…Go to the travel clinic

Y’all remember I was supposed to go to Ghana last December? It was for a Minnesota college. I was going to photograph a student travel and study program there, but it was cancelled due to uncertainty about the Ebola situation in West Africa. So there was an unused ticket. Sitting in my desk drawer. Taunting…