9 Comments

1. 

   Focuspuller on February 25, 2017 at 6:54 pm

   Thanks, Dan. Your equipment list reminds me of the anxiety I used to feel when prepping and shipping gear for film shoots – “What did I forget, and will it stop the shoot in its tracks?” I commiserate with your nervousness – so many little items to keep track of – but I am sure you will handle it heroically. One question – did you need to create a manifest of gear for customs in either country?

   Best of luck, and I hope you didn’t actually ‘hit the ground.”

   -Alan D

   Reply
   • 

     Dan Hostettler on February 27, 2017 at 12:02 pm

     Hey Alan, I arrived sound and safe. In time, all luggage, nothing broken, superfast immigration process – 10 hours of sleep (after 24 hours of delightful economy flights net; 36 hours travel in total) – OK…

     End of the week I will found out if my plan plays well. Friday I will have a first full day shooting behind the scenes with my D800, mobile with DJI stabilizer as well shooting interviews with my little LED lights, the sound sets, recorder etc. Full blast for 3 days. I guess all will be fine as long nothing breaks down. No spare tiles here.
     But it would not be such a desperate situation if something would break: everywhere I will go I will be surrounded by photographers, studios and tons of equipment. I guess in worst case somebody would help me out 🙂

     Gear transportation: No I did no manifest, no carnet, no nothing. I consider it as personal gear and all stuff is neat enough for fit in my one big skinner – so it´s tourist punk style.

     But 20 years ago when we (we = 3 guys) traveled with BetaSP and Sachtler tripod and all this bling – oh my god, that was a real bureaucracy adventure: the ata carnet (you know which one I mean), the separate insurance (as you know the industry Betacam – not the broadcast one – with a Fujinon was around 25k$ + all the other things = made around 45k$) – these were real tech adventures, almost like in the dark…

     But today as a one-man-show surrounded with digitech – it´s ridiculous easy. But we will see how this will play out 🙂

     Cheers for now,
     Dan

     Reply
2. 

   Spencer on February 26, 2017 at 6:17 am

   Wow, only one DSLR. Now that’s living on the edge!!

   Reply
   • 

     Dan Hostettler on February 27, 2017 at 12:08 pm

     I am very confident that my trusty Nikon will work flawlessly. Normally I am traveling with 2 bodies but for this trip it is not super important – and I really had (!) to save weight (I even left the battery grip at home just to save grams and space).
     I will have 2 days of real photo shooting, the rest my D800 is shooting video as A-Cam, Sony as B-Cam. If the body would fail (which he will not) I am surrounded by photographers and in studios and I am quite sure somebody would help me out. The biggest disadvantage would be that I would most likely have to shoot with a Canon which I have no clue how to handle – but I guess that is not much different in the layout.
     Anyway, my gear will make it 🙂 Fingers crossed…

     Reply
3. 

   Mike on February 26, 2017 at 12:08 pm

   Dan, your videos, etc. are always a great help. Thanks for sharing your experience & knowledge with us. Mike

   Reply
   • 

     Dan Hostettler on February 27, 2017 at 12:13 pm

     Thanks for your kind words, Mike! Day 1 and I already filmed a bit from my trip. Actually I will right after finishing this comment edit some raw scenes from the neighborhood I am setin right now: St Kilda (in Melbourne) and will recap the flight trip a bit. The real “photo action” begins Friday after I flew Thursday down to Tasmania. This means you will get already a bit of insight in an art nude workshop, just as an impression.

     Week 2 will be nonstop about interviews, shoots, Nude Workshop Part 2, tutorial shoot – the full blast. So VLOG 2 from Downunder will be more about some photo production insight goodies and less about my face…

     🙂 Dan

     Reply
     • 

       Spencer on February 27, 2017 at 2:31 pm

       Glad you made it there safely!! Have Fun!!!!

       Reply
4. 

   Rick on March 13, 2017 at 1:03 pm

   Thanks, for the gear list. My challenge has always been the tri-pod. I never want to guess that I can find a reliably sturdy tripod. Heading to Philippines and Thailand next month and I know it will be hard to locate to buy or rent once I get there. So, like always I’ll put it in one my bags, or my wife’s bags…but then she doesn’t get to take all ten pair of her shoes!

   Any suggestions would be appreciated. No, I’m keeping the wife….

   Rick

   Reply
   • 

     Dan Hostettler on March 19, 2017 at 6:48 am

     LOL! Well when having to deal with both (wife & tripod) the I can recommend you any traveler tripod made out of carbon. They are more expensive than the “regular” ones but you really save weight.
     I am using a “MeFOTO GlobeTrotter Carbon Titanium” (https://goo.gl/y7aGR4), similar models are available from Manfrotto, Gitzo etc. Just google up “carbon travel tripod” or alike.
     It is always a compromise between, height and weight. But sturdy they are! I used mine now in AUS three weeks in a row (sand, rocks, rain, saltwater spray, sun) – all fine.

     I hope this gives you reassurance that such an investment is a good one. I am using my “travel tripod” for everything btw; not just travels. It is just easy to carry along.

     Wishing you save and exiting travels in the Philippines and Thailand, Rick. I love both countries.

     Cheers,
     Dan

     Reply