13 of 52: 2014

Week 13 of 52: Introducing Mr. Fire Face

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I think he looks a little like CP3O from Star Wars.

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Kent

 

Think Tank Photo Airport Addictive Review and other TTP bags.

Some of you might know I have a bit of a photography bag fetish.  I went through several before I found a brand and style that really works for me.  This blog is an attempt to review my photography bags and hopefully save you some money on not buying the wrong types of bags.  I finally settled in on the Airport Addictive by Think Tank Photo.

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At the time I bought it this bag was the largest backpack bag without wheels.  I use it mostly for storage and transportation to and from my remote locations.  It usually never leaves the trunk of the car.T86A0526 T86A0528

All lens off Bodies.

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I like that you can just pop out two dividers and store my typical wedding setup.  70-200mm on one body and 24-70 on the other.

The bag was designed to hold 2 pro bodies and as many lens and flash as you want to pack in to it.  It is also long enough to hold my 500mm.  I did this if I ever end up traveling to Alaska or Africa and wanted to be able to take maximum gear.

it also comes with a laptop sleeve that will hold up to a 15″ laptop.  Shown here with my 13″ MacBookPro.T86A0501T86A0502

Once I arrive at a shoot location, I usually load up my Speed Changer belt system.  Depending on what I am shooting depends on which Think Tank Photo modular components I put on the belt.

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The belt tucks into the back of the bag so it can be used as a shoulder bag.

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Shown with belt out.

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It will hold 3 large lens, I normally have my 70-200mm with hood, 24-70mm, and at least 1 Speed Light.  Two speed lights and 2 lens no problem.  Plenty of small pockets for memory cards, keys, glasses, lens cleaner.  If I am going to be shooting all day like a wedding then I attach the optional “Keep It Up” shoulder straps.  I didn’t have a second shooter to really show it on me, so shot on a bar chair, at least you can get the ideal.

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Shown here with the Digital Holster v40.  It will hold a pro body and up to a 70-200 with hood.  On the other hip is a Skin Strobe flash holder.

My digital holster is my go to bag for just a walking around shoulder bag.  I also have the V20 for smaller bodies with no battery grip.

I quickly found myself either using my airport addictive or heading out with Big Glass.  That lead to the purchase of Think Thank Photo’s Glass Limo.  The Glass Limo will hold up to a 500mm with a body attached or a 600mm without.  I find now all I have to do is grab my Glass Limo and a body and I am off to chase wildlife.

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Comes with a bunch of dividers but I only use two.  I normally carry both the 1.4 and the 2.0 tele-converters.

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Shown with both my tripod with Gimbal head and my mono pod.  I carry one or the other.  Last year while hiking all over the Great Smoky Mountains National Park I found myself also wanting my second body and landscape lens for waterfalls and sunsets.  I found myself adding on more Think Tank Photo components to carry my 70-200mm, extra body and my trusty digital holster!

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So at this point I am almost up to $1,000 in Think Tank Photo bags.  And as you can see from the last photo I still needed a true all day hiking pack, which led me to a Kick Starter product named the Rotation 180 Professional.  This bag led to a sister company to Think Tank Photo named Mind Shift Gear.   I feel like I backed a real winner for this incredible versatile bag.  I was one of the first 500 🙂

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I was going to do a review of this bag, but no need to do one since Dan Carr’s Rotation 180 Pro.  Dan has a ton of other great reviews over at ShutterMuse.  After Dan’s review I would also strongly recommend watching the video’s on Mind Shift Gear’s page or the one on original Kick Starter Page that hooked me in.

I also use my TTP Digital Holster on the belt pack of this incredible bag.

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Kent

 

 

 

12 of 52: 2014

Week 12 of 52: Matt and Ashly’s Maternity session

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Can’t wait to see my newest granddaughter!  6 more weeks.

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Kent

Matt and Ashly’s Maternity Session

It was great to get some humans subjects back in front of my lens.  Matt and I run Photos By Jarrett as a two shooter photography business.  The winters in Illinois are so crappy I enjoy chasing eagles, owls and other wildlife, but spring summer and fall we love to help people capture their special memories.

Matt and Ashly are expecting the birth of their daughter in early May.  When they asked me to photograph their maternity session, of course I said yes!

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I am always wound up the night before a shoot, nervous but excited.  Yesterdays session had extra pressure on it.  I have worked with Matt and Ashly in the past shooting their engagement photos.  Sometimes Matt and I see things differently.  I have an older more traditional eye, and he has the modern eye.  That works great when we are  doing two shooter session, best of both worlds.  I think some of the younger eyes and techniques have finally rubbed off on me.

I will say that all three of us were on the same page and this session went extremely smooth and no hurt or bruised feelings!

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It was sunny and 50, but there was still ice and snow on the ground.  The couple were real troupers, and never complained once.

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Knowing Matt and Ashly and the other grandparents as well as I do, this is going to be one special little princess and spoiled rotten 🙂  Not to mention very well documented.

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Wish both of you all the best in your upcoming adventure of being parents!  You will do great!

Love you and thanks for allowing me to help capture and share your memories!

 

11 of 52: 2014

Week 11 of 52: The frozen waterfall at St. Louis Canyon inside of Starved Rock State Park.

St. Louis Canyon

St. Louis Canyon

Don’t forget most of the photos on this site are for sale.  Enjoy what you read and the photos? Subscribe to be notified of future posts via email by either clicking the Follow button at the bottom or the Subscribe section on the right!  Or feel free to leave a comment.

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Kent