Where We're At

An iPhone shot of the field from last week. Not a
bad place to start most days from.

This morning I set up my tripod in the fairground area across from our house for what is likely the last time I shoot a landscape in Europe. It wasn't in a famous location or a spot that is particularly remarkable in the German countryside. Instead, it was to shoot a view of home. It's a view of a big hill on the other side of the river with the fairground field in the foreground. This field is where we've been walking our dog for the last 3.5 years. The view of that unremarkable field and the unremarkable hill across the river has been the view from our house, a view we've had in our lives longer than any other. It was important to me to capture it during a sunrise. In a month we'll pull away from this house and our street and this town and we'll probably never see that view again, at least not at that time of day. I think we often take these types of places for granted and sometimes we see them so much we forget that there might come a time we will never see them again and then we may forget them. I've lived in a lot of places and I have photographs from all of them. But, they're mostly all snapshots. It wasn't until we moved to Europe that I thought to document the towns and homes we lived in with a little more care. So, this morning I officially closed out my European photographic journey with shooting a place that means a little more to me than some bright city or sweeping landscape elsewhere. It isn't that exciting compared to all those other places I photographed, but every time I looked out a window at home at this view or walked The Dog in the field, I said a little thanks for being given time to live in this beautiful, simple place.

After I came inside this morning, I packed up most of my equipment. Saturday morning we're flying back to the US. We're going for a week to finalize our housing in Akron and take care of a lot of logistical stuff. We're also taking The Dog back and he will be hanging out with my parents who graciously offered to care for him until we finalize the move at the end of next month. That way we will be able to take Cats 1 & 2 in the cabin with us on that last flight instead of putting them in the hold. The Dog will be riding under the seat on Saturday's flight and my computer, backup drives, all of my cameras, lenses, and other misc gear will be riding under the seat next to him. The "powers" that be in Washington are threatening to make passengers check their laptops on flights from Europe to the US like they did earlier this year with flights coming from Muslim majority nations. I want to get my laptop out of here before that goes into effect. We have a moving company shipping nearly all of our belongings, but I certainly don't want my equipment crossing the ocean on a tanker or in the hold of a cargo plane. So, it all has to come back under the seat on Saturday. No important equipment will be checked, of course. All that will remain in Germany to use during our last few weeks here is my X70 and a Gorillapod.

These next few days I'm going to be cramming in as much editing from our trip to Zermatt as I can and I'll probably continue to work on that while we're in Akron next week. But, we have a lot to get organized for the move too and time will be tight. Whatever I don't get to is going to wait until we are done with the move. I'm not going to have my computer for 3 weeks! So, there's a good chance this will be the last blog post for a while, but I'm hoping to keep posting with my tablet right up until the end. There's definitely going to be a lull in new photograph uploads to the website, though. I hope you'll bear with me!

After we return next weekend, we'll be in Germany for three more weeks. They will be shipping nearly everything we own right after we come back from Akron so we'll be sharing an air mattress on the floor with the Cats and eating a lot of carry out on paper plates. It's going to be like camping in someone else's house because it won't feel like ours anymore. In fact, it doesn't feel like home anymore now. All the art is off the walls, we have piles of stuff everywhere- some for the boat, some for air cargo, some to take back next week, some to donate/throw out (massive hassle on that front, by the way), and some to keep here. It's a mess. International moving is like regular moving except about ten times more stressful. Every single thing has to be kept track of, accounted for, and organized- right down to the toilet paper and cat litter. It's hard to believe that by the end of Summer this will all be behind us and we won't have to move again for hopefully a very, very long time.

So, just wanted to touch base, but I really need to get back to editing. Time is short.

Wow.

Review: Peak Design Everyday Backpack

I warned you. I said back in January that there was a good chance we'd pick up a Peak Design Everyday Backpack at some point. After a great experience using the Everyday Messenger in Venice and the following few months, we decided that there was no point wasting time with the old, uncomfortable backpacks anymore. So, goodbye, generic German pack! Hello, Everyday Backpack!

Let's take a look. 

It has many of the same features of the Everyday Messenger including the Flex-Fold dividers, Maglatch closure, key tether system, anodized aluminum hardware, weatherproof exterior material and zippers, reinforced zipper pulls, and tuck-away straps. We opted for the 20L Ash version since it was the most versatile of the two color scheme choices. This model replaces the hypalon "touch points" with leather ones and the accent color is blue instead of the traditional red.

Leather "touch point" on the Ash model

Weather resistant zipper tracks

Re-enforced zipper pulls

Hardware

Pivot point of the main straps

Also, like the messenger, the backpack has laptop and tablet storage and an easy access quick stash pocket. Unlike the messenger, it has two water bottle/tripod storage pockets. This bag also offers multiple carry options besides the shoulder straps- the usual strap found on the top of most backpacks and two side ones. These two side straps allow you to pick the bag up and carry it in whatever position is the easiest and most comfortable for the moment. 

Access to the laptop/tablet storage and quick stash pocket

Ok, now for the revolutionary parts. First of all, the interior of the bag can be accessed completely from the sides, not just the top!

Why would you want to do such a thing? Well, if you're a photographer you know about the desire to just swing a bag around quickly while still wearing it to grab a camera or some other piece of equipment while on the go. Also, it's a convenient way for a partner to grab something without you needing to take the bag off. We took advantage of this feature almost exclusively in Rome. It saved quite a bit of time to just grab or stash something without needing to remove the bag. Plus, leaving the bag on made it much harder for thieves to nab, an unfortunate concern in Rome. Now, you may notice that there are some zips in those side pockets. Those open up a whole other little world of storage possibilities.

 Within this little secret world are color coded pockets for storing things like memory cards, batteries, filters, lens clothes, what have you without impeding the interior storage capacity of the bag.  There's also another secret pocket inside the top of the bag. See it?

 I didn't either at first (and I completely forgot about it when I took that photograph, actually). It's located inside the top cavity on the outside facing side of the bag. It's a small magnetically sealed pocket perfect for storing valuables and for misplacing your tripod's Allen wrench in.

Another revolutionary thing about this pack are the external carry options. This bag is perfect for securely and comfortably carrying a lot of stuff, all day if you have to.

The Everyday Backpack, fully loaded, in the wilds of the Roman Forum.

Just like last time, the bag test took place in Italy; this time we were in Rome. We had a few days during our trip that were pretty hectic and we needed a bag that would help, not hinder us. After spending so much time on our feet in Venice we decided that a messenger just isn't very comfortable for that type of all day travel situation. A backpack is more the animal for the job. They distribute the weight more evenly on the body making it easier to carry all day.  We had a whole day planned away from our apartment that started at 4:30am when it was about 38ºF through to the afternoon when the temperature was about 75ºF. So, we had coats in the morning and no place to stash them when it was warm enough to be in just our shirt sleeves in the afternoon. Also, we needed to use the tripod in the morning. Thanks to the exterior carry system we were able to roll the jackets up and strap them underneath the bag with the tuck-away straps. The tripod slid easily into one of the outside pockets and we could store a water bottle in the other. The tripod was secured with another one of those fabulous tuck-away straps. Because of its sleek design the bag stayed close and tight to the body even loaded down. The backpack also comes equipped with waist and chest straps that can be tucked away or stowed when not needed. Another nice feature which comes in handy at the airport is the built in luggage strap on the back of the bag that allows you to slip it over a rolling suitcase handle. The bottom of the bag has the same re-enforced material as the messenger so you don't have to worry about setting the bag down on rough or damp surfaces. This also serves as another tripod storage sleeve if you'd prefer keeping yours underneath the bag. The carry possibilities are endless!

Now, we've been through a lot of backpacks through the years, long before cameras came into our lives. There is one thing that determines a good backpack- how your shoulders feel at the end of the day. Once again, my husband did the carrying of the bag. He's struggled with back problems over the years so he'd know sooner than most if a bag is going to be comfortable all day. While carrying the Everyday Messenger caused some discomfort for him, he didn't have a word of complaint about carrying the Everyday Backpack. In fact, he didn't have a single complaint about the bag whatsoever. 

Its design is unassuming and stylish and the straps keep it snug to the body so it feels like a part of you, not a sack swinging behind you that puts pressure on your shoulders and back. Unlike all the other packs we've ever used, this one has class. For those who like to keep a sense of style when they travel, this bag will only add to it.  It transitions seamlessly from an air travel carry-on to a daily use camera bag. Plus, the dividers aren't just for cameras. Non-photographers will get just as much use out of them since they keep your stuff organized and protected. We carried cannoli around in it at one point!

Now, there are a couple of things that I found need a little work. The bag will fit differently on women than men (duh!). Like so many companies on this earth it seems Peak Design may have forgotten about the needs of its female customers a little. The chest strap tends to, uh, conflict with the female anatomy. The only place I find it somewhat comfortable is in the highest possible position (shown above). Because of that it doesn't allow a lot of wiggle room for the Capture One Pro clip system. It took two of us to get the Capture One in an orientation that kept it from digging into me anywhere. It works, but it could work a lot better if that chest strap could be positioned another inch higher.  The second problem I noticed is the same one we found with the Messenger. While the seatbelt material of the straps is tough as nails, it tends to slip over time. I found myself having to tighten the chest strap about a half dozen times on a two hour hike last weekend. The waist belt straps tend to loosen over time as well, even more so with a heavier load. That could be prevented with a redesign of the hardware on future renditions. The slipping isn't a major aggravation and if you're using it for city travel you'll probably be taking it on and off enough anyway that making midway adjustments won't be as necessary. Because of the slippage, I may be less inclined to use the Everyday Backpack for anything longer and more intense than a moderate day hike.

So, is the Everyday Backpack worth the price? Since I don't get any of the gear we test and use for free or at a discount, I can tell you that this bag is worth spending the dough on. Sure, it will cost far more than your standard city daypack, but it definitely will out perform your standard daypacks. Unlike all the other backpacks out there, it doesn't make you look like a dork. There isn't any loose, bulky material to get caught on lens hoods and the origami style dividers make it easy to keep your lenses and bodies happy and safe. The built in organizational pockets in the side panels will guarantee that your shutter release, lens pen, and filters don't go missing in the depths. Plus, it isn't only for photographers. Anyone can use this bag! It's sleek design makes it perfect for getting around town on foot, bicycle, or whatever form of alternative transport you prefer (Segway riders will probably love it too!). All the loose strap ends can be tucked away preventing that untidy and irritating dangly strap end syndrome you get from other bags. For those who shun panniers, this (like its messenger cousin) is a bike commuter's dream bag. The bag itself is weather resistant, so there's no need to deal with a rain cover. It expands and contracts to match its load, and even fully stuffed you're not going to look or feel like a backpacker. At the end or beginning of a trip, it'll ride handily on your luggage and slide neatly under the plane or train seat. Yes, it has a couple of kinks to work out, but so far this is definitely the best backpack we've ever used and I doubt we will want to replace it any time soon.

Travel Advisory for Photographers: Frankfurt International Airport

I'm neck deep in my photos from Lisbon so I'll be writing about that experience next time.  For now, let me say that Lisbon really should be on your must see list.  We were absolutely blown away, and if given the chance I'd fly back in a heartbeat (and seriously consider starting the process to relocate permanently).  But, more on that later.  Today, I'm going to write about flying with cameras.  Specifically, I want to share with you what it is like flying with cameras out of Frankfurt Airport, because, well, it's a pain.

We fly quite a bit, and this year we've been flying more than usual.  I really don't care for air travel, not because I have anything against planes or flying itself, but because airports are really unpleasant places.  Of course, the worst part of the whole thing is security.  Most of the problems stem from inconsistency and ignorance, inconsistency and ignorance on the part of airport security and just plain ignorance on the part of fellow passengers.  It all starts going downhill in the line, before anyone gets to the bins and scanners.  You know there's going to be trouble when the person in front of you has three bags and is wearing enough accessories and jewelry to open a boutique right there on the spot.  Then, surprise, surprise, they (because they have been living under a rock for 15 years) didn't know you can't take that half liter of water through, or that you need to take your computer out of the bag, and, oh, "you mean I have to take ALL the coins out of my pockets?"  That happens everywhere, no matter the airport.  It's just part of the flying experience.  But, what really screws the whole thing up  is that airport security protocols are different at every single airport, there's even a difference from line to line sometimes.  For those of us who are prepared and do know the rules, it's even more frustrating when for no reason whatsoever that airport has decided to add extra protocols without informing you.  What has been happening in Europe the last couple of years and, of course, the recent attack in Brussels has led to heightened security everywhere.  Of course, Frankfurt being one of the biggest international hubs in the world should take some extra precautions.  That's all well and good, but they don't tell you what they want.  So, fellow photographers and other people who carry several electronics on the plane with them, I will tell you.

First, a little information on what I pack.  I never, ever check my photo equipment.  It's no secret that checked bags aren't handled very well, and, unfortunately, stuff does go missing.  So, I pack everything to fit in the cabin, under the seat.  I use ThinkTank's Airport Essentials bag.  If you use a full DSLR size system, it's a great bag.  If you are running light or using mirrorless, it's the perfect bag.  I've packed it with two bodies, four lenses, a tripod, plus all the miscellaneous items and still had room to breathe.  When we went to the UK, I took one body, two lenses, the tripod, and everything else I needed for a weekend away in that bag.  I didn't need to check any luggage or break Lufthansa's one carry-on bag rule (no personal items permitted with these guys).  Now, for a summation of my experiences flying out of Frankfurt airport with this setup.

Last year, when we flew back to the States for Thanksgiving, I came up to the security line, pulled out my iPad and little bag of liquids, put them in their own bin, removed my hat and jacket, put those in another bin, and then put my bag in a third bin.  I didn't have anything in my pockets, I wasn't wearing jewelry, I didn't even wear a belt to the airport.  For that trip, I had packed one body, three lenses, the tripod, and all the other little bits.  Nothing was stacked in the bag.  The lenses and cameras were oriented sideways.  I was under the impression that cameras come through security pretty regularly and that the folks working the x-ray machine should be able to recognize what they are.  I went through the scanner, then received the usual extra pat down (because I'm always "randomly" chosen for that pleasure).  Then, I exited to wait for my stuff.  I was informed that my bag had been flagged for inspection.  I was called aside and had to open up my bag in front of the inspector.  He swabbed everything for chemical residue.  He had me explain what everything was, right down to what the lens pen does. Then a police officer came up, complete with automatic rifle, to do it all again.  They took down my information, stood around for a few minutes doing nothing but chatting about the weekend, then sent me on my way.  It was weird, sure, but it was only a week after the attacks in Paris.  They needed to be more cautious after a major attack in a European capital, I get it and that's fine.

Fast forward to last month when we flew to the UK.  Once again, I was prepared for all the published protocols.  I already pulled out the liquids and iPad before we got to the bins.  I did everything I was supposed to do.  No signs were posted anywhere that they needed people to do anything besides remove iPads or computers and liquids from their bags.  Then...The fellow overseeing my line, who seemed about 17, asked if I had removed all my electronics from the bag. "All my electronics?" I asked.
"Yes, if you have a camera remove that."
"Ok, I have a camera and a couple of lenses."
"Take those out."
I did so. "What about batteries, chargers, and stuff like that?"
"Those things too."
"Tripod?"
"Yes."
"So, basically remove everything from my bag?"
"Yes, I guess so.  It makes it easier to identify."
I followed his instructions, even the one about removing my deodorant from the bag (which isn't a liquid or a gel, btw) while refraining from making a crack about pulling out the packed underwear too.  I also didn't ask why they couldn't recognize what cameras look like in an x-ray.  But, on the positive side, I wasn't pulled aside after passing through the body scanner.  My bag was a mess and it took extra time to reorganize when it was all over, but I didn't have to talk to a cop about what a lens pen was.  It was a pain, but I chalked it up to an overzealous kid new to the job.  My husband, meanwhile, was in a different line and didn't have to remove anything from his bag, despite carrying phone chargers, solid deodorant, and a few other things similar to what I was carrying.

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice...

So, last week we were back at good old chaotic FRA to fly to Lisbon.  Once again, I was prepared.  Once again, nothing new was posted.  In preparation for a little persecution from the staff, I asked the woman running my line if it was ok that I had several items of camera gear in my bag.  She said it was fine.  I asked if I need to remove them.  She responded that I didn't.  Here's my bag:

This was the first time I stored my lenses like this. In the past they've been
stored sideways.  Lens orientation doesn't seem to make a difference.

I can't say I was totally surprised to see my bag whisked down the other belt that went to the inspection area.  This time the inspector kept my bag by him for a while, before finally allowing me access so I could give him my passport and Euro ID and then began the process of swabbing everything for chemical residue.  He copied my passport information onto a form (Germans prefer paper over computers) and then told me that a police officer needed to speak with me.  The cop took her time showing up, so the inspector, myself, and my husband got to stand awkwardly together for a while watching a bag being inspected in another line that clearly contained a rather large pocketknife according to the image on the x-ray screen.  Sigh. Apparently there are still people in the world that think bringing a knife in the cabin with them is totally ok.

The cop finally showed up and I went through the most intense grilling so far.  Where do I live? Why do I live here? Where does my husband work? What city is The Company located in? How long have we been here?  Where are we going?  What will we be doing there? Where in the States are we from?  I had to explain, yet again, what everything was.  I had to turn both cameras on.  I had to explain what a rain cover was.  The lens pen came up again. There is a guy who tried to bring a knife on board and I'm getting the third degree over camera equipment.  I don't know, maybe someone somewhere tried to hide something dangerous in a camera once, but I'm pretty sure that would have been publicized like the shoe bomb incident was and the protocols would have been changed and the public would have been informed.  For now, cameras are just cameras.  Furthermore, a quick scan of my passport would have pulled up all my information and would have answered the majority of her questions.  They also would have been able to see that I'm just a woman who travels with cameras for the obvious reason- to take photographs.  But, since they'd rather fill out paper forms than use computers, they didn't have access to the information they got from me last November.  They couldn't see that I fly in and out of FRA pretty regularly.  Folks, this is ridiculous.

Frankfurt International Airport is one of the most important travel hubs in the world.  Thousands of people pass through on a daily basis.  I find it very hard to believe I'm the only one who carries camera gear through security.  TSA in the USA states that people are selected at random for more thorough inspection, they are also clear that they can inspect whatever bags they want.  That's understood and is fine.  At Frankfurt, however, there is nothing random about these inspections.  If you are packing a lot of photo gear, you get flagged.  There is no reason why camera equipment should be given this level of scrutinization.  If it is packed properly and the staff was told and shown what it was, the x-ray should be enough.  It shouldn't matter whether someone is carrying one or three cameras in their carry-on, they're not regulated.  They are not a threat.  The only bit of photo equipment that is regulated (in the States, at least) are the batteries.  Strangely, never once has someone checked to see that I store mine properly.  For the record, I do.

You know, if German law enforcement has decided that there is a reason why photo equipment should be flagged, then the simple solution is to inform the public.  They need to post a protocol.  If you tell me you want it all out of the bag for security, fine.  I still think it's a little silly, but I'd much rather have the hassle of emptying my bag than the hassle of 1,000 questions, swabbing, and automatic guns.  Just tell me what you want, and I'll do it.  So far, at least, all the staff I've interacted with at Frankfurt Airport have been friendly and respectful, even downright apologetic at times.  I don't have any complaints with them personally, but their inconsistency, poor procedures, lack of communication to passengers, and over the top policies need to change.  This level of ridiculous scrutinization has occurred before too, long before the attacks in Paris and Brussels and when I haven't been carrying photo equipment.  We still laugh about the Neck Pillow Incident of 2011.  Frankfurt Airport Security clearly has had a bug up their bum for a long time. It is the only airport that I've experienced this in.  I've never been pulled aside at any other airport nor have I had to empty my bag of my photo gear, not in the United States, Iceland, the UK, Norway, Spain, or Portugal.  I think this problem is a German thing, maybe just a Frankfurt thing.

So, I've gone through the pain, but you don't have to.  If you're taking more than one camera into Frankfurt Airport Security (and possibly other airports in Germany), here's what I suggest.  First of all, arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare just in case you do get held up in security. At the very least, open the bag and show the person monitoring the line what is in your bag.  If you can leave your bag open during the scan, that's even better.  Make sure nothing is stacked on top of each other so that everything is on the same plane visual in the image.  But, it seems the best solution is to remove bodies, lenses, tripods, batteries, and chargers, and put them in their own plastic bin.  If the people behind you get irritable, too bad.  If the security staff says you don't have to do that, ignore them.  Clearly, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.  Airport security should not hassle you about properly packed photo equipment.  Unfortunately, we're at their mercy.  So, be cheerful and respectful, and bite your tongue.  Everyone will speak English if you ask them to, and to prevent confusion this is not the time to practice your German if you aren't basically fluent.

Most of us who fly want to follow the rules and get where we're going with as little confusion and delay as possible.  Frankfurt clearly has a policy regarding photo equipment, but you're left to figure out what it is as you go through the process.  It's hard to follow the rules if you aren't informed about what they are.  I hope this post helps those of you who may be traveling through Frankfurt with photo gear in the future.  If anyone has consistently experienced something similar at FRA or another airport, I'd be interested to hear about it.