So, with as often as I am traveling, when Sony launched the tiny RX0 II, I knew I wanted to pick one up. With it’s 15.3 MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor, rugged and waterproof body, support for internal 4k video and a brand new built-in time-lapse mode, I knew I couldn’t test it just anywhere! I had to find a place that not only allowed me to see what it was capable of capturing, but that challenged the device as well. To me the answer was obvious! I needed to take the RXO II with me one of my favorite mountainous ranges in the world, Southern Patagonia.

After using the camera extensively for weeks, I really felt that the RXO II is an ideal camera for travelers who wish to pack light, yet want strong photo and video quality. Below is just a few of the reasons why I loved traveling with the Sony RXO II.

Small, Lightweight Package

One of the first things I noticed about the RX0 II is just how small and portable it truly is. I can easily fit two or three RX0 II’s in the palm of my hand. Weighing just 4.7 oz, it is also incredibly light, although it feels solidly built. Because of its size, I was able to bring it with me just about everywhere throughout my travels around Patagonia, without even thinking about it. Often, I would just throw it in the pocket of my winter coat. To me, it is one of those devices that is so portable, that I have to actively think of reasons why I wouldn’t want to bring it with me, which is in stark contrast to how most photographers think about their gear.

Easy Setup

Throughout my time in Patagonia, I paired my RX0 II with a small, lightweight Joby tripod, which allowed me to unobtrusively position the RX0 II anywhere I needed it to go. With a tripod mount on the bottom of the camera, it was incredibly easy to attach. The addition of the rear articulating LCD screen helped make this a perfect combo, as I could still see the screen from just about any angle.

Impressive Photo and Video Quality

While you are limited to a fixed 24mm f/4 lens, the power of the 15.3 MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor is pretty amazing, which shouldn’t be a surprise as it is the same sensor found in the popular Sony RX 100 series. The AWR Sony raw files coming out of the RX0 II give you a lot of room to play with in post processing and offer tac sharp results as you can see below.

Professional Looking and Easy to Use Time-lapse Video

One of the things, I am most excited about with the RXO II is creating time-lapse clips. With Sony’s new built-in Intervalometer, I now have the ability to easily shoot a variety of different kinds of time-lapses with ease. When coupled with its unobtrusive size, I found myself setting up time-lapse much more than I normally would with my larger Sony mirrorless cameras.

The Articulating Rear LCD

One of the most requested features with nearly every Sony camera is to have a rear LCD that not only articulates, but that fully flips as well. While some people might get excited about this feature because it allows you to easily take a selfie, I think the more exciting use case would be for Vloggers that hope to use the tiny RX0 II for their portable daily travel camera.

WiFi Transfer on the Go

When you are on the road, there are times when you want to get the content you just shot right away so that you can upload it to Instagram or Facebook. When you pair the RX0 II with your smartphone using the Imaging Edge App (Android & IOS), you can easily transfer JPEG and Video files (even 4k) to your device of choice. It is important to note that you currently can not transfer your Sony AWR raw files using this method.

So, all in all, I loved my time with the Sony RXO II. While it can never replace my full Sony mirrorless kit, the camera delivers stunning quality in a tiny package, making it perfect to take on almost any adventure, whether it be as your main camera or a secondary camera to capture quick wide angle photos on the go, time-lapse video or to take selfie or record a Vlog.

Follow Colby Brown on his website, Instagram and Facebook.

Purchase the Sony RXO II through Amazon or B&H Photo.

The post 6 Reasons Why The Sony RX0 II Is An Ideal Travel Camera appeared first on Resource Travel.

But there I was, boarding this historic vessel in McCovey Cove, situated just outside of the San Francisco Giants stadium. The friendly and knowledgeable Oakland-based crew had come here to pick us up for a perfectly timed sunset cruise along San Francisco’s Embarcadero to the Golden Gate Bridge, where we would briefly cross the bridge towards the Pacific Ocean before heading back to dock as blue hour descended on the famed city by the bay.

The late arriving ‘San Francisco Summer’ provided near perfect weather and conditions to test out Sony’s newest lens, the G Master 24mm f/1.4. A group of journalists in town to cover Sony’s #BeAlpha community event had stayed an extra day to get a hands on preview of Sony’s latest addition to their high end E-Mount lens lineup.

As a travel photojournalist, I love using a wide angle focal length. Not only does a wide angle lens capture daily life across the world in a way that makes the viewer feel as they are closer to the action, but it also forces a photojournalist to get closer and more intimate with their subjects. I have often found that my favorite travel portraits and street scenes were captured after I had started a conversation with my subjects, photographing them from up close after they felt comfortable with me. After recently spending three days studying my friend David Duchemin’s travel photography course, I have been inspired to focus on getting closer to the action on my travels. So when Sony put their just announced 24mm f/1.4 G Master  in my hands for a day, I was overjoyed. Owning two Sony cameras and depending on them to capture my travels around the world, I must have sounded like a broken record when I commented to my fellow journalists over and over that this may be my dream travel lens. The lens that forces me to be a more engaging and attentive photographer.

Of course, I own a 16-35mm lens, but being that it is Sony’s original f/4 lens and not the updated G Master 16-35mm f/2.8. My wide angle images rarely look sharp to me, so I hesitate to depend on it for a casual stroll around the many locations around the world that I visit, knowing that I won’t be able to capture fast moving street scenes and portraits that live up to the high standards my readers expect. But after using this 24mm f/1.4 G Master, I am confident that this lens will be in my daily travel bag for years to come.

With the limited amount of time that I had with the lens, I wasn’t able to put it through the use that I normally would as a travel photographer. Using this lens in a place like Chefchaouen, Morocco would have been incredible. But on this warm California day, I found myself cutting through the choppy waters of San Francisco Bay, photographing the hustle of the metropolis from the outside. I was excited to see the images appear on the Sony A7rIII LCD, and when I imported them into my Lightroom Catalog, they did not disappoint. So far, I am in love with this lens and cannot wait to take it with me on an upcoming 5 week trip to Morocco and Jordan as I lead photography workshops for The Giving Lens. Follow my Instagram to see my images using this lens starting in late October.

Editor’s Note: Sony paid for me to come to San Francisco for this event, but I was not compensated in any additional way. My opinions on this lens are my own.

For an in-depth video look at the 24mm f/1.4 G Master, check out DPReview TV video at the bottom of this article. 

The post A Sunset Cruise Around San Francisco on the ‘Floating White House’ appeared first on Resource Travel.

And just like that, I was hooked. I slowly started phasing out my Canon 5d Mark III from my photography arsenal. My biggest reason for the switch was the massive dynamic range advantage that Sony had over Canon, which was a savior in my fast moving life as a full-time travel photographer since I didn’t always get the exposure correct. Now, as much as I love the image quality, there are still some things I would like to see improved, like a much more rugged build, but all in all, the Sony A7 series has been my daily camera system for years. So, when I got the email inviting me on a ‘Sony Spring Breakation,’ I was ecstatic.

At first, I thought maybe I was one of the chosen few to get my dirty paws on a pro rugged body, but even if that wasn’t the case, the backdrop they chose for this epic adventure couldn’t have been more perfect. Beautiful Lake Tahoe, California.

Lake Tahoe was my winter home away from home for over 20 years as I lived in the Bay Area. Last year, I moved to Idaho where the winters are exceptional but found myself reminiscing about my early years shredding some of the west coast’s best mountains. So, to be invited to the home of the 1960 Olympics, Squaw Valley, to play with Sony cameras wasn’t something I was about to turn down!

When I arrived, I was slightly disappointed to learn that we did not have a super top-secret rugged body to play with, but I was excited that I was going to each have two of Sony’s newest additions, the a6500 and Rx100 Mark V all weekend. Both of these cameras have been on my wish list for quite some time. As a traveling pro, I have found that my super light weight mirrorless A7 systems are getting heavier by the day as Sony upgrades their lens line to accompany the pros, which is a welcome addition. But the real weight in ‘pro’ gear doesn’t actually come from the camera bodies themselves, but rather the lenses. And we want top of the line, fast lenses, so at the end of the day, my camera bag doesn’t really feel much lighter than my Canon days. But that all changed in Lake Tahoe, as the a6500 and its lenses are significantly lighter than I am used to, since it is an APS-C sensor, as opposed to the full-frame A7 sensors.

And that is what worried me. I am a pixel perfectionist. I haven’t shot with an APS-C in over 8 years. How could the image quality possibly match what I had become used to? Well, to my amazement, they came very close, especially the a6500. I was able to pull a lot of detail out of the shadows in the RAW files, which is something I have become very accustomed to in the last couple of years. Also, it’s high ISO performance far exceeded my expectations, and I was able to shoot handheld in some very low-lit conditions and not see too much noise.

Also, I didn’t know what to expect on a  ‘press trip’. I had never really been on one before, and I had heard some make you feel like cattle, being herded in a bus from one place to another with some tour guide telling you pointless information that you don’t really care to know. But this trip turned out to be anything but.

As soon as I arrived in Squaw Valley, I met Nicole Roberts from Sony and Ryan Hayter from Hayter Comm, who was responsible for the weekend’s adventure. Nicole, Ryan and I sat down for lunch at the Dubliner pub in Squaw Valley to talk about the weekend ahead. I could tell that Ryan wasn’t your typical PR guy and I liked that, as I am not your typical journalist. As the hours went by, I kept liking that guy until he stripped down to his board shorts and ran into half frozen Donner Lake and submerged his head under the frigid water. At that moment, I went from liking to loving the guy.

In between sunset swims in frozen lakes, we actually did alot of physical adventuring. A perfect Spring day of strong sun and warm temps made for a very enjoyable 2.5-mile snow show climb that took us up almost 700 feet to overlook the Squaw Valley terrain. And then, for two full days, our team tackled the immensely massive mountain while riding some insanely good demo skis from Line and snowboards from Ride. On our first day, the weather wasn’t the beautiful spring day we had sought, but, Ryan and Jackie from Hayter Comm made us forget that the weather sucked by setting us up with a couple of the world’s best snowboarders, who were at Squaw working with photographer Tim Peare. We spent almost an hour in the half pipe watching these guys go off, which gave me the perfect opportunity to use the super slow motion video recording in the compact RX100.

All in all, recording in super slow motion was maybe the most enjoyable part of my weekend. The camera films up to an unbelievable 960 frames per second, which generates some incredible slow motion. But as with any slow motion, the action has to be moving fast, which luckily came from the skiing and snowboarding which we did under bluebird skies on our final day in Squaw, shortly before I was 20,000 feet in the air returning to my home in Boise.

After using the RX 100 for those days, I will easily recommend it to travelers who want a small and well-built camera that will help them take great photos and video, but also not be tied into a large camera and the interchangeable lenses. This camera should be in almost travel backpack around the world. It is that good.

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful region that has everything that makes California great. Sun, mountains and countless outdoor adventures in both summer and winter make Tahoe the perfect getaway from the bustling San Francisco Bay Area.  But, the best part of the weekend was the company I had. I couldn’t have been more comfortable around a group of 13 people I had never met before. We shared plenty of laughs, incredible food, and some of the best views on the West Coast, all while capturing it on two Sony cameras that didn’t break my back and helped me bring the adventure back home with some beautiful photos and video. 

The post A Weekend in Lake Tahoe with Two Small Sony Cameras appeared first on Resource Travel.

In fact, sacrilegious as this might sound to some readers, I think that the Leica M10 is at its best when used essentially as a point and shoot camera – for street photography at any rate. –Barney Britton 3/14/2017

The Mug Shot of Public Enemy #1 on DPReview.com

But that is exactly what the apparently fearless Barney Britton did in his latest article on DPReview. Now, after reading through Barney’s experiences of photographing through Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan with nothing but a Leica M10, I can understand why he is comparing it to shooting with a point and shoot. But simply uttering the words ‘Leica’ and ‘Point and Shoot’ in the same day, let alone the same sentence, can be grounds for flogging on DPReview. But, this man nonetheless did it.

In an interesting and humorous recap of his experience photographing the fast moving Japanese culture using a purposely slow Leica, Barney says:

I’ve heard it said that if you write a song on a banjo, and the song works, then it’s probably a good song. The point, of course, being that because the banjo is so simple, and so limited an instrument compared to (say) the electric guitar, it forces the composer to focus on the essentials of structure and melody.

With no auto-focus, the hipster in Barney was excited for the challenge that lie ahead. After all, auto-focus is SO mainstream. And at the end of the day, the experience is just what Barney and other Leica fans find so appealing about the camera brand.

Without question, I would have come back from Japan with more in-focus, correctly-framed shots had I traveled with a DSLR. I’m not afraid to admit it. But they wouldn’t have been the same shots. And at the end of the day, would I have had as much fun? I doubt it – and I certainly wouldn’t have thought as much about my process.

Read Barney’s can’t stop reading take on the Leica M10 on DPReview and play with the RAW files yourself in this sample gallery.

The post Photographing Japan With a Leica M10 Is Like Juggling With One Hand appeared first on Resource Travel.

On their website,  DPReview shares the latest in their popular field test videos, along with an in-depth review of the camera. DPReview brought along renowned photographer Max Lowe to document a new travel destination with the camera. But not only are all the below photographs by DPReview editor Dale Baskin taken with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, but DPReview videographer Eric Becker also filmed the field test using the camera while shooting in glorious 4k resolution.

The results, both photo and video, are a great look at the power of the new Canon camera and re-emphasises the beauty of Croatia.

(Photos by DPReview Editor Dale Baskin)

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The post Field Testing The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast appeared first on Resource Travel.

I spent about two days in Austin with Sony testing their latest camera releases. Here’s what I explored and encountered during my trip.

Shot on Sony a99 II / Photo by Billy Murray

Packing Your Kit
My kit was comprised of the Sony A99 II, a6500, and RX 100 Mark V, as well as a line up of prime and zoom lenses, including the Sony Zeiss 10-18mm F/4, 16-70mm F/4, 85mm F/1.8, 16-35mm F/2.8, and the Sony FE 70-200. Since this was a press excursion, I had easy access to gear, and wouldn’t normally pack nearly as much in my kit. In terms of lenses, I’d simply recommend the 16-35mm. This gives you a nice wide focal length for landscapes, 35mm for portraits, and an aperture just wide enough to get by at a concert. I’m not a fan of big, long lenses, especially when traveling, and the 16-35mm F/2.8 is sleek, functional, and won’t add much extra weight to your lightweight mirrorless setup. But since this is an A-mount lens, if you want to avoid an adapter for an E-mount body, the 16-70mm F/4 has got you covered in nearly any scenario, unless you’re planning to shoot in a particularly dark environment.

I don’t want to focus too heavily on gear, but here are a few key things I’ll point out for each new system.

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

a6500
This was the main camera I shot with on the trip. Generally speaking, it’s a reliable, compact prosumer grade piece of equipment. Some of its new features compared to its predecessor, the a6300, are body image stabilization (IBIS), touch screen focus, and a faster processor that can shoot 300 JPEG frames in a single burst at 11fps, or 100 if you’re shooting RAW + JPEG. My biggest issue with this camera is the noise level upward of ISO 1000. I typically don’t mind grain, especially for music photography, but if you’re in low-light and exposing for the highlights, the results are a bit underwhelming when you bring up the shadows in post.

Shot on Sony a99 II / Photo by Billy Murray

A99 II
As someone who’s predominantly shot mirrorless throughout the past year, I was pleasantly surprised by this beast of a full frame 42.4-megapixel DSLR. Although it’s a bit on the heavier side, it focuses reliably fast and incredibly sharp. When I initially encountered a Dakota Pipeline protest on the streets, I was in the midst of a leisurely walk, and didn’t have my usual flexible point back button AF set up. I don’t think my AF was even set to continuous mode. It was also dusk, so I bumped my ISO, raised my shutter speed to 1/500, and started snapping away. At the time, I had no idea if any of my shots were focused, but once I uploaded my files, I couldn’t have been more impressed with the overall quality and clarity of the images, respectively.

Shot on Sony RX 100 V / Photo by Billy Murray

RX 100 V
I typically don’t ever carry a point-and-shoot, but the RX 100 is the first of its class. Some notable features include 24fps burst shooting in JPEG + RAW, 20MP 1″-type stacked BSI-CMOS sensor, 4K video capture, and 24-70mm equivalent F1.8-2.8 zoom lens. For a pocket sized device, this thing is an absolute workhorse, one that’s seemingly unmatched by any other point-and-shoot on the market. However, the one main drawback is the price point of $999.99.

Shot on Sony a99 II / Photo by Billy Murray

Documentary and Lifestyle
There’s always something interesting happening on the streets of Austin. The downtown area can be explored on foot, which gives way to street art, decrepit alleyways, and street kids acting weird in public. There are pickup trucks and motorcycles parked on nearly every other corner, a perfect backdrop for capturing that classic Texas street scene. I’d recommend starting in the iconic Rainey Street Historic District—which is also a great place to start if you’re into the bar scene—then walking up Congress Ave while exploring the surrounding blocks until you hit the Texas Capitol. This photo walk should take you a little over an hour, depending on how often you stop.

When I first arrived, I walked for about 20 minutes, until I encountered a protest made up of a couple hundred people. Presumably, many of the protestors were college students from the nearby University of Texas and St. Edwards University. By far, these are my favorite image I captured during my trip. It was a real, raw Austin moment, which is always what I look for when I’m traveling.

Shot on Sony a99 II / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Action and Sports
If you live on the east coast, you probably remember the BMX scene as a thing of the past, but in Austin, it is still very much alive. The park we visited was East Eiland and Morgan Moss, which is home to fairly large cement bowl, and of course, some stairs sets, handrails, boxes, and more. We shot there in the morning through the early afternoon, which gave us really harsh light and little shade. This is surely a spot best photographed in the golden hour.

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

If you’re more into traditional sports, the universities in Austin are home to a variety of NCAA teams, and are among the biggest sports schools in the U.S. We stopped into a women’s basketball game at St. Edwards University, and as someone who’s not really into sports, I found myself constantly putting down my camera and getting sucked into the game. In addition, there are a number of other action-related activities in Austin if high-intensity shots are what you’re looking for. For example, we photographed the Austin Disc Dogs catching frisbees, equestrian sports at Wind Song Farms, and witnessed the Austin Rowing Club descend on the Colorado River during sunrise.

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Live Music
Austin a music town to say the least; it’s a place where “I’m going out tonight” is almost always followed by “who are you seeing?” It’s home to a variety of legendary venues and clubs, yet it’s easy witness magic on a typical night by blindly walking into a smaller venue or bar. And of course, there’s the annual SXSW Festival, which turns the entire town into a three-day spectacle that covers the convergence of music and film. During this trip, we photographed Ian Moore, a local blues rock artist, at 3Ten ACL Live. There, we had the guidance of Sony Artisan Chad Wadsworth, an Austin-based music photographer. Check out more of his work here.

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Local Cuisine
Yes, Texas is known for its barbecue, but Austin is also filled with tacos. There are plentiful food trucks and taco stands scattered around the city, and it would be a sin not to try at least one selection of breakfast tacos during your trip. And they’re certainly not difficult to find. Below are a few of the restaurants we visited, all of which I would highly recommend.

Shot on Sony RX 100 V / Photo by Billy Murray

La Condesa
Located in Downtown Austin, La Condesa is a bright, sunny Mexican restaurant, named after a bohemian neighborhood in Mexico City. The decor is eclectic, with wooden walls and vibrant greenery, which plays into the theme of its menu—it’s far more diverse and lavish compared to traditional Mexican cuisine. There’s also a tequila tasting room in the basement, which will leave you with pink cheeks as you walk out with a full belly.

Emmer and Rye
This restaurant offers a seasonally styled local cuisine, with a menu that changes daily. You can either dine off the menu or choose from the nightly table-side dishes that circulate around the room. I would highly suggest the pasta, as it’s all freshly made in-house and will appease any savory carb-addict like myself.

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

The Salt Lick
Though a great spot for catering, The Salt Lick is home to two locations: one in Driftwood, TX and one in Roundrock, TX. With every classic barbecue dish you can think of, from ribs and brisket to sausage and smoked turkey breast, it’s far too easy to eat yourself into a coma, and a solid choice for a taste of Texas barbecue.

See more photos from the Sony Austin Excursion 2016 below:

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a99 II / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a99 II / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a99 II / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

Shot on Sony a6500 / Photo by Billy Murray

The post 48 Hours in Austin, Texas with Three New Sony Cameras appeared first on Resource Travel.

Always exploring ways to help inspire others to appreciate the night sky, Canales began working with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry astronomy camp, where he would take the campers up to some of Oregon’s darkest locations to feast in the vivid night sky. Ofter, they would meet up with Oregon Star Party, a group of almost 600-night enthusiasts. Like Canales documents in his films from previous years, the two groups gathered to witness the Perseid Meteor Shower at Hancock Field Station in Central Oregon and the Ochoco State Forest.

But unlike his last film, which Canales made using the High ISO capabilities of the Sony A7s, this year, he was armed with the new Canon ME20f-SH, which as the capability of shooting at 400,000 ISO. Coupled with the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 ART lens, Canales thought he had a setup that would yield his best results to date.

The Canon MH20 hard at work in Oregon’s Alvord Desert.

The video is an inspiring example how far technology has taken us creatives in the last decade. As Ben says…

 

Welp… I think this one may be the beginning of something damn interesting….This was shot at 400k ISO on the Canon ME20f-SH. Check out the scene at 2:50!

 

Check out more from Canales on Uncage The Soul Productions , his astro photo website and Facebook.

Canales provided Resource Travel with a collection of photos from his previous trips with  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry astronomy camp and Oregon Star Party.

The post See the Milky Way and Perseid Meteor Shower at 400,000 ISO appeared first on Resource Travel.

Clark describes why Santa Fe made an ideal location to put the D5 to the test.

Santa Fe is this city based in this high-altitude altiplano between three different mountain ranges. It’s a small city with some of the best light I’ve seen anywhere in the world. There is 30 different climbing areas, skiing, mountain biking, BMX, white-water kayaking. There is a whole variety of adventure sports here.

DPReview tells us why the autofocus is so impressive. “Nikon’s D5 is a full-frame professional DSLR designed for shooting in tough environments. Market leading 153-point autofocus with 3D tracking enables the D5 to accurately maintain focus even on fast-moving subjects, in very demanding conditions.”

Based on the in-depth field test, it looks like the combination of photographer, sports and location were perfect to find out if the autofocus system on the D5 was all it’s made out to be. Based on what the video and the test shots show, it appears it may well be one of the best, if not the best, on the market today.

Read more on the Nikon D5 on DPReviews detailed review.

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The post Field Testing the Nikon D5 in Action-Packed Santa Fe appeared first on Resource Travel.

DPReview’s Barnaby Britton took Canon’s new flagship camera to the Nyssa Nite Rodeo in Oregon to test it’s performance under pressure. Check out the video, read more about the camera on DPReview, and check out Barnaby’s shots below!

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Photos courtesy of Barnaby Britton and dpreview.com

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Barnaby Britton

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

Photograph taken at the Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Nyssa Oregon, June 18th 2016. Photo by Carey Rose

The post Field Testing the Canon 1D X Mark II at the Rodeo in Oregon appeared first on Resource Travel.

Scientifantastic’s Joe Capra says having the ability to shoot in such extreme resolution “allows you much more creative freedom and flexibility in post production. You can punch in extremely far into a scene while maintaining massive amounts of detail.” Unfortunately, sometimes Capra’s “punching into scenes” can be a little too aggressive and excessive, making the film hard to watch for people who may experience motion sickness.

But other than that, the time-lapse Joe captured with his Phase One XF IQ3 100MP is beyond marvelous. Its extreme level of detail lets viewers experience Los Angeles as if they were floating above it, making his previous 10K Rio de Janeiro-video immediately seem out of date.

The post Time-Lapse Film Explores Los Angeles in Extreme 12k Resolution appeared first on Resource Travel.

To test the D810,  Nikon’s highest resolution DSLR, and it’s D810A brother, which was specially designed to capture astrophotography, DPReview enlisted the help of José Francisco Salgado.

Being both an astronomer and a photographer, Salgado is a great choice to put these workhorse cameras to the test. The team headed out to the famed deserts of Souther California.

The images that Salgado captured are phenomenal, sharp and clean. But hear his thoughts on the camera and watch how he used the Nikon flagship on DPReview.

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Follow José Francisco Salgado, PhD. on his website, Facebook, and Twitter. 
Photos courtesy of José Francisco Salgado, PhD.

Nikon D810A + 14-24mm f/2.8G | Inyo County, CA, 3 March 2015

The post Field Testing the Nikon D810 Under the California Desert’s Star-Filled Skies appeared first on Resource Travel.

Last year,  the “urban explorer” partnered up with Nikon to capture abandoned locations in Europe that had rarely or never been photographed before. The project provided him with “an opportunity to challenge myself and push my urban exploration photography to another level.” David’s six-week road trip throughout nine European countries resulted in astonishing imagery, that eventually became part of Nikon’s Project Spotlight: Abandoned Places.

THE MOTHERSHIP.
“Linnahall is a former concert hall in Tallinn, Estonia. With a two minute exposure, I could reveal the architecture of the place, which otherwise sat in darkness. The central framing gives the photograph its power, drawing the eye right to the centre. To me, it almost looks like a spaceship.”
© David de Rueda

HIGH FREQUENCY.
“This picture was taken in a disused experimental power facility near Moscow, which was closely guarded by half a dozen dogs. After a little persuasive discussion, the caretaker let us in. As the sun was setting, I had a few minutes to find the perfect point of view. A chance bird flying overhead added further poetry to the scene.”
© David de Rueda

“I started urban exploration when I was about 17 years old. I was very curious with these places we see every day, but never get to explore.”

LONE BIRD.
“I spent some time exploring the rooftops of Pripyat (a ghost town in northern Ukraine) because I could see the whole area from there and it offered an opportunity to stretch my creativity. In this picture, I wanted to capture the total loneliness that encapsulates the city.”
© David de Rueda

SUN DUST.
“On the second day in Pripyat, I had the chance to witness a sunrise from the top of Pripyat’s highest building, the Fujiyama. Sun rays ran in the middle of the dead city, bringing the whole place back to life for a few short seconds.”
© David de Rueda

The more David became interested in his genre, the more demanding he became of his gear. In a talk with Nikon Europe, he shares what an urban explorer like himself packs in his “quite small” photography kit, why he packs it, and what you should watch out for. Viewers learn how he not only carries around his D810 and a few lenses, but also a few torches and gloves.

CHILD DREAM.
“Our last day in Pripyat. For the three past days, I asked myself how I could capture the famous ferris wheel from a new and original point of view. Luckily, my wish to have some snow was fulfilled, providing a dreamy ambiance that totally changed Pripyat. Positioning myself on a rooftop next to the wheel, I finally captured the picture I was looking for.”
© David de Rueda

THE ONE.
“This is inside the abandoned power plant near Budapest, Hungary. It’s an impressive place, with a huge sense of scale, abandoned machinery everywhere and a strong, haunting atmosphere. I felt like I was in a science fiction movie and wanted to create my own world with this photograph.”
© David de Rueda

“I like to bring people to these places, because it brings life to them. Because these places are dead.”

THE SIGNAL.
“Under the congress room of Buzludzha (historical peak in the Central Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria), I discovered a place that seemed to be from another planet. I used my torch to light it up and discovered everything was covered with ice.”
© David de Rueda

NIGHT SOULS.
“Somewhere in a deserted area of Iceland’s south coast lies this long-forgotten wreck of a Douglas DC-3 aircraft. I arrived there at 4am and, as we waited, polar lights gradually appeared on the horizon. I admired this magic show until dawn and used a 90 second exposure, with some light painting added inside the plane, to capture this image.”
© David de Rueda

“The prototype Soviet Buran spacecraft deep in the Kazakhstan desert was the most epic scene I’ve discovered since picking up a camera. It was a real adventure to get there, and to be able to take photographs of them was the ultimate reward. The feeling when I saw the nose of one of the shuttles with my flash light in the middle of the night was truly indescribable!”

LOST IN SPACE.
“This image is the result of 180 kilometres of off-road driving in the Kazakhstan desert, followed by 45 kilometres of walking in a highly restricted area. We arrived and there they were; two relics of the Soviet space race in a huge abandoned warehouse. “
© David de Rueda

When asked about places he would still like to explore, David tells Resource Travel that “the list is endless!” And he doesn’t seem worried about getting inside of them. “It sometimes requires imagination, but there’s always a way.”

A visit to David’s website is highly recommended if you want to see more of his art. You can also take a look at his Instagram, Twitter or Facebook page.

The post Urban Explorer Reveals Europe’s Most Beautiful Abandoned Places appeared first on Resource Travel.

DPReview is known for their in-depth camera field tests, and lately, they have been adding a travel angle to most of them. From fly fishing in Washington, exploring the Mississippi Blues Trail and SCUBA diving in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the team has been creating some interesting real life field tests of some of the industry’s newest cameras.

So when it came time for Barnaby Britton to put the new Canon EOS 80D to the test, he decided to partner with his friend Kiliii Yuyan to build a kayak in their home state of Washington. You may remember Yuyan from our story about the time he documented primitive skills training in the rigged Cascade Mountains.

The field test is a great look into how the Canon performs in the dusty kayak making hanger. But in addition, you may even learn how to build your summer kayak. Or you could just contact Yuyan at Sea Wolf Kayak.

See more on the Canon EOS 80D field test on DPReview.
Follow DPReview on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Photos courtesy of dpreview.com

The post Field Testing the Canon EOS 80D While Building Kayaks in Washington appeared first on Resource Travel.

We have been loving the way our friends at DPReview have been producing field tests for new cameras, and the latest episode is another reminder as to why they are the best in the business. While the previous field tests have been more outdoor focused, like fly fishing in Washington and SCUBA diving in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the team did something a little more intimate with the Olympus PEN-F.

DPReview’s Wenmei Hill and New Orleans-based photographer Claire Bangser teamed up to explore the famed Mississippi Blues Trail. Bangser has been documenting daily life on the streets of New Orleans for her project NOLAbeings for years with an original Olympus Pen-D, a camera that still holds up more than 50 years after it’s release. Bangser’s knowledge and passion for the Olympus Pen-D and love for documenting life in the south made her a perfect photographer for this field test.

Follow the team as they visit the historic spots along the Mississippi Blues Trail and meet the unique and friendly people whose families have lived along the route for generations. As a huge fan of the blues and small towns and the people who make them special, I think this may be my favorite DPReview field test yet!

Follow Claire Bangser  and her project NOLAbeings on her website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Follow DPReview on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

The post Field Testing the Olympus PEN-F on the Mississippi Blues Trail appeared first on Resource Travel.

So get ready to step up your travel photography game in 2016 with these 10 essential pieces of gear that every travel photographer needs.

Shoot the Northern Lights Kit

Even though the Aurora season is coming to an end, it’s never too early to start planning your winter Arctic excursions for a chance to see one of the most incredible phenomenon in person. But even though just witnessing the Northern Lights will make anyone happy, us photographers want to bring home photos that help convey the vibrant scenes that we saw, and having the right equipment is critical. Which is why we have created our own custom “Shoot the Northern Lights Kit”, with the Pentax K-1 the centerpiece to make sure you walk away with the sharpest aurora images possible.

Get your “Shoot the Northern Lights Kit” on Resource Unbox.

DJI Phantom 4

Aerial photo and video is being integrated into the standard travel photographer’s portfolio more and more as quadcopters become more sophisticated, yet remain generally inexpensive. Tourism boards crave the unique views that only UAVs can provide to help promote their destinations, which gives aerial ready photographers a “wing up” when proposing projects to travel companies.

Get your DJI Phantom 4 on Resource Unbox.

Manfrotto BeFree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

For those of us who spend more time sprinting through airport terminals than jogging on a treadmill, light and compact tripods are a necessity. Due to video work, I have had to travel with heavier tripods on some trips, and I found myself daydreaming about trips where I would only need a travel tripod, and at a scant 2.4 lbs and 15.75″ long when folded up, the Manfrotto BeFree is as good as it gets.

Get your Manfrotto BeFree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod on Resource Unbox.

Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V2

When it comes to travel photography, it’s all about comfort, convenience, and productivity. Nothing on the market comes close to making our lives easier than the simple Peak Design Camera Clip. The Peak Design team is the best in the business at designing well thought out products that help keep photographers happy, and the Capture Clip is simply a piece of gear no photographer should be without, traveling or not. It’s absolutely essential.

Get your Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V2 on Resource Unbox.

VSN V.360 Action Cam

Love it or hate it, 360° video is all the rage. The unique, viewer-controlled video makes you feel as you are truly in the scene, whether it’s almost being hit by a plane, hovering over an active volcano, or flying wing to wing with the Blue Angels, it’s hard to deny the “WOAH” factor that 360° video delivers. The VSN V.360 Action Cam is the easiest way to jump into the 360° game, as the sturdy underwater housing allows you to take the camera on every possible adventure you can dream of. And the GoPro mount compatibility let’s you get right into the action while using all those old GoPro harnesses that you have laying around.

Get your VSN V.360 Action Cam on Resource Unbox.

Brinno TLC 200 Pro HDR Time-Lapse Camera

Ok, this is pretty cool. The compact Brinno delivers the perfect set up for Behind the Scenes time-lapse films. While the quality won’t deliver anything that you can include in a high production film (the 1.3 Megapixel sensor only delivers 720p video), the ease of use and ridiculous battery life can open up doors for some unique time-lapse films. You can set your shooting interval from as little as 0.3 seconds to as much as 24 hours and this camera will continue to take photos for days or even weeks. Brinno claims a battery will last 40 days while taking a photo every five minutes in the Daylight setting mode. Add to that the camera has an interchangeable lens system with three lenses available (19mm, 18-55mm, 24-70mm) and the Brinno is a fun gadget for travel photographers to post their short videos to Instagram. Check out a sample video here.

Get your Brinno TLC 200 Pro HDR Time-Lapse Camera on Resource Unbox.

Syrp Genie

Ok, so we just saw how we can create cool standard HD behind-the-scenes time-lapse films, but what about the videographer who needs high-quality smooth motion video and time-lapse footage? In comes the Syrp Genie, which is one of the best motion control products on the market, especially for traveling filmmakers as it only weighs 3.3 pounds but can handle a 44-pound setup. 12 hours of battery life will have you time-lapsing the Milky Way all night this summer while you catch some much needed Zzzzz’s in your tent.

Get your Syrp Genie on Resource Unbox. 

Lifepack Anti-Theft Solar Backpack

Often, the number one concern among travel photographers is theft of their valuable gear. Whether on an adventure for fun or on a working job, nothing can kill your travel high more than having camera equipment or irreplaceable memory cards stolen. Luckily for us, the Lifepack Anti-Theft Solar Backpack can help ease our minds a bit. With its retractable combination padlock, you can secure your zippers shut or even lock the entire bag to a nearby object if you need the temporary freedom to move about without a pack on your back. But since you aren’t worried about your gear being stolen, the built-in speakers can blast your favorite tunes while solar charging panels keep your phone going with up to 12 charges.

Get your Lifepack Anti-Theft Solar Backpack on Resource Unbox.

GoPro HERO4 Session

For over 10 years, GoPro has been the first name mentioned when talking about action cameras. They have been the one constant in the market as other products come and go, and for good reason. GoPros just get the job done. And the smallest action cam in the world, the GoPro HERO4 Session is no different. The tiny cube records 1080p video at 60 frames per second at an underwater depth of up to 33 feet in addition to built-in time-lapse functionality and 8MP still images. Pair it with the trusty Smart Phone app and GoPro delivers yet another action cam that just always gets the job done.

Get your GoPro HERO4 Session on Resource Unbox.

Apple iPad Pro

While mobile editing is becoming more and more advanced with products like Lightroom Mobile, Snapseed, and VSCO, it is becoming less critical for busy travel photographers to lug a laptop with them everywhere. The final edits can wait till you get home, but when you only have five minutes of free time to edit a photo and post to your social networks so your Mom can know you are still alive, nothing beats editing on the monster that is the iPad Pro. A 12.9 inch Retina Display, lightning fast A9X processor, and up to 128 GB of internal flash storage fit into a sleek package that is a slim 6.9 mm thin and weighs only 1.57 pounds. While expensive, the iPad Pro is a valuable tool for the working travel photographer.

Get your Apple iPad Pro on Resource Unbox

The post 10 Essential Pieces Of Gear Every Travel Photographer Needs appeared first on Resource Travel.