Exploring the unlikely intersections of walking, photography and making
You may recall my quest for the perfect mobile backup strategy for photographs taken while on a long walk. First there was the Kingston MobileLite Wireless G2, a nice, compact, lightweight means of transferring image files from my SD cards to flash drives. Unfortunately, the backups have proven to be unreliable with the MobileLite often... Continue Reading →
My last post dug into the camera bag slung over my shoulder. Cameras. Lenses. Filters. My creative tools. As I mentioned in that post, my kit is tailored to the needs of long distance walking where weight and volume are as important as image quality. But there is another collection of photographic ephemera, the less... Continue Reading →
It’s fair to say my technical approach to photography has shifted. Gone are the days of lugging eight pounds of Nikon bodies and lenses across Europe. Or backpacks loaded down with Cirkut panoramic cameras. Or car trunks filled with 4x5 view cameras, massive tripods and film holders. No, my gear kit is decidedly minimal these... Continue Reading →
This year’s selection of eclectic gifts offers something for everyone in the WalkClickMake sphere of influence. Rain Kilt by Zpacks I hate rain pants. They are a pain to put on. They are sweaty and hot. They are too heavy. Enter the Rain Kilt by Zpacks. You will not win any fashion awards, but these... Continue Reading →
It starts with Moves, a smartphone app that tracks my every movement, second-by-second, day-by-day. How far I have walked. Where I have run or biked. My destinations and how many times I have visited them. My life in motion, quantified. Frankly, I rarely open the Moves app. It just runs in the background, non-stop, collecting... Continue Reading →
Still searching for an appropriate gift for the avid long-distance walker on your list? Here are eight practical ideas. None weighs more than 150 grams. None costs more than $60 Canadian (CDN). Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium, Large (117 g) Sleeping in a rustic refugio on the Camino de Santiago? Or in a traditional... Continue Reading →
Camera bags are arguably the most important accessory a photographer owns. Sure, they protect and store valuable equipment. But, to my mind, a good bag is integral to the way a photographer chooses to work. A backpack style of bag suggests a more contemplative working process. The photographer stands, lowers his pack to the ground.... Continue Reading →
Trace is the third in a trio of walking apps that I’m putting to the test. And, yes, it involves a dog. Compared to Drift or Likeways, Trace calls for a high degree of user interaction with the app and, optionally, collaboration with others using the app. Developed at the Tactile and Tactical Design Lab (TAT... Continue Reading →
The fledgling Likeways app takes a different approach to navigating on foot between point A and point B. It uses the same map layer as Apple’s Maps application and, when a destination is entered, Likeways will plot the quickest way to get there, just like the Maps app would. This is shown as a grey... Continue Reading →
Smartphones are very good at getting you from Point A to Point B in the most direct, efficient means possible. Navigation apps abound for this purpose. But most are geared to those traveling by car. The needs of pedestrians are after-thoughts, if they are thought of at all. And recommended walking routes - on Google... Continue Reading →