Thoughts From My Recent Trip to Vietnam

[Comanche]

I posted only a few images shot while in Vietnam recently. (See the Photojournalism section.) The reason is that most of my work was boring - I was there to do a lot of documentation work. The safe water team visited possible future sites for installing systems, as well as sites to see how systems were working that had been installed for two years. So, a lot of the photos were just head-on shots of a clinic or school, intended for inclusion on a database along with GPS data. MEDRIX also wanted me to shoot images that could be used for fund-raising, so I needed to included images of MEDRIX personnnel and logos that might not be of interest to the general public. That left little time for "fun shots."

But, in taking over 1,700 frames, I found out once again that I needed fast lenses. Far and away I used my 17-40 f4L on my 30D the most because I needed to get in tight most of the time. My EF-S 10-22 was used on occassion, but its hard to get a good face picture with it. I also used my EF 28-135, mostly when in a large room and I could play with the depth of field a little. (Yes, I would love a 24-105 f4 IS. Anybody want to donate one? )

But, as good as the 17-40 f4L is, I really needed something faster. As I will be shooting a crop camera for the forseeable future, I think the lens I need to get is the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS. Besides being a stop faster, it also has IS. There were a lot of shots where I needed IS as the light was very poor and even ISO 1600 wasn't quite fast enough. (I could have shot 3200, but I didn't have Noise Ninja on my laptop.) True, I would love the new EF 16-35 f2.8 - but it doesn't have IS. I don't need to stop action - I need to compensate for my shaky hands at low shutter speeds. By the way - I did try using my monopod a couple of times, but it was just too clumsy to use in crowded conditions.






I also need a system with weather sealing. Yes, I know I can get that with a 1 body and L lenses, but I doubt I will see a 1D anytime in my future. Canon - how about sealing the 5D? The environment in Vietnam is pretty tough on electronics - sudden showers and the high humidity calls for rugged gear and lots of desicant in the camera bag.

Speaking of bags - I love my Lowepro SlingShot 200AW. I could easily carry two lenses and my flash unit in the bag, and my 30D on my shoulder and be ready for just about anything. The bigger Tamrac bag with all my gear stayed in the hotel room while I worked out of the smaller 200AW. The only thing I could not carry was my 70-200, but since I hardly used it anyway, it was not missed. In this case, I was able to change from my 28-135 to my 17-40 very quickly without having to take off the bag.



My next camera must have dust removal. I had to change lenses a lot, and I soon had a big dust bunny on my images. Trying to clean a sensor in a hot van while traveling from one site to the next was out of the question, so it just meant more Photoshop work later.

Finally, I need to get a flash brakcet. Before I left on the trip, I had shot some "grip and grin" images of the local mayoral race. While bounce flash works okay in most cases, as it did in the mayor's fund raiser, the very high ceilings of Vietnam negate that, and a flash bracket would have helped the "graduation" pix of the physicians who completed the English medical terminology course my wife taught.

But - no real complaints. My gear worked as it should. It just needs a better photographer.

EDIT: I forgot to ask this question in the original post.

In one case where I took pictures of my wife teaching, the room walls were ceramic tile, and everything was white. While this alone challenged me to find ways to make the shots contrasty, the real problem had to do with reflected light. I noticed it before I began shooting, and put a circular polarizer on my 17-40. After much twisting and turning, I could see no change whatsoever in the reflections. I have used a CP many times before, but I am curious to know why it didn't work this time. Any ideas? (BTW - it's a B+W filter, so I don't think its a quality issue.)

[gardener]

Just as a personal matter, I don't think "a better photgrapher" is the issue here in the real sense. No, we didn't see ALL of your images but then, did we need to? The pics you posted were good quality throughout and a learning experience for those of us who have never been to the places you stayed nor will some of us EVER be there to experience it first hand.
I fully realize that many of your "commercial" images may be less than you want them to be because of a preceived lack of some lens or piece of equipment but that comes with time and the application of no small amount of funds. As a learning experience though, you did a fine job and I appreciate your efforts greatly, both from a picture standpoint and also from the humanitarian view. In short, I'd bet that most of the fault with your pictures comes from yourself and not from the viewers of those same pictures.
You did a fine job with what you had and it is appreciated... I look forward to even more pictures from your travels.

[DJ.]

Thanks Doug. I appreciate your post and the images. I remember those monsoon seasons and they definitely can be tough on electronics.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by gardener

Just as a personal matter, I don't think "a better photgrapher" is the issue here in the real sense. No, we didn't see ALL of your images but then, did we need to? The pics you posted were good quality throughout and a learning experience for those of us who have never been to the places you stayed nor will some of us EVER be there to experience it first hand.
I fully realize that many of your "commercial" images may be less than you want them to be because of a preceived lack of some lens or piece of equipment but that comes with time and the application of no small amount of funds. As a learning experience though, you did a fine job and I appreciate your efforts greatly, both from a picture standpoint and also from the humanitarian view. In short, I'd bet that most of the fault with your pictures comes from yourself and not from the viewers of those same pictures.
You did a fine job with what you had and it is appreciated... I look forward to even more pictures from your travels.

Wow! Thanx for the kudos, Steve. They are much appreciated.

And, I hope my post didn't read like some sort of whine. I am very happy to have the equipment I do have, and while you are correct in that most of the faults found are my own, I also hope it will help others who may be in the process of investing hard earned dollars in gear that will be used in a similar way.

BTW - I added an edit to the original post - any answers to my question are apprecaited too.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by DJ.

Thanks Doug. I appreciate your post and the images. I remember those monsoon seasons and they definitely can be tough on electronics.

Ah, DJ - another of us who were in Vietnam "a long time ago." I bought my first real camera there in 1969 - a Canon FT-QL, and still have it along with three lenses.

[DJ.]

Originally Posted by Comanche

Ah, DJ - another of us who were in Vietnam "a long time ago." I bought my first real camera there in 1969 - a Canon FT-QL, and still have it along with three lenses.

Me too. A Pentax ME and a boat load of lenses but I sold mine long ago.