Frequently Asked Questions
Who goes on a photography tour?
Photo Routes leads the tours and is ably assisted by his hand-picked team of instructors. As you travel with Photo Routes to some of their favorite spots, you’ll learn their techniques for everything from capturing the expanse of a landscape to photographing the smallest detail. From their years of experience, Photo Routes knows the right places – and the right time of year to shoot them. Our tours and workshops are designed to give you the best opportunities to make the best captures. To ensure that everyone’s needs are met, and for the optimal size for group travel, the tours are limited to 10-12 participants. You’ll be in good company, sharing your ideas, images and love of photography with your fellow travelers. . You can relax, knowing that the travel arrangements have all been handled for you.
What can I expect on a photography tour?
On these journeys, Photo Routes shares their knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm for places, cultures, and wildlife. They enjoys sharing vast accumulated experience and are passionate about helping each of their participants hone his or her vision. You’ll be in the field shooting side by side with Photo Routes, and then, once back at the group’s lodgings, benefiting from their critiques of your shots. Careful thought and planning go into the schedule of each trip. That said, please know that if a better shooting opportunity arises – such as a mystically foggy morning – we will juggle the schedule to help you get your best shot. You’ll work hard, shoot a ton, and take your photography to the next level – and in the process you’ll have a great time! These trips are a fantastic opportunity to immerse in your photography and Photo Routes will be right there giving you a personal photography lesson.
What should I pack?
Once you are registered for a particular tour, more specific info, including details on the vaccines and visas you will need, will be sent to help you prepare for your trip. Review our general packing list:
PACKING LIST
What’s included?
Tours prices include all meals, all lodgings, all transportation within the tour, entrance fees, local guides, and leader and instructor services.
Okay, I’m ready – how do I register?
Please select a Tour or Workshop and click on the Register button, or just contact us via phone or e-mail.
I don’t see the locations/dates I’m looking for.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please contact us – we can customize a tour for you if enough parties are interested. Groups are limited to 12.
I don’t see my question here.
Please
contact us. We look forward to helping you plan your trip!
Packing for a photo adventure
The art of packing for a photographic adventure is a careful balance of bringing everything you will need, and leaving everything else at home. The problem lies in the fact that it’s difficult to predict your future needs.
Having traveled and photographed on a very vide spectrum with Photo Routes, I’ve refined my packing regimen to a near science.
I created categories of equipment: clothes, toiletries, medical, camera gear, computer/technology, camping, and food. Each of those categories is broken into subgroups like: absolute must haves, location/weather considerations and luxuries.
Journeys can be as unique as the people taking them and thus there will never be a perfect pack list that everyone can go by. What might be considered a luxury for one person is a “must have” for another. I’m a strong believer in bringing a little something to help make life on the road good again. Whether it’s a book for the airport, a pillow for the flight or an iPod for a long bus ride, a small luxury can bring peace to a frantic world.
However, these “little” items can add up and when they do, we should remember that the best luxury item any traveler can have is a lightweight bag. With airlines tightening baggage restrictions along with charging more for bags and overages, it’s worth your time to carefully pack your bags with only what is really necessary and minimize the luxuries.
What follows is good start list for anyone on a major photo adventure. It has been assembled from Photo Routes experience, my own and everyone we have traveled with. The idea is not to take everything on the list, but to pick and choose what works best for you and your journey.
Black - Must Haves
Blue - Location or Seasonal consideration
Green - Luxury
Clothes
The clothes list is greatly dependent on location and personal style. A good first step is avoiding cotton, as it takes an extended time to dry and makes the washing and drying process a long one. Notice the laundry detergent, sink stopper and clothesline for washing clothes. Clothes should be comfortable and versatile. Think about layering – that way, you can use any of the smaller items rather than being stuck with one bulky item.
Body
T-shirt
Long sleeve polypro top
Travel shirt
Warm coat (fleece)
Waterproof jacket
Down jacket
Down vest
Fleece vest
Fleece sweater
Dress shirt
Dress jacket, wrap or sweater
Legs
Underwear
Pants
Convertible pants
Shorts
Socks
Waterproof pants
Long underwear
Head and Accessories
Hat
Warm hat
Buff/bandana
Sun hat
Rain hat
Belts
Bug head cover
Hands
Thin gloves
Warm gloves
Waterproof gloves
Feet
Socks
Walking shoes
Boots
Sandals
Waterproof (over)boots
Toiletries
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Ear plugs
Comb
Razor
Hand lotion
Insect repellent
Liquid soap
Sanitizer gel
Personal info
Passport
Driver’s license
Credit card
Bank card
Cash
Itinerary
Copy of passport/drivers license
Yellow Fever card
Other
Money belt
Watch
Sunglasses
Water bottle
Flashlight
Spare lenses or glasses
Binoculars
Travel alarm
Plastic or Ziploc bags
Electric converter
Sewing kit
Baggage locks for use outside U.S.
Walking stick
Powder detergent
Clothes line
Sink stopper
Pocket knife (in checked bag)
iPod and charger
Journal/notepad/pen
Book
Technology
The decision to bring a computer should not be taken lightly, as the peripheral devices needed to support it use can add up to a fair bit of weight and bulk. Carefully consider how much it’s needed and how much time you will have to work with it. With memory card size out pacing megapixels, it’s now possible to go for weeks and perhaps months on memory cards. For the hardcore professional photographer a computer is a must, but for the average photographer going light and simple may help you focus on the moment.
Laptop computer
Power supply
Plug adaptor
Power converter
External hard drive
Card reader
Cables for hard drive and card readers
Card reader
USB jump drive
Medical
A close consideration to the nature of your journey should be given here. Key factors to consider are your personal health needs, proximity to medial assistance and what the quality of that care will be. Look to travel or outdoor gear stores for First Aid kits. Check with your doctor or travel clinic for advice on remote or extreme travel locations.
Small bandages
First Aid antibiotic
Anti-itching cream
Medicine
A small collection of over-the-counter medicine for curing common ailments won’t take up much space and can really save the day. Once again, personal health needs must be considered. A visit with a doctor at a travel clinic can give much more precise information about regional and personal needs.
General pain reliever
Antihistamine
Laxative
Antacid
Anti-diarrheal
Motion sickness
A doctor at a travel clinic can prescribe medicine to deal with the following health related travel issues:
Bacterial infections (food poisoning)
Malaria
Altitude sickness
Homeopathic Compact Medical Kit
Photo Gear
The nature of what photo gear to bring greatly depends on: what you own, where you are going, what you plan to photograph and what your photo goals are. The following is a list of what a serious photographer might bring for a major photo journey.
Camera body x 2
Wide lens
General lens
Telephoto lens
Super telephoto lens
Teleconverter
Extension tubes
Off-camera flash cord
Tripod and head
Memory cards
Camera batteries (minimum
Battery charger
Polarizing filters for all lenses
Graduated Neutral Density filters
Flash unit
Batteries for flash
Cable release
Rocket blower
Cleaning cloths
Sensor cleaning kit
Swabs
Fluid
Rain cover for pack
Rain cover for camera