We recently posted a link to a cool video shot by Craig Pulsifer on our Facebook page. As it turns out, the video back-story is almost as interesting as the reel itself.

Craig was in the Philippines shooting a self-funded documentary about hopeful solutions for at-risk kids among Manila’s urban poor. In more posh locations, he also planned to produce stock stills and a demo video for his portfolio. We’re delighted he selected our DryZone pack for the motion piece.

But shoot day quickly turned into what Craig calls classic mayhem.

“I had lined up an incredible, 5’8″ model from Cebu (central Philippines) for the story,” he says, “but she jammed just as the assistant rolled into the driveway with the rented van.” With gear assembled, an assistant waiting and his model nowhere in sight, there was no choice but to recast the story. The trick was to find someone who was tall enough to keep their head and shoulders above water.

Stumped, Craig finally stepped in to act out as well as shoot the piece. He scouted his scenes at the beautiful Hidden Valley Springs Resort in Laguna. He rigged gear and set cameras, then dashed back and forth through each scene a few times to fill the shot list for the promo reel. Checking the footage, he’d adjust the rigging and then dash back for another take. 

Later, during post, he and composer/son Chris Pulsifer, conjured up the idea to use ‘bag sounds’ — the pack’s zipper and hardware — to lay down a percussion track in a style the two dub ‘Ambient Schtick’. We think it’s pretty cool.

FoundFolios picked up the story and  interviewed Craig about the project. And if you missed seeing the video when we posted it on Facebook, check it out:

Sam is the PR and Photographer Relations Manager for Lowepro’s Worldwide Marketing team.

Exactly one month ago, Japan sustained a devastating earthquake and an even more fatal tsunami. And before the full impact of those could be analyzed, the world watched in horror as another threat from several damaged nuclear reactors came into play. Through it all, the people of Japan have shown amazing strength, resolve, grace and resilience, even as aftershocks continue to rock their land.

Loweprofessional Maki Kawakita has a special connection to this tragedy: her family lives in Japan. Although petite in size, she can be a real force to be reckoned with – especially when she wants to make a difference. Maki has gathered an elite group of artists and photographers to join forces with Jondo.com, an online art gallery, in a fundraising project where everyone benefits.

The campaign is entitled Creative Mind [Hopeful Child] and as the project’s curator, Maki has gathered fellow Lowepro photographers Catherine Hall and John Isaac as well as Luke Chueh, Gigi Cohen, Naomi Harris, Jackie King, Cojo, Russell Hart, Rin Yamamura and Leonardo Drew creating a unique collection of selected works. Available for a limited time only, 100% of the proceeds will be going to Save the Children to support the relief work they are doing in Japan.

In Maki’s own words: ‘It is my great hope that this fundraising project will not only help Japan’s Tsunami disaster victims but also put artists together to make a difference in the world by using our unique talents.’

We are honored to involved with this effort and to be in the company of the other participating partners: Olympus, the School of Visual Arts , Werner Publishing and Von Fine Wine & Cocktails. If you can help, we greatly appreciate your support. At least, we hope you will share it with your friends and family. Remember, every bit helps.

Sam is the PR and Photographer Relations Manager for Lowepro’s Worldwide Marketing team.

There is probably nothing as compelling or motivating as a real life experience, but film definitely comes in a close second. And when film is devoted to bringing about positive change, we just have to applaud both the film and the filmmaker.

Evan Abramson is a New York-based photographer and filmmaker who specializes in long-term documentary projects with a specific focus on issues of social and environmental crises. His first film When the Water Ends, made in conjunction with MediaStorm,  tells a story of climate change and the semi-nomadic tribes along the Kenyan-Ethiopian border. As drought conditions worsen, they frequently come into conflict with each other as they move in search of new water sources. This pits groups and nations against one another — a problem caused by climate change and further complicated by deforestation and land degradation, and due in large part to population pressures. The biggest toll is felt by the impoverished farmers and nomads who struggle to survive as their land becomes more and more barren.

Last Stand on the Island

Currently Evan is working on Last Stand on the Island. This compelling piece is the story of Isle de Jean Charles — an island off the coast of Louisiana that is fast losing its war against the encroaching Gulf waters — and the native tribe of people who are losing their home at an alarming rate. Shrinking from 24 square miles to a mere 1/2 mile wide and a 1/4 mile long, the entire island is slowly sinking into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. For decades, oil and gas companies have been carving canals through Isle de Jean Charles allowing saltwater into marshlands and eroding everything in its path. The increasing number of hurricanes has also added to the devastation.

 The film focuses on 74-year old resident Edison Dardar’s passion for his home and his stubborn refusal to leave, even as the tribe’s Chief Albert Naquin is working hard to find a way to relocate them. 

But the clock is ticking. There is a chance this film will never be completed — and the story won’t be fully told. Evan is actively raising funds to finish this project so he can help bring awareness to the issue of coastal erosion due to industry negligence. We invite you to view the trailer. If you can, even the smallest donation could make a difference and help this story reach a wider audience. Invitations have already been received to screen Last Stand at the 2012 Human Rights Watch Film Festival and the 2012 DC Environmental Film Festival.

Good luck, Evan…

Sam is the PR and Photographer Relations Manager for Lowepro’s Worldwide Marketing team.

Last year we launched a new brochure format showcasing some of our pro photographer partners. We were honored to have stories from Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, Steve McCurry, Douglas Kirkland, Joyce Tenneson and 12 other fabulous photographers.

Our 2011 Loweprofessionals Professional Photographer Showcase is now hot off the press — and we are really excited to bring you brand new feature articles.

Within the pages of this year’s edition, you’ll find pieces about 15 pro photographers from around the world. Their stories are sometimes larger than life, sometimes touching and poignant. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did putting it together.

Here’s a sneak peek at just one of the features….

Andreas Kieling’s life story reads much like the adventures written by his favorite authors: Robert Louis Stevenson, Jack London and Mark Twain. At the age of 16, he escaped East Germany under cover of darkness despite being shot in the back. Making a full recovery, he took to the sea, sailing around the world on cargo ships and rediscoving his love of photography.

Today, Andreas is one of the top nature/adventure photographers in the world. But our story is about a much different project he undertook — a 1400km hike, with his dog Cleo at his side, through the countryside that was once the forbidden zone between East and West Germany. This area is now referred to as the Green Line,  a protected preserve that is home to many rare species of wildlife.

We hope you enjoy reading Andreas’ story — and those of the other photographers who bring so much color and emotion into our lives. From the Olympic Games to the landscapes of Scandanavia, from photo essays about breaking news and the struggles of indigenous people to fine art prints that are nothing short of amazing — we salute them all! Enjoy….

Sam is the PR and Photographer Relations Manager for Lowepro’s Worldwide Marketing team.

Photojournalist Dan Powers has been a newspaper photographer since 1993 and a staff photographer for The Post Crescent in Wisconsin for the past 16 years. While he loves doing what he calls ‘community journalism’ because of the variety it offers, he’s also had the opportunity to photograph major sporting events like PGA golf, the NBA basketball finals, the U.S. Open tennis tournament, football’s championship Super Bowl games and the Beijing Summer Olympics. Being from Wisconsin, it’s a given that he’s a Green Bay Packers fan — and he’s covered most of their games since 1995.

Dan has used Lowepro gear for years. So we asked him to try out some of our newer gear and let us know what he thought. Here’s his report…

“I was excited to have an opportunity to try out the Pro Roller x300 and the S & F series. I must say they did not disappoint. I like being organized which is why I fell in love with your Pro Roller x300 rolling case.  I got it just in time to use it at Lambeau Field for a couple games, as well as the NFC Championship game pitting the Packers against the Bears. (Great game by the way.) It worked like a champ.  Not only was I able to get all of the needed camera gear packed in an organized fashion, but, it had a great padded compartment for my Mac Book Pro and an attachment for my monopod. ”

Here’s what Dan packed in his Pro Roller x300:

1. 3 Canon DSLR camera bodies
2. 14mm lens
3. 16-35 zoom lens
4. 70-200 zoom lens
5. 400mm f/2.8 lens
6. 1.4x converter
7. 580EX flash
8. Camera batteries
9. Flash card holder
10. Mac Book Pro with an assortment of accessories
11. Gitzo carbon fiber monopod
12. Travel paperwork

“The quality was top notch. As you can imagine, in Wisconsin we get a lot of sloppy weather…especially in the winter.  I found the materials used on this case very durable as it was dragged (ok…rolled) through snow, slush, water and even a little bit of mud.  The wheels were smooth and never got clogged up despite the conditions. The last feature I loved was being able to convert it from a rolling case to a backpack.  There is a great advantage to this.  Some places (stadiums and venues) make it really easy to get around so the rolling aspect is perfect.  But on occasion, I’ll find that a backpack is more handy.  The Pro Roller x300 brings you the best of both worlds in one convenient package.  Well done!

The other gear I have been using is the S & F belt system. I like keeping things light and as mobile as possible, so I found myself using the Light Utility Belt a lot. It kept things in place and was very comfortable. I am using the belt system more for daily assignments because, when I’m at a sporting event, each camera I have has a lens on it. However, for daily assignments it was great. Now, if I was only using one camera on sports assignments with a variety of lenses, I think the belt system would be a must every time!

The accessories I was drawn to were the Slim Lens Pouch 55 AW and 75 AW.  I was able to use my 16-35 with the 55AW and my 70-200 with the 75AW…with hoods attached.  Both cases kept the lenses protected and secured.  And I love the AW covers.  Quick and easy to use.  I also used the Quick Flex Pouch 55AW to hold my flash card holder, lens cleaning cloth and keys.

The belt system is really excellent.  Your SlipLock™ system works flawlessly.  I’m never worried about something coming loose. All in all I thought your products were terrific.  My colleagues were also impressed.  The gear is rugged, easy to use and just as important…functional for working photographers. What more can a photographer ask for?!  Thumbs up all around.”

Well, we couldn’t ask for any more than this great review. Thanks, Dan — and we’ll be watching for you at those Packer games!

Sam is the PR and Photographer Relations Manager for Lowepro’s Worldwide Marketing team.

It’s always a thrill to reconnect with old friends — especially when it’s so much fun to follow them on their travels and projects.

We recently reconnected with Dan and Janine Patitucci. Specializing in mountain sport and travel photography, their clients include high profile companies like The North Face, Patagonia and GORE-TEX®. What’s more, they are amazing mountain sport athletes as well as great photographers.

With the Dolomites as their background playground, Dan and Janine don’t have to look far for adventure. But for the next 6-7 weeks, they will be on a whirlwind tour for clients, photographing mountain biking in Tuscany, ice climbing in Norway, ski mountaineering in Chamonix (France), climbing above the Mediterranean in Sicily and alpine climbing in the Dolomintes and Swiss Alps.

If anyone can put our gear to the test, Dan can. He’ll be taking his Toploader Pro 70 AW along. This is the bag we challenged him to try after he posted on his blog that he had stopped using camera bags altogether. Take a look at what he recently wrote about his new Toploader.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be following Dan and Janine as they post updates on Facebook and send us pictures from their travels. Stay tuned — it’s bound to be exciting!

Sam is the PR and Photographer Relations Manager for Lowepro’s Worldwide Marketing team.

Focus On Imaging - 6th - 9th March 2011

It’s that time of year again when the Lowepro UK team load up the vans and head over to the NEC for the annual Focus on Imaging Consumer Show.

The Lowepro Team at last years Event

Come along to Stand B10 to check out the Multi Award Winning Industry leading Lowepro Range including the brand new products like the new S&F range and ILC Classic products.

This year we will also be running some talks with some of the UK’s top photographers Paul Galagher, Colin Prior and David Noton. Places are limted so you will need to register to get a ticket.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS & REGISTRATION

For more information on Focus On Imaging please visit their website here.