Episode 22: Travel Lessons Learned
Mason climbed behind the wheel of his new camper van and drug his wife and kids up into Canada where they camped and explored the Canadian Rocky Mountains of Jasper and Banff National Parks. Jeff hopped a jet to Europe where he traipsed about with his wife and kid in France and Italy. Mason sipped glacial meltwater while Jeff sampled wine, and both of them did their best to make some photos in between. In this episode, they talk about their trips and what they learned during their first international forays in a post-pandemic world. Despite rain (for Mason) and sweltering heat (for Jeff), the hosts made some images they are happy with, but compromises were made and plans were abandoned. Listen in as they discuss their adventures.
PHOTOS FROM MASON’S TRIP TO CANADA
For a pretty penny, a friendly driver in a massive ice-crawling bus will drive you and a bunch of your friends up onto a glacier where you can hop out, snag some selfies and drink meltwater straight from the source. Here Mason and his family claim the glacier for Canada, just in case it hadn’t been done 10,000 times before.
When you have 15 minutes at a location, every second counts. This moody shot of Spirit Island at Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park in Canada is one of just a handful of long exposures Mason was able to make before being herded back aboard the tour boat.
A 3 am wake up and an hour-long drive to snag a coveted parking spot at Banff National Park’s iconic Moraine Lake was the price Mason paid to get this view. This is a 6-shot panorama. Not pictured here are the dozens of photographers assembled on the rocky hillside behind the camera.
For much of Mason’s trip it rained, so there were many hours spent cuddled up in the camper van playing cards and reading. It was incredibly nice to have a dry, warm and comfortable place to gather.
PHOTOS FROM JEFF’S TRIP TO EUROPE
Jeff took advantage of having a rental car in Tuscany to get up at 4:30 a.m. and go out in search of a sunrise location amid the vineyards near San Gimignano. A hot-air balloon (the dot to the right of the sun) was a pleasant surprise.
This is why you get up early. I was one of just four photographers on the Porte dell’Accedemia to catch the sunrise in Venice. In a few hours the bridge would be swarmed with tourists.
Jeff didn’t do his homework and discovered that the Trocadero in Paris was intersected with construction fencing. Fortunately, this late-night reveler mounted a pylon and created a scene that is one of Jeff’s favorite shots of the trip.
The other side of the Colosseum in Rome is dotted with construction and a popular overlook in a nearby park was closed. The only good vantage point was in this square, accompanied by an early-morning model and another photographer (just out of frame).
A flat-lay of the gear Jeff took to France and Italy. Although it looks like a lot, it’s quite a compact setup, and it all fit into his Shimoda Explore V2 30 backpack. The exception is the Peak Design Travel Tripod (top), which exceeded the airline’s weight requirement. Instead, the Peak tripod stayed home and Jeff’s less expensive Three-Legged Thing tripod went into checked luggage.
Jeff found a spot at the Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking the Florence skyline and defended it for an hour before sunrise.
A Platypod was invaluable on Jeff’s trip, here capturing HDR panoramas of Florence.
Some things must be seen to be believed.
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