Do I take a tripod?
Discussion
I'm in the fortunate position of diappearing to New Zealand for a month in December :bounce: Naturally I shall be wielding the D70 most of the time :)
However, I've been inspired by some Andris Apse shots where running water is blurred = slow shutter speed = tripod...
I can't find an exact example here but this is stuff that gives even GetCarter some competition :) www.andrisapse.com
So - I have a Cullman medium size, medium weight tripod. Do I try to get this to NZ, or buy something smaller and lighter, or just say 'bollox' and lean on a tree? I don't think a monopod will do the job.
However, I've been inspired by some Andris Apse shots where running water is blurred = slow shutter speed = tripod...
I can't find an exact example here but this is stuff that gives even GetCarter some competition :) www.andrisapse.com
So - I have a Cullman medium size, medium weight tripod. Do I try to get this to NZ, or buy something smaller and lighter, or just say 'bollox' and lean on a tree? I don't think a monopod will do the job.
simpo two said:
v15ben said:
I will be in NZ around that time as well 
Well if you're near Auckland over Christmas 25/12- 1/1...?
It could be very much likely! I am studying in Sydney until late November followed by a couple of weeks travelling up the east coast to Cairns. I am then flying out from Cairns to Christchurch then travelling in NZ until mid January when work calls me back home again!
Should be fun
The current route starting Mid December is something like this but I may be in Auckland around new year!
I have just about worked out a basic route around NZ I hope!
Just putting it up to see what people think of it, is it practical and what changes would you make? I think it covers everywhere I want to go to
Fly into Christchurch
Couple of days in ChCh
Then a day at Akaroa
Then either Tranzalpine railway to Greymoutn, then Franz Josef for a few days, Mount Cook, Doubtful Sound for a few more days then Queenstown.
Or ChCh to Queenstown, Doubtful, Mount Cook, Franz Josef then Nelson.
Which of these routes sounds most feasible or are they equally reasonable?
Then onto North Island:
Nelson to Wellington
then Wanganui and Taupo
Rotoura
Wiatomo
Auckland
and if there is time left
Bay of Islands then back to Auckland to fly back to Sydney then home!
>> Edited by v15ben on Saturday 21st May 00:16
YES, TAKE A TRIPOD WITH YOU ! I always put mine in my suitcase and have never had a problem.
I did a month down in NZ over the millenium. Toured by motorbike (Guzzi California) and found that it rains somewhere in NZ every day even in the summer ! Bungeed the tripod in its bag across the back seat of the bike and it survived OK. Doesn't matter which way you go round, it may pay to remain flexible and choose your route according to the weather when you get there.
Prices for staple items were about a third to a half of what you'd pay in the UK but camera stuff was about the same as here - which made it expensive for the locals.
While you're in Christchurch take a trip to Lyttleton, its the port town and is worth a bit of exploring - see if the old Russian trawlers are still there awaiting payment of port fees !
If you can get to Oamaru one evening its worth seeing the rafts of penguins come ashore - though you're not allowed to take cameras as the flash can frighten them. They had to put complete a ban on due to a few numpties...
Well worth spending a few days in the Bay of Islands. I thought Taupo was a bit dull but Napier is a must see. The town was flattened by an earthquake in the early 20th century and was completely rebuilt in Art Deco style.
Finally, watch out for those Kea parrots. Big, strong, aggressive and stupid. One decided to attack the headlamp of by bike as I was riding at 50mph and I had a bit of a moment while trying to get rid of it !
I did a month down in NZ over the millenium. Toured by motorbike (Guzzi California) and found that it rains somewhere in NZ every day even in the summer ! Bungeed the tripod in its bag across the back seat of the bike and it survived OK. Doesn't matter which way you go round, it may pay to remain flexible and choose your route according to the weather when you get there.
Prices for staple items were about a third to a half of what you'd pay in the UK but camera stuff was about the same as here - which made it expensive for the locals.
While you're in Christchurch take a trip to Lyttleton, its the port town and is worth a bit of exploring - see if the old Russian trawlers are still there awaiting payment of port fees !
If you can get to Oamaru one evening its worth seeing the rafts of penguins come ashore - though you're not allowed to take cameras as the flash can frighten them. They had to put complete a ban on due to a few numpties...
Well worth spending a few days in the Bay of Islands. I thought Taupo was a bit dull but Napier is a must see. The town was flattened by an earthquake in the early 20th century and was completely rebuilt in Art Deco style.
Finally, watch out for those Kea parrots. Big, strong, aggressive and stupid. One decided to attack the headlamp of by bike as I was riding at 50mph and I had a bit of a moment while trying to get rid of it !
Hi Simpo, do you mean pics like these?:
From this chaps website: www.dannyburk.com/photography_galleries.htm Some good inspiration there.
If so, you will need a tripod. Also, with the relatively high minimum ISO of your D70, you might like to take a set of neutral density filters with you to get the shutter speeds down. For weight and size, the Gitzo and Manfrotto carbon fibres are ideal for travel.... not cheap though.
Cheers
From this chaps website: www.dannyburk.com/photography_galleries.htm Some good inspiration there.
If so, you will need a tripod. Also, with the relatively high minimum ISO of your D70, you might like to take a set of neutral density filters with you to get the shutter speeds down. For weight and size, the Gitzo and Manfrotto carbon fibres are ideal for travel.... not cheap though.
Cheers
simpo two said:
I'm thinking I might buy a cheap, light one in Seoul or Auckland, so at least I save half the journey.
Tempting but I don't recommend it. I used a lightweight tripod on a tour of northern Australia and found that it very quickly wore and became wobbly. On a tour of South Africa I had another one which fell apart at the top of a waterfall and joined the cascading water to the bottom as I opened it
Just yesterday a friend had one that he'd bought in Germany just before Christmas and cost about £35 fall apart in his hands as he was coming to the end of a tour of Kew.
Which Cullman have you got ? Magic 2 ? If so that would be ideal to take with you.
I'd take it. I found I can carry a 5lb tripod around all day without undue worry and I'm skinny. You're bound to find something that you'd want to use a particular feature for and you'll kick yourself if you don't take it. Glow worms come to mind here, especially as there are smaller caves on the South Island in the Greymouth area where its possible to get much closer than on the tourist places of the North Island.
Watch out for the lupins alongside the roads, and nothing can prepare you for the colour of the glacial lakes in the Mount Cook area.
Watch out for the lupins alongside the roads, and nothing can prepare you for the colour of the glacial lakes in the Mount Cook area.
Stone sir ?
What for ? They've got them lying around on the ground over there !
Not like these sir, look at the craftmanship.
Same applies with the lupins on the South Island around the Mount Cook area. They grow like wildfire. What with them and the glacier lakes the whole place can look like some kind of vivid, drug inspired dream !
What for ? They've got them lying around on the ground over there !
Not like these sir, look at the craftmanship.
Same applies with the lupins on the South Island around the Mount Cook area. They grow like wildfire. What with them and the glacier lakes the whole place can look like some kind of vivid, drug inspired dream !
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