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Re: [OM] yet another "What would you take?"

Subject: Re: [OM] yet another "What would you take?"
From: andrew fildes <afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 17:35:44 +1000
Whatever else you take - a small 'Pelican' style waterproof case (they come
in some very small sizes). They float, give shock protection and are
virtually airtight. Perfect for banging around in small boats. Then, put
silica gel packs in it. Lots. Some of the equatorial high rainfall islands
grow fungii and moulds at speeds you'd find terrifying. Service personnel
in the war reported that their uniforms rotted clean off them in weeks,
especially at the seams, in places like Christmas Island. Whatever spores
are in your lens already would regard the trip as the chance of a lifetime
- warm and 1000midity.
>From my own kit, I'd take a 21/3.5, 28/2, 50/3.5, 300/4.5, 2S, 1n. Why?  21
and 28 for landscapes. 50 macro for unusual vegetation and fungii. 300 for
birds. 1n in case the 2S failed. No specialist portrait lens because
there's no inhabitants. 50/3.5 as dual purpose standard lens because the
light is good. Leave the campfire/hospitality shots to others or take an
XA. Take a couple of submersible disposables for underwater or leave it to
the pros.
Plus - polariser; lots and lots and lots of pro-quality film (slide plus
100 and 800 neg); spare batteries and spares for the spares; cleaning kit.
Tripod would be nice - ask if there's one there already.
Believe me, 12 weeks on a remote high humidity atoll, your major concern is
not flash! More likely to be skin problems, cabin fever and stepping on
those crabs in the forest.
Good luck!
AndrewF
(ps. most birds get tame - if you feed them!)



>I realize these come up from time to time and they may or may not be fun for
>everyone else, but I enjoy reading all the replies b/c someone often points
>out an angle or approach that I would have overlooked.  I also want to share
>my latest journey with the rest of list :-)
>So here goes:
>On August 21st I leave for Palmyra Atoll.  Don't fret if you have never
>heard of it b/c it sits dead center in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 1000
>miles south of Hawaii and 5 degree north of the Equator.  The Nature
>Conservancy bought this little gem to protect it from development,
>commercial fishing, and nuclear waste, among other things.  The 50 islets
>cover only 680 acres and there are no permanent residents aside from TNC
>staff.  It has five times the number of hard corals as the Hawaiian Islands,
>three times the number of corals as the Florida Keys/Caribbean and
>scientists continue to discovery more on each dive.  Above land there is the
>second largest colony of red-footed boobies and the largest land
>invertebrate in the world, the coconut crab (it can get as big as a trash
>can lid).  Like the Galapagos, some of the birds are nearly tame.  My
>responsibilities will be to serve as hospitality/camp assistant, which
>includes waiting on the donors TNC flies down to the island in hopes they
>will leave their checkbook.  When not fulfiilling my camp duties, I will
>help with the rat eradication project.
>Anyway, I need some suggestions on what to take.  I'll be staying 12 weeks,
>and I'm only supposed to take 40 lbs of gear total (including clothes).  I
>may be given and extra allowance b/c I'm staying longer than most or they
>will bring down more stuff on the next flight 10 days after I arrive.
>So what I need all of you to do is imagine you had access to any lens or
>body (I don't, but that's okay) and tell me what you would take.  Keep in my
>the expected subjects: birds, landscapes and general macro...and don't
>forget about the weight considerations.
>One of my major concerns is flash.  The atoll receives 175 inches of rain
>per year, so the islands are densely covered with vegetation and forest.  I
>have a 4T and a F280 and the discussion of flash condensers/extenders has me
>curious.  Is fill flash with a T32 out of the question?
>What about underwater pics?
>
>TIA,
>--p.j.
>
>If anyone is curious about my destination, here are some links:
>http://nature.org/palmyra/
>http://www.owj.com/palmyra/
>http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/20000504.me.14.ram
>http://www.npr.org/programs/re/archives/000724.palmyra.html
>http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/vandiest/palmyra.htm
>http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/janeresture/palmyra/ (this site has sound)
>
>http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0103/feature2/index.html
>
>
>
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