Fully waterproof DryZone 200 © Lowepro

The DryZone 200 is the world’s first waterproof camera backpack of its kind. Built to protect gear in some of the most challenging situations, it provides a watertight and feature-filled carrying solution.

A patented and fully watertight TIZIP™ EasySeal zipper and sealed seams serve to protect camera gear—even during complete immersion. That means no worries for your equipment investment as you canoe, kayak or take a paddleboard out into deep water.

The fully adjustable and ergonomic harness is made for comfort with lumbar support, adjustable CollarCut™ straps and DryFlo™ mesh-covered padding. This helps when you’re adventuring with a full load—this pack fits a Pro DSLR, plus 4-5 extra lenses or accessories. Or you can kit it out with a video gear.

Craig Pulsifer with Lowepro DryZone 200 © Craig Pulsifer

For pro shooter Craig Pulsifer, traversing a waterfall trail in the Phillipines was reason enough to carry his gear in a DryZone 200. He found out that “…this bag is really waterproof – even after backflips into the pool and an hour under the falls.”

Really protective and really waterproof, the DryZone 200 is just one of many designs built by Lowepro for professionals who capture images in every kind of environment.

© Fred Vuich

When Tiger Woods won his fourth straight major at the 2001 Masters Tournament, Fred Vuich was there. In fact, Fred’s shot of the mid-backswing on the 18th hole of the final round made the cover of Sports Illustrated with the word “Masterpiece” describing the event—and the image. The shot was so well received that the magazine received more than a dozen letters to the editor giving high praise to Fred’s work.

A World Press Photo Gold Medalist and super-dedicated shooter, Fred’s body of work spans sports, commercial and fine arts photography. He regularly contributes to Sports Illustrated where his images have graced numerous covers, and he’s been a Golf Magazine photographer for more than 17 years. And his panoramic GigaPan imagery is taking sports photography to a whole new dimension.

See his work and read about Fred in our exclusive profile.

Last week I had the fortunate opportunity to attend the 2012 U.S. Open and meet up with renowned Sports Illustrated photographers Robert Beck, Fred Vuich and Kohjiro Kinno. Lowepro was on hand to help support our pros out in the field during this prestigious event. The insight and working knowledge these pros provide helps us make sure we are delivering the products that professional photographers need to do their job. Kohjiro is shown here shooting a golfer on hole 17 using his Lowepro S&F Lens Exchange 200 AW.

Here at Lowepro, we not only work with professional photographers, we are photographers. Being able to shoot at such a high profile event was exciting on a personal level as well.  Shooting golf has its own set of unique challenges and rules. Silence is king as well as making sure you have the right glass. Having at least a 70-200mm lens is a must. Getting inside knowledge from seasoned pros on the best locations to get “the shot” was priceless.

These photos were taken with a Canon 5D Mark III, 70-200mm  f/2.8 and the 16-35mm f/2.8.

-F2

Frank Filice is the Sr. Brand Manager for Lowepro and is an avid photographer.

Editor’s note: Just back in the office and truly inspired by what he learned, our colleague and design director Rick offers this first-hand report from the Summit Series of Photography Workshops in Boulder, Colorado. This most-recent program was organized and managed by Rich Clarkson & Associates, LLC of Denver in conjunction with our friends at Aurora Photos. The topic is one we’re excited about: “DSLR Filmmaking for Photographers”.

“As a photographer and design director at Lowepro, I find myself looking for workshops that will help take my photography to the next level. I just got back from a Summit Series of Photography Workshops in Boulder and I have to say—I am completely impressed.

I attended the Aurora Multimedia workshop. The content was extremely valuable and the instructors and presenters were excellent. Multimedia is a fast-growing segment and many photographers are evaluating how to learn about it, get comfortable with it, and add it to their photographic tool belt.

The workshop covered the entire aspect of multimedia–from the medium’s pace of change to how to capture audio for your project. Bob Dotson of NBC’s American Story provided invaluable tips on interviewing and how to dig deep to get the “real” story. Rob Finch taught us more than we wanted to know about editing. Corey Rich gave us demonstrations on equipment set-up for a two-camera interview.

And other professionals such as  Kevin Moloney (New York Times contract photographer and photojournalism professor at the University of Colorado) and Hans Weise (video director at National Geographic) walked us through how to capture sound and tell better stories.

Another great benefit was meeting and interacting with the other attendees, many of whom are award-wining photographers in their own right.

If you want to learn more and grow as a photographer this is a terrific resource. I am ready for another.”

Rick

From mentors as diverse as his mother, Mother Teresa and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Audrey Hepburn, photographer John Isaac learned to respect other people’s dignity. This feeling is evident in every one of his images. John turned to documenting the natural world after an amazing career in the photo unit of the United Nations. His photography of Indian tigers, exotic creatures and landscapes, as well as intimate portraits represents a rich body of work.

John’s imagery has received many accolades, including a PMDA Photographer of the Year award, a photokina gold medal, and the recent distinction of having a collection of his life’s work as a part of the permanent collection at Kodak’s George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. We invite you learn more about professional photographer John Isaac in our exclusive Loweprofessional profile.

She’s a photojournalist and conservationist who
began her career as a marine biologist.

When Cristina Mittermeier discovered photography, she found her true passion documenting the fragile relationships between indigenous people and biodiversity. To achieve this, she’s traveled to more than 80 countries to photograph and write about the complex issues where conservation of wild nature and human needs intersect.

Cristina is the founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), a consortium of some of the world’s best photographers who are actively working for conservation. See life through her lens and read more about the fascinating work of Cristina Mittermeier in our exclusive profile.

How do you take formal portraits of 2-ton, ten-feet-tall subjects who live in the jungle and just won’t stand still for you? And how do you get all your gear to the most remote part of northern Thailand safely and in good working order?

This is the challenge Bay Area photographer Carol Stevenson has every time she travels to the Thailand to continue her multi-year project documenting the rescued street elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. The solution – build an open air studio in the jungle and rely on Lowepro to carry the kit.

“Each trip is a bit different, depending on the time of year and the weather conditions, so the location of the studio varies,” writes Carol. “We use a bamboo framework and stretch a 38′ x 20′ foot white backdrop across the frame. With the help of the mahouts (and a passing elephant), we erect it right in the jungle. With the harsh light of the tropics, I shoot just after sunrise, usually with only an hour of good light to work with.”

“My Nikon D3 is amazing in low light conditions, and I sometimes add battery powered strobes to replicate the look of an indoor studio. Apart from the backdrop, we have to set up and break down each day, and the shoot can last for 30 days, so there’s a lot of work hauling gear around the jungle on a motor scooter and in a tuk-tuk (Thai 3 wheel taxi).”

“We also shoot in the field during the day to capture the elephants in their natural environment. So not only does the studio gear have to be easily transportable, I need on-the-go bags when I’m trying to keep up with the elephants.”

“I rely on Lowepro for three transport needs: the long haul, the daily studio schlepp, and for the ‘ease of use in the field’ shoots.”

For the long haul, the bodies and lenses go in a Pro Runner x450 AW in the cabin with Carol. The more robust equipment is in cargo in a Pro Roller x300 AW, which has accompanied Carol on more than 40 flights with no damage to her gear. The Pro Roller x300 also does double duty for the jungle studio. And she uses the Passport Sling for quick one camera/lens shoots, or a Versapack 200 AW for heavier duty field work.

“The Sling and the Versapack give me unique flexibility,” adds Carol; “if I HAD to pick a favorite, it would be the Passport Sling because of its fast and quick access to my gear. And with two Pasport Slings, one does double duty as a banana bag (for elephant bribes)”.

Carol is featured as one of our Loweprofessionals. To see more of her work, visit www.elephantphotographer.com. More details about her gear can be found at www.carolstevenson.wordpress.com.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.