Past August I had the opportunity to participate in the III ACAESTE 2008, a Scouts week long camp, and was “embedded” with the 4th section (the oldest, non scout leader members) of which I am part. Enough said, lets get down to the photos and geeky stuff.

Cameras:

• Primary body - Canon 40D

• Backup body - Canon 350D

Lenses:

• Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5

• EF 70-200mm f2.8

• EF 50mm f1.4

• Peleng 8mm fisheye

Light:

• Canon 430EX

Power:

• 5x BP-511 batteries

• 4x NB-2HL batteries

• 12x AA rechargeable batteries for the flash

Storage:

• 2x Sandisk 8GB cards

• 2x Sandisk 1GB cards

• Card reader

Bags and gear:

• Think Tank Photo Pro Speed Belt

• Think Tank Photo Skin 50

• Think Tank Photo Skin 75 Pop Down

• Think Tank Photo Digital Holster 20

• Lowepro lens case (inside a backpack to store the 350D and some batteries)

Extras:

• Manfrotto monopod + ballhead

• Dust blower

As you can see in the bags and gear list there’s quite a few Think Thank Photo items.

This was going to be the first time I was going to test my new belt system on a dynamic situation. By dynamic I mean having to shoot while on the move, in different locations, riding cars, vans, whatever and always being able to have all your camera gear with you, preferably ready to shoot. (I’m no pro, this is still all new stuff for me!)

In previous similar situations (camp sites) I trusted my Domke F-3X shoulder bag. I love that bag but it’s not the best choice when you want to grab your gear and switch lenses in a snap. No to mention… the shoulder pain.

Carrying 5Kg (11 pounds) of gear on your shoulder (normally my left one) for extended periods of time can become very uncomfortable and painful.

I learned that the hard way while on a week long trip to Barcelona a year ago. Ever since then I kept thinking of getting a belt system and decided on the Think Tank Photo gear.

All the gear I carried on the belt

Everything packed

As you can see I can carry on my waist all the essential gear and have the added advantage of speed of use and comfort. On the downside it looks pretty obvious what I’m carrying, and then again, maybe not.

Driving to the camp site. Shot with the Peleng 8mm fisheye

Day 0. We were just busy setting up camp. The official camp opening was only going tho happen the following day so there wasn’t much activity to shoot.

First team on the site. All the others would arrive on day 1

and our backpacks and construction materials

Shinny new light.

Day 1

This day’s highlight was the opening ceremony.

Camp opening ceremony

I love to use my EF 70-200mm in these type of circumstances to hunt for candids and portraits, it’s just an excellent lens and a joy to use. The problem relies on juggling at least two lenses with just one body. During this session I kept switching between my Sigma 17-70mm and the EF 70-200mm. To be honest, it sucks… can’t wait to get my hands on a second body… whatever succeeds the venerable Canon 5D. By the looks of it, won’t have to wait much more…

200mm, f4, 1/800

200mm, f4, 1/500

Unfortunately it started raining and that’s no fun specially when your camera/lens combo isn’t waterproof. You have to shoot from cover. Fortunately the camera pouches are water resistant, and water proof if you deploy the integrated rain cover. I never got that far because it wasn’t raining that much and my cover was good enough. Still, they did get wet, but just on the outside.

Rain isn’t fun, specially when your camera/lens combo isn’t waterproof

Soon after me and Mario would be pitching our tent with a nice (not) cold shower over our heads. The rest of day was just about finishing our sub camp and cooking something to eat. Some time after dinner we begun our hike to the place where we would spend the night. The next day was going to be full.

During the hike my gear belt started to slip. It wasn’t tight enough so with each step it got closer to my hips, and that’s not secure or comfortable. The following day I adjusted it to a tighter fit and it started behaving better.

Other thing I noticed is how the load distribution affected it’s stability. I like to move the 3 pouches up front (like a soldiers butt pack, only reversed) to keep my sides clear. In reality what happens is that it becomes unbalanced and jiggles a lot more.

Fortunately, on this system, I can slide the pouches to any position around the belt, without removing them and while on the move.

Sliding the pouches to the sides vastly improves its stability and comfort.

I’m still getting used to it and if anything it shows you how much flexibility you have at your disposal… for better, of for worse.

Day 2

Breakfast arrives

On the third day we where going to do social service. We spent the morning with abused and abandoned kids who where living in a temporary shelter. I wasn’t allowed to take the kids pictures for their own protection. Still, we had a great time with them, I’ve never had so many little kids piggybacking on me…

After lunch we spent the afternoon at an elder care center. That was a much different experience, we now had the task to make them smile, not the other way around. We succeeded, along with the precious help of an accordion played by one of the center’s staff.

My 430EX was used on these shots, most of the time bounced of the ceiling or some wall.

Day 3

Breakfast

Carla

That day we were to float down the Tâmega river. For that to happen we had to build our own rafts.

Getting everything loaded, the rafts would be assembled on site

Bus ride

Gearing up for the test ride

It floats!

We had to pull them back, the current was too strong and the raft wasn’t exactly hydrodynamic…

Completed the test drive we built two more of those and begun our descent. No photos of that, sorry. I was planning to use my 350D with the Peleng but I couldn’t find a way to waterproof the thing… Better luck next time.

Photo by Angela Sá

Being pulled ashore to be dismantled

Day 4

This day’s highlight was the Fogo de Conselho. The whole camp is gathered before a stage and each scout section, 4 in total, enacts a play they prepared during the day.

Last minute lyrics

This is the perfect situation do deploy my 50mm. It’s an excellent lens to use in low light situations, and kids lit only by torches is just the case. Unfortunately it’s not very sharp until stopped down to f2.8 and didn’t have enough available light for that and didn’t want to crank the ISO to 3200. The following shots where taken at f1.4 and f2.

Despite this I used the Sigma and the flash most of time to capture the fast action on stage.

During daytime I normally shoot on aperture priority so switching lenses isn’t that critical in terms of exposure settings.

This time I needed to switch between my Sigma and flash with one exposure setting and the 50mm with another exposure setting.

This is when a great feature of the 40D kicks in, Camera User Settings. You can register your current settings and then select them using the mode dial as you would do to select Av or M for instance. You can record 3 different sets of settings.

This meant I could be using my Sigma, take it out, mount the 50mm, turn the flash off, switch to C2 (second Camera User Settings) and be ready to shoot. When I needed to get back to the stage, switched lenses and dialed M. That easy and quick. Specially handy when it’s night time and you have a hard time reading the dials.

50mm, f1.4, 1/60, ISO 1600

50mm, f2, 1/60, ISO 1600

Day 5

Time to pack up and go. There’s more of this in 2012. What gear will I be using by then?