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OpenAirs / large events: dealing with empty accus and full m

published by Tsukasa on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 8:04am

It's a given that for any large even one should bring spare accum ([certain webshop from Finland], where is my spare Nikon battery??? hellooo... :) ) and all the available memory. In my case it will be 6 to 8 Gb on SD cards and one spare set of camera and flash accums. But still, I almost expect that during long openairs at some point I would need to charge my accums or to unload pictures from the cards.

So my questions are:
- usually, what are the opportunities to use laptop and chargers in OpenAirs or large events? Will organisers provide a space and power supply for these devices? Should I ask them about that in advance or it is "given"?
- are there any unusual gear you would bring? Such as hdd photobanks etc? I already got usual external HDD, which is twice as cheaper comparing to photobanks that contain HDD and can read SD cards, so you can transfer pics wiothout using a PC. I wonder if I can find some device that allows me to do so using my current usual external HDD.
On full speed (some bridges I know do not make it fast enough)
- any other stories or comments, tips, about how do you organise your work in such conditions.

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Cameras, Lenses, Lighting, Accessories

Submitted by Kalle Björklid on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 2:26am.

Askar Ibragimov wrote:
- usually, what are the opportunities to use laptop and chargers in OpenAirs or large events? Will organisers provide a space and power supply for these devices? Should I ask them about that in advance or it is "given"?

Ask in advance, it is not given.

Askar Ibragimov wrote:
- are there any unusual gear you would bring? Such as hdd photobanks etc? I already got usual external HDD, which is twice as cheaper comparing to photobanks that contain HDD and can read SD cards, so you can transfer pics wiothout using a PC. I wonder if I can find some device that allows me to do so using my current usual external HDD.

I have two CompactDrive PD70x photobanks, one with 80Gb HD and the other with 100Gb HD. I empty each card to both of them (one serves as a backup).

Which festival are you going to?

http://www.bjorklid.net/
http://www.huumakuva.net/

Submitted by Tsukasa on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 10:48am.

Thanks, Kalle.
I hope to go to Tuska. Still waiting for news regarding accreditation.

Askar Ibragimov - middeneaht.deviantart.com

Submitted by mary on Sun, 06/10/2007 - 8:15am.

Definitely depends on the festival... I've done some festivals in the UK where there has been nothing available for the photographers... not even a press area, however, at Download they have an area for computers / power / etc.

I'm sure there was something available at Wacken but I didn't need to use anything so didn't check it out, but then there didn't appear to be anything at Sauna this weekend. Size of festival seems to be a rather large deciding factor :)

Submitted by shooter-boy on Mon, 06/18/2007 - 8:23am.

If you can find a HDD that transfers from CF/SD then great.

Personally i can't bring myself to transfer my cards to anything but a laptop/PC.

That's why i just keep buying more CF cards.

Rob

Robert Bell (Rob)
Shooting for the love, but hoping to still eat next week ;)

Submitted by rockstarimages on Mon, 08/13/2007 - 3:27am.

I don't trust those transfer devices. I usually bring along my 12" power book. It's light and sturdy and gives you up to 5h of battery life (in the field I get 3h contious use). Take along a second battery and your set.
It will take me 10-20min to transfer 4gb, depending on the settings. The great thing though is that i can stick it in my bag and transfer the images while shooting with the other card, just stick that pack somewhere safe.
I always ask if there is a power and internet access point somewhere. more often than not there is. If you are working for a daily newspaper the internet access will be more crucial than an ac outlet. I've had days when I had to have the data with them 30min after the first three songs (god I hate when that happens). You really have to have your s*** together when that happens.
Hve fun at the festivals.

Stefan Schaufelberger
Fotografie
Switzerland