I started my career in my teens as an assistant to a very talented photographer in NYC.

We got along great, and honestly, spoke not that long ago.

One of the perks of the job was being able to use the studio and darkroom, which was so much better than the darkroom in my bedroom.

There was an exchange of service though. One of those was printing out 50 headshots of one of his actor friends.

They came out great, but he had a look, approved of the exposure, and print quality, but asked me about the spotting.

The what, now??

Yep, dust spots. I had to quickly learn how to spot a print. Basically painting in the white spots with an ink made for the fiber based photographic paper. He taught me though, which was just one of the many lessons I learned.

But 50 prints?

These bottles of spotting ink was the special sauce. Plus various very thin brushes. Oh, and a little spit.

You would mix a color match, as each bottle had a slightly different tone, in a dish, then wet the brush with your tongue, and get to coloring in the dust spot with a matching B&W tone. It was a delicate process, and a deft hand was needed.

Today I was in a gallery where this was happening, and I was immediately thrown back in time.

Now these inks are no longer made, and it seems that EBAY is the only place to find them.

When I came back home, I digitally did some “spotting” and of course it worked.

That trip down memory lane was a reminder of how analog my time in photography began.

It’s just about at the season where we all starting hitting the road. Whether you are driving, flying, or planing the stay-cation, you need some goods to plus up the experience
Here is a round-up of a few things that may help you enjoy your trip just a little bit more. These are the inside goods, and more outside goods coming next!

Take advantage of the Amazon Prime Days!!

Twelve South Air Fly

Soundcore Translating Ear Pods

Anker Mag Safe battery, 10,000 mAh

Ulanzi MagSafe Phone Stand

Rolling Square Multi Tip charging cable

Rolling Square AirCard Pro

First up is one of my all time faves, the Twelve South Air Fly
When you are on the plane, might as well enjoy the carriers content wirelessly!
Seats are not getting any bigger, and not being tangled up in wires is the best!
Blue Tooth connect your headphones, and you are free as a bird.

You know, I will not use airpods on a plane, too easy to lose, and seat mates can hear the sound spill, so choose your over ear earphones with care.
Personal fave is the Sony.
But… last year Anker came out with a set in their SoundCore line for under $70, that has surprised me for its superb audio quality, and features. Highly recco!
And the AirFly can also be used in the car, as you can BT connect your phone, and hear your fave podcasts, or music lists.
I give these out as gifts, and they are the best!

One other new travel item just came in:
The Soundcore AeroFit 2   is not only a solid ear pods set, but most importantly for those traveling to another country, it has AI translation!  Highly rated on consumer reviews as swell

I am low key obsessed with these! Not only superior sound and 4 mics, and comfortable, it will allow you to translate up to 100 languages! They can speak in their language, you hear it translating in your ears, and then hit a speak button on the app, speak you language and the speaker on your phone will do the translation. I have used this with people who work in my building, and at a local Mexican restaurant  and confirm it works like crazy! Plus the case is magsafe so you can charge without wires.

Remember the Seinfeld episode where Elaine a was being trashed by the attendants in the nail salon in their language? Yeah, this could solve that little issue.

Now I’m looking to use this on the subway so I can understand those around me.

If you are flying, we have seen flight delays becoming a common occurrence.
You need to keep your phone charged, if for nothing else, to get notices about your flight.
The smallest best battery that is always with me is this mag safe Anker battery with a whopping 10K mAh on board to keep you going.

If you are needing to charge your laptop, I’d suggest a move up to this Anker power brick.

Yep, heavier no doubt, but is has all of the juice you’ll need to power up all your devices, while you wait to board. And TSA approved!

Another unit that is always in my bag is this Ulanzi Carabiner with mag safe. Folds, lets me do a hands free phone zoom call, or watch content while dining alone.

It folds flat, and then opens up to hold your phone so you can be hands free to do a zoom call, watch content, or just scroll while having the phone securely held.

One thing that is always in my bag is the Rolling Square Multi-Tip charging cable. Basically with this, I know I always have the right connection. There is a magnet at the tips so it always stays tight and never tangles.

We all have tracking tags in our bags, and when you want one in your wallet, without a bulge, or just need a slim tracker, this new Rolling Square AirCard Pro is a great call and super affordable. Not only is a nice, loud audible device, it is rechargeable, with each charge lasting up to 12 months. AirCard™ Pro comes with an ultra-flat wireless charging lithium 220mAh battery. When it runs out of power, simply place AirCard Pro on a wireless charger and wait around 1 hour and 30 minutes for it to be fully charged and ready to track your valuables again. it also has a QR code you can customize with your contact details and use as a digital business card, or just as a lost and found extra info if someone found your item.

Thin, rechargeable, works with Find My, and QR code for contact info. Yes, works great with iPhone or Android!

So there you have a few items that can make your travels a bit easier, and they all pack small and play big!

I have used them all and do just what they say they will.

For these lists I only tell you about items I have actually used, so trust in that. Of course you can always return items from any of the stores that are linked in the photos!

There are not a lot of artists who make an indelible impression upon a medium. We just lost one of them.

With a storytelling mindset and a unique approach, Duane Michals broke rules.

Writing on the photos to move the story, or titling a series illuminating the concept was refreshing approach to this young photographer. Real Dreams: Photostories was my 1^st exposure (sorry) to his work.

“I think photographs should be provocative and not tell you what you already know. It takes no great powers or magic to reproduce somebody’s face in a photograph. The magic is in seeing people in new ways.” — Duane Michals

It was a freedom to infuse your story with multiple images and narrative.

Having always been taught that the singular photo should do all the talking, this was an extension and the cuffs were off.

Then he went and visited one of my favorite painters of all time, Magritte, and did a book. I was all in.

Through the years I saw him at various events, always with a great humor, and openness to his fellow photogs and audience. Here he is with with Eikoh Hosoe, at a Lucie event

I advise you to seek out his books, and be entertained. Not in a frivolous way, but knowing you have been told a story. A good one.

It all started when I decided to put one of my Nikon lenses on the Fuji -X-H2. All I needed was the Fringer, my go-to adaptor,  that I knew I had.

It was somewhere. I knew it. But where?

I went through all of my Pelican Cases, camera bags, drawers, and more.

Sure, I could ask St. Christopher, as I just wanted to find it.

Finally, I found it under some cables, in a Nikon centric Pelican case. Whew!

It set me on a path.

In my mind there are 3 main ways to store your gear for access. As photographers/videographers, we pick up lots of bits of kit along the way, knowing it will be a right tool at the right time. Now, where to put it all??

So, the big re-org began!

First stop : camera bags (I don’t think I’m alone here when I say I have a lot of camera bags. Or just enough!), and hard shell cases. Continue Reading »

Doing a podcast usually ties me to a studio, with all of the wires connecting the headset, the mixer and of course, the mics.

To be honest, it is usually just me, and each piece of gear has been selected to give me the maximum quality audio.

Hollyland has just introduced the Melo P1, available on kickstarter, and I now feel comfortable taking my podcast to the great outdoors!

OK, maybe just on my roof.

Here is a full walkthrough of the set-up with demo sound near the end: Continue Reading »