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.

Australian photographer Stephen Dupont, a long-time Lowepro Featured Photographer, has recently updated his protective carrying systems to respond to both changing equipment, and the opportunities for smaller lighter solutions.

Stephen, co-founder of Australia’s Reportage Festival in 1999, and an award-winning photojournalist in the World Press Photo Awards, has authored four books, and produced a number of collector-edition limited print volumes. He has exhibited extensively around the globe, and is already well advanced with projects for 2011. His first will be a two-month documentary assignment in Papua New Guinea. 

For this assignment the need for flexibility, freedom of movement and rugged protection for the high humidity, hot temperature work, has led him quickly to Lowepro’s new S&F Series system. Stephen will use the S&F Deluxe Technical Belt and Audio Utility bag to support the high video workload of the upcoming assignment, in combination with his Canon EOS 5 Mk II camera system. He will be coupling it to the lightweight Technical Harness, with the Utility Bag 100AW for a spare camera body, and use the SlipLock™ loop system, to attach up to four Lens Pouches, Memory and S&F Lens Exchange cases to the main Harness.

“A key advantage of this new system is its flexible sizing and adjustable harness, along with its really strong materials,” says Dupont.

“When I return to Afghanistan later in 2011, it will be its ability to work over a flak jacket, yet still allowing for rapid equipment changes.” Stephen has been documenting the evolution of the country since 1993, nearly a decade before the shocking 9/11 events of New York.

“In the many situations I’ve found myself covering military confrontations, you just can’t use a conventional shoulder bag or even a backpack. I may often have both a film and digital camera and just a few lenses with me, but it’s vital I can gain access for rapid changes, or switch from stills to video shooting, requiring different shooting styles and different gear.”

Safe travels, Stephen.

John Swainston is the Senior Vice President of DayMen’s Asia/Oceania activities and Managing Director of Maxwell International, the Lowepro subsidiary in Australia. His background includes professional photography as well as sales, marketing and import/export experience.

We get lots of stories from our customers about their experiences out in the real world. This one came from Brad Lung up in Canada — in his words, “a wicked story” about one of our smaller bags.

Sheldon and the Arctic Cat

Brad and his buddy Sheldon were up in Northern Sashkachewan for some snowmobiling and ice fishing — a ritual undertaken several times a year.  That’s Sheldon in the picture to the right.

Collins Camps (on Lake Bresnard) is owned by another friend, Chris, and seemed the perfect spot to celebrate the New Year and Chris’ birthday. So off they went, on an adventure that brought with it an unexpected twist.

With temperatures down to -20°C (are they crazy???), they set out on Arctic Cat mountain snowmobiles. Sheldon brought along his camera — a $3,000 Canon that he carried inside a  Lowepro Cirrus TLZ, stashing both inside a Search and Rescue bag for transit.

That Cat had Claws!

As they headed back from one of the adjoining lakes, a loose strap on the Search and Rescue bag got caught in the track of the Arctic Cat, pulling the whole thing into the tunnel where it was pummeled by the 2.25 inch lug paddles on the track until they were able to stop. In Brad’s words, “It tore the living daylights out of the Search and Rescue bag .”

Amazingly, the Cirrus TLZ not only came through in one piece, it saved Sheldon’s camera. “I can’t believe this bag took the punishment it did and survived, let alone protected the camera,” Brad said. “Too bad I didn’t get a shot of the Search and Rescue bag — it was totally annihilated!”

Extreme cold and abuse are never a good combination when it comes to camera gear. But we love happy endings. Thanks, Brad, for sharing this one.

Do you and your bag have a story to share? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

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

When I’m on the road, I often use the “bag within a bag” approach to carrying a camera so I can keep a low profile in urban settings. This is particularly important when exploring parts of a city that I’m not familiar with.

In this situation, I’ll work with a smaller camera, such as an Olympus E-PL2 and a handful of lenses. In addition to being easier to pack, the micro four/thirds body attracts less attention because it doesn’t look like an “expensive pro camera.” Acting like a tourist adds further to the effect.

Lowepro Exchange Messenger (left) and ILC Classic 50 with Olympus E-PL2 camera and 17mm pancake lens.

A typical kit might be an ILC Classic 50 holding the E-PL2 that is tucked inside an Exchange Messenger. I position the ILC 50 standing upright inside the Exchange Messenger, like a lens case. I keep the ILC unbuckled, but do keep the lid closed using the hook-and-loop fastener. If I need the camera quickly, I just pull back the flap on the Exchange Messenger, then grab the camera out of the ILC Classic.

As I’m walking around, I look like a guy with a small messenger bag. Yet, there’s enough room inside for a light jacket or lunch next to the camera bag.

You can use many different combinations for a similar set up. The idea is not attract attention to yourself, yet still have the protection you need for your gear.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

Here at Lowepro, our primary mission is to protect your camera and other delicate equipment. We want you to be able to forget about your gear and concentrate on getting the shot. So all of the materials we use for the exterior of our bags are water-resistant. Even so, we know that there will be times when you’re going to need some additional protection. Here’s a brief overview of the options we offer — and what you can expect from each.

Water-resistant materials

Water-resistant fabrics are designed to protect during normal use and under normal conditions. They also guard against unexpected spills and splashes. We use these fabrics on every bag we make. But we recognize that these materials won’t stand up to all conditions. That’s why we designed our All Weather AW Covers™.

Vertex 200 AW with All Weather Cover

The All Weather Cover acts like a raincoat to protect against rain and snow as well as giving protection from dust and sand — all things that don’t mix well with camera gear. The AWC is also a useful anti-theft feature.

These covers are built into over 70 of our products. With heat-sealed seams, they offer a higher level of protection when the weather turns bad. But it’s important to understand these are not waterproof. Just like a fabric raincoat, with prolonged exposure or in really heavy downpours, moisture will eventually seep through. They will, however, give you the added protection you need until you can get in out of the rain.

© Randy Barnes

When 100% waterproof protection is called for, what you really need is one of our DryZone™ bags. These offer maximum protection. Even fully loaded they will float (please, don’t use them as a personal flotation device, though!) and the TIZIP^® zippers are 100% watertight. Lowepro invented the very first waterproof camera backpacks in 2002, and they’ve been making a big splash ever since.

So when you plan your next adventure or location shoot, take a minute to think about the weather and conditions you’ll be facing, and then choose the level of protection you need. Whatever the climate — we’ve got you covered!

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

Did you see this great little animated film?

We caught up with TammyLynn to find out more.

So Tammy, tell us about the animation, where did you get the idea from?
I’d been wanting to do some stop animation type thing for years now but just never got around to it. It was on my mind again and I was down at the studio so I thought what the heck, I’ll shoot a few frames and see if I can make a movie with it. Putting it together in a movie was a lot harder than I thought it would be, mainly because I don’t know what I’m doing. I had fun learning and trying though.

I take it you like the Pro Roller Attaché then?
I love the bag, it is truly like having an assistant along with me who helps keep up with my gear and holds a flash gun for me now and then. The gear is just right there at my fingertips. I don’t have to hunt for a place to put my bag down, don’t have to worry about laying the bag down on wet or yucky floor. I just bend down, unzip, grab and go. If I don’t zip it back up right away it’s fine, my gear doesn’t fall out. I can grab the handle and move on quickly knowing my gear is secure. I often work out in the public where there are lots of people around, having the bag on the ground with handle extended I can grab and move quickly. Where as with other bags I have to stop, zip up, pick up and so on, it can be a pain. I much prefer grabbing and going.

What’s next for TammyLynn Photography?
I’m doing more and more private photography workshops with people and I’m working on material for group workshops, a lot of which will be mobile. I can see this bag coming in very handy for this as well.

Thanks TammyLynn!

For more information on TammyLynn check out her blog here and the London Road Studio here.

If you have shot a short film about any Lowepro product we would love to see it, so get in touch via our Facebook or Contact us pages!

Pro shooter Ed Heaton just sent us an update about his latest adventure in upstate PA. As you can see, the conditions were rather icy. Fortunately, Ed’s gear was protected in a Pro Trekker 400 AW backpack. Here’s what Ed had to say about the adventure.

As a professional landscape photographer and workshop instructor, I spend a ton of time in the outdoors. Whether it’s making images for clients, my website or creating new images to use as teaching aids, I always have my gear in my Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW. It’s comfortable to carry fully loaded, and I feel pretty good knowing that my gear is protected from the elements.

Ed Heaton with Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW

My latest adventure was a visit to Rickett’s Glen Natural Area, a national landmark that boasts a series of wild, free-flowing waterfalls, which this time of year are frozen! The 94-foot Ganoga Falls is the highest of 22 named waterfalls in Ricketts Glen State Park, and it’s one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania. In order to hike into the falls area in winter, you’ll need a good set of ice crampons and a solid nerve. With the mist from the falls combining with the below-freezing temperatures, it’s a winter wonderland.

Thanks Ed for the update. You look great with that backpack. Photo credit: Michael Lawrence (a friend of Ed’s).

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.