With the UK already enjoying snowy conditions, many of us are spending time looking over the shots we have taken this past year and planning what to do next year. For those who really want to push themselves there is the now famous ‘365 Project‘. There are various connotations of this with dedicated websites and flickr groups a plenty. The essential premise is that you take a photo every day for a year. To learn a little more about what it takes to ‘do a 365′ we caught up with talented photographer, friend of Lowepro and 365 veteran Charlie Trotman ( aka  Crustydolphin ).

Turn your back on Mother Nature - Charlotte Trotman

So Charlie tell us about 365?

Well it began as something my friends were doing and I just jumped on the bandwagon without giving it much thought. About 60 days in I realized that just taking a picture of my foot didn’t cut it and started on a huge learning curve regarding setting scenes, conveying emotions and the most important learning curve of all, managing light. Now into my third year, it’s become a therapy of sorts for me, and also my visual diary. I can look at any of my photos and know exactly where I was and how I was feeling on that day. It’s a lot of commitment, but it’s definitely been a useful project in regards to learning more about photography, and as a bonus, myself!

So it takes full on commitment then?

Well I did it religiously for 2 years– by that, I mean I took one photo every day without fail and beat myself up about it if I didn’t feel like it and then took something shoddy. This time around, I shoot when I want, what I want – not necessarily self portraits which is what I started out doing, but those people and the world around me. After all, photography and projects are supposed to be fun – I’ve relaxed a lot. It’s still a big part of my life, always ongoing, but it’s more personal dedication now than full time commitment.

I can haz bubbles - Charlotte Trotman

How do you think it benefited your photography?

I actually had to get to know how my camera worked! Rather than just pointing and clicking. Aperture, light….just making a photo interesting. I have become rather picky too of what I take photo’s of whereas before I’d just shoot anything. Now I’m always searching for the perfect composition, perfect light, how do I want a subject to look, what do I want to convey, how do I capture what I’m seeing and do it justice. Photography isn’t just looking through a lens and pressing the shutter…its telling a story. Your story on how you see the world, or yourself and others. So how’s it benefited my photography? It’s made me think a heck of a lot more about it and that’s a good thing!

Do you think that being able to shoot a good self portrait is key to succeeding with a 365 Project?

No. I don’t. It depends what you want your 365 to be – what ‘you want to go back and view at the end of the year’. There’s no rules to say they have to have self portraits in there…it could 365 photos of strangers you’ve met each day! Make up your own rules!

Hitchhiker - Charlotte Trotman ( featuring Lowepro Pro Runner 450 AW )

Given the pressure on to deliver, you must have to shoot light and fast, what’s on your kit list?

My trusty Nikon D700, 50mm 1.4 Nikon lens attached, Lowepro Passport Sling as bag of choice when I’m shooting extra light, holding my sb600, spare battery…. and jelly beans. That does it for me.

Who do you look at for inspiration?

I’m lucky enough that I have fabulous friends who are pro photographers so they inspire me every day. I don’t really have a favourite photographer but I do have favourite images – but I’m fickle and that changes depending what mood I’m in!

Good Morning Sunrise - Charlotte Trotman

What is next for Charlie Trotman?

Would love to have 10 pieces that I’m uber happy with, start a new project shooting female photographers who inspire me…have a little exhibition…keep learning, do some lighting courses, read more photography books and keep being inspired and having fun with it!

Thanks Charlie!

For more information on 365 projects check out the Flickr group here.

For more information on Charlie Trotman and her photography check her website here ,  her Flickr photostream ( including 365 projects) here and her Twitter feed here.

Here at Lowepro, we celebrate photography — and photographers everywhere. The images we enjoy give us glimpses into worlds we would never have personal access to. But one thing we tend to forget is the personal cost many photographers pay for bringing us these photographs.

This risk was dramatically driven home to us recently. On October 23rd, South African photographer João Silva lost both his legs after stepping on a land mine in Afghanistan. On assignment for the New York  Times, his photographic coverage of the war had placed him once again in harms way. And while he has been in many war zones, from Africa to the Middle East and Iraq, this particular day has changed his life forever.

Described by long time friend and collaborator Greg Marinovich as “the most talented and courageous contemporary conflict photographer,” João is embarking on a very long road to recovery and will be faced with reinventing himself as a photographer. His immediate medical care is only the beginning of what he and his family will be facing.

This is not about the kind of gear he carries or which brand he prefers — I honestly don’t know or care. It’s about the dedication and fearlessness he epitomizes. We’ve heard first hand stories from a lot of our photographers about the challenges they face in the field: post-earthquake cholera, hepatitis and deadly fevers, floods, famine and war. We salute you all — and our hearts and best wishes go out especially at this time to João Silva and his family.

A web site has been donated by the folks at Photoshelter on João’s behalf to provide updates on his condition and take donations to help him and his family. If you’d like to help, please visit Support João Silva Photojournalist.

About João Silva: (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

João Silva (born August 9, 1966 in Lisbon, Portugal) is a war photographer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was one of four people commonly associated with the The Bang-Bang Club, a group of photographers who covered South Africa from the time of Nelson Mendela’s release to the first elections in 1994. Silva has worked in Africa, the Balkans, Central Asia, Russia and the Middle East. His images have won numerous awards, including the World Press Photo.

I’ve tested lots of Lowepro gear this year, traveling by plane, train, cab, car, bike and foot. And with field use, there are bags that rise to the surface as my absolute favorites. I thought you might like to peruse this list, especially as the holidays roll around. I’ll list MSRP US prices in my overviews, but often you can get better prices by shopping around.

A packed Pro Runner 300 AW.

Pro Runner 300 AW – For my dedicated camera backpack, the Pro Runner 300 AW is at the top of the list. I like this bag because it holds my Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 60D, telephoto, wide, primes and flash, yet is thin and very efficient. It fits in overhead compartments, on buses, under seats, and just about anywhere else. I can carry the iPad in the front pocket and still have room for other personal items. This is one bag I could not do without. $179 US.

Camera compartment of the Fastpack 250.

Fastpack 250 – When I need to stow a laptop in my backpack, I still favor the Lowepro Fastpack 250. It easily handles all 15″ models, and I can even get my 17″ MacBook Pro in there. Plus, the Fastpack accommodates the 5D Mark II DSLR with 24-105 f/4 L zoom, 70-200 f/4, 50mm, flash, and accessories. I like the way I can access the DSLR from the side without having to remove the backpack. I particularly enjoy this bag for airline travel. It has lots of room for personal items in addition to camera and computer. Yet it fits under the seat in front of me or in the overhead bin. What a great everyday backpack! $119 US.

Compact yet roomy, and enough room for iPad or netbook too.

Classified Sling 180 AW – When I want a sling bag, I still reach for the Lowepro Classified Sling 180 AW. It’s a stylish bag for urban use, holds my DSLR and 3 lenses, and plenty of accessories including an iPad or even a MacBook Air. When shooting, I can sling it around, open the flap, and work out of the bag. It’s like having a mini-studio with you because everything is so accessible. I would say this is a better sling for men than women. I think the bag looks a little chunky on most gals. But for me, I always look forward to street shooting with the sling over my shoulder. $175 US

Classified 160 AW – For shoulder bags this was a tough call, but in the end my favorite is the Lowepro Classified 160 AW. For such a compact shoulder bag, it holds an amazing amount of equipment, including an iPad in the front pocket. I really like its looks too, preferring the sepia color with the black leather trim. You can go anywhere with this bag, look good, and have your gear with you. $175 US.

Exchange Messenger – For a discrete messenger bag, it’s hard to beat the Lowepro Exchange Messenger. I can carry a light DSLR with zoom and personal items, yet, most people don’t even notice I have a bag on. It’s also perfect for the new micro four/thirds cameras. $40 US.

Even though I enjoy and use many other bags, these are the five that I just wouldn’t want to ever live without.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

Compact yet roomy, and enough room for iPad or netbook too.

Even though I’m not on photo assignment for this trip, I’m still a photographer and want to have a good kit with me. One of my favorite bags for these situations is the Lowepro Classified Sling 180 AW. I like that it holds my DSLR (Canon 60D on this trip) with 70-200 f/4, 16-35 f/2.8, 50 f/1.8, and 18-55 kit zoom. Plus I have flash, filters, and all of the accessories. The front pocket holds an iPad, netbook, or 13″ MacBook Air. Yet the entire package is very compact. (You can see a short video about how a MacBook Air 13″ fits in the Classified).

The other thing that I really like about this bag, is that it’s made of premium components. The fabric, zippers, strap, and compartments are all top notch. When I walk into a meeting with the Classified, I feel like a professional.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

Lowepro has teamed up with Nik software to give away a South African Photo Safari Experience of a lifetime.

Led by famed photographer John Paul Caponigro beginning in September 2011, this private photo safari will take you on a wide-ranging exploration of South Africa. The safari will focus on photographing wildlife in the world-famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve and the many landscapes of the Cape Town region.

Sponsored by Artsy Coutre, Blurb, Datacolor, Graphic Authority, Lowepro, Nik Software, and Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and organized by renowned tour operator Eyes on Africa, you’ll experience some of Africa’s finest wildlife photography opportunities, great accommodations, and expert guiding. These two locations have been selected to create a private safari geared specifically toward serious wildlife, landscape and scenic photography.

Enter the sweepstakes, and read more about the partners and the photo safari at www.safarisweepstakes.com

Some days are pure magic. All the elements align to create the perfect day on the tundra. Saturday was like that. The air was crisp, cold and clean. The skies were clear. And the polar bears were both plentiful and active. It was a day that had even the tour guides excited.

Our Tundra Buggy experience started with a bang. A couple of curious bears had come right into the staging area while the guides were trying to load all the Buggys. While they seem to move slowly and nonchalantly, this was nothing to take lightly. When they want to, polar bears can cover quite a distance in just a matter of seconds. So we waited while they were encouraged to move back to a safe distance and then set out. Not more than a minute or two out of the yard, we had our next encounter — which set the tone for the entire day.

We were blessed with sightings of over 30 bears that day and even saw one bear actually swimming in the water. This is rare for this time of year as the bears are still conserving their energy and fat stores while waiting for the ice to freeze and the opportunity to hunt. We saw two bears sparring — or play-fighting — in the distance but missed seeing the action up close. Fortunately we have one more day out on the tundra and hope to see some more of this socializing behavior.

The thing is, though — the bears shouldn’t still be here. With the changing weather patterns, the ice is forming later and later. The fact that both the river and the Bay remain unfrozen is serious as it means the long fast for the bears continues. So while it was a treat to be able to see so many polar bears, it would be much better for them if they had already headed out onto the ice.

The end of our first day on the tundra was truly the icing on the top. We were treated to a magnificent sunset that escorted us all the way back to base. We haven’t seen the Northern Lights, but these colors were spectacular, turning the sky into an amazing artist’s pallette and tinging the snow and ice with pastels.

This has definitely been a trip to remember. The people of Churchill have been wonderful and the folks from Frontiers North Adventures (aka the Tundra Buggy team) absolutely outstanding. I believe Buchachon has enjoyed it every bit as much as I have.

So the only question is — what do we do for our next photo contest????

Traveling by private charter is the only way to go — no lines, no security checks and they actually feed you! We arrived in Churchill to find snow on the ground and temperatures below freezing — perfect for a polar adventure. I wonder how Buchachon is taking this, though. The climate is definitely (forgive the pun) polar opposite from his home in Thailand. I’ve peeked over his shoulder to see some of the images he’s been taking and definitely understand why he is our contest winner. I’ll try and share one or two in future posts.

A couple of folks saw a polar bear on the ice when we were landing — and we had a wonderful encounter with a red fox this afternoon. Highly inquisitive, he meandered all around us for a full five minutes, winding his way closer and closer. We also saw the kids from Project Polar Bear — and we’ll catch up with them again for interviews and polar bear watching in a couple of days. We checked out the polar bear jail — a holding facility used for bears who won’t keep their distance. This is a great program that relocates the bears thus protecting both them and the residents of Churchill.

Tomorrow will find us on the Tundra Buggy and it promises to be a great day. There are a lot of bears around waiting for the ice to come in — so far, both the river and the bay remain unfrozen. For a sneak peak of what’s in store for us, check out this video: Blog from the North.

Our group is an interesting mix of pros and enthusiasts. We have a videographer from New York and a National Geographic photographer with us — more on that in coming posts. We’ve also had some Lowepro sightings — a Flipside and SlingShot are being put to use by two of the members of our group. And, of course, Buchachon is using his new Flipside 500 Limited Edition bag (sorry, it’s not available for sale).

Stay tuned for more tales from the north…..