LumaLoop: Yet Another Camera Strap

After BlackRapid's success, another strap contender LumaLoop is entering the fray hoping that it can also provide an improved camera strap, one of photography's perennial Holy Grails.

James Duncan Davidson (a photographer) designed and made the LumaLoop, an across-the-shoulder strap with a quick-release lanyard, whose main claims are comfort and flexibility.

Those who have already used the strap report they like how the camera can be used while slung over a shoulder, and can quickly be released by squeezing the buckle. When not in use, the camera dangles at one's waist, and can remain there all day long.

The LumaLoop is $60 and comes in three sizes. Each strap comes with a lanyard.

From what I've seen on its website, LumaLoop uses the same general idea for an across the chest bandolier strap as BlackRapid, with the twist of having a quick release lanyard-to-buckle instead of a carabiner.

Here's a previous post as to how I "readjusted" my BlackRapid straps to avoid any unforeseen accidents.

LumaLoop first seen on The Click.

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Posted in: Innovative Stuff

Poll: TTP's Photographer of The Year?

Who Should Be The Travel Photographer's Photographer of the Year?
	Zackary Canepari
	Diego Verges
	Dede Pickering
	Joey Lawrence
pollcode.com free polls

The time of year has come when I normally choose a travel photographer who gets the coveted award of The Travel Photographer's Photographer Of The Year. However this year, I've opted for a more democratic system to elect one of the above four (who were shortlisted by me), and feature this simple poll for my readers to choose the numero uno for 2009.

The blog posts highlighting the work of these four extremely talented photographers are as follows:

Zackary Canepari
Diego Verges
Dede Pickering
Joey Lawrence

The poll will be closed on December 20th. Have fun...!!

Note: This poll was picked up by the Outdoor Photographer Editorial Blog.

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Posted in: Events,Photographers: Travel

Marc Wattrelot: Balochistan

Photo © Marc Wattrelot-All Rights Reserved
Here's a timely feature brought to us by Foto8 showcasing the work of photojournalist Marc Wattrelot titled Divided Desert: Balochistan.

The blurb that accompanies the slideshow informs us that Balochistan extends over 350,000 square kms (approximately the size of Germany) and is the largest province in the Pakistan Federation. About 7 million people live in Balochistan; a mixture of consists Iranians, Pakistanis and Afghanis.

It's the often-heard story: a region rich in natural resources, its people among the poorest, the Punjabi central government rife with corruption and nepotism, give rise to a resistance movement striving for autonomy.

It's timely because the remnants of Al-Qaida may well migrate to the hinterlands of either Pashtunistan and Balochistan. All the ingredients for major trouble exist in this region in the coming months and years to come, so as I said, a timely feature. I don't always agree with Robert D. Kaplan's political slant, but he has penned a thought-provoking article on the Baluchi issue in the May 2009 issue of The Atlantic, which explains the volatility of this region.

Interesting photographs, but irritatingly repetitive audio...!!!

Foto8 describes itself a space to share, comment and debate photography.

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Posted in: Pakistan,Photographers: Photojournalists,Soundslides

NGS: Results of Photo Contest 2009

The National Geographic has selected the winners in its Fourth Annual Global Photography Contest from more than 200,000 submissions.

Each country held national contests and, in the final round, sent one photo from each of the three categories to National Geographic's Washington headquarters for judging. Judges were National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen; design editor of the international editions of National Geographic magazine Darren Smith; and photojournalist Maria Stenzel.

While the first prize went to Debra Jansen of the US for her picture of a 97-year-old woman waiting for a bus in her Sunday best in Georgia, I thought that the above picture by Arie Yudhistira of India (honorable mention) was visually more compelling.

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Posted in: Contests,National Geographic

Canon 7D: It May Be Rugged After All!

I've just stumbled on the interesting ( and certainly one for your bookmarks if Canon is what you use) website Canon Field Reviews (CFR) authored by Pro Nature Photographer Ole Jørgen Liodden of Norway who tests Canon gear under extreme real life conditions.

Liodden took his Canon 7D on a three and a half week week photo expedition to Antarctica, and put it through extreme and hard use under prevailing bad weather conditions, and reported that it performed flawlessly. He chose to use the camera with a battery grip for better handling, and it (the grip) seemed tighter and better sealed than the one that fits the Canon 5D Mark II. He reports that his 7D had absolutely no problems with snow, rain and water (sea spray). He also used a Canon 1Ds Mark III with no issues at all (as expected from such a camera).

His conclusion:

"The 7D performed as I had hoped, surpassing 10,000 exposures without a problem. I must admit that the 5D Mark II surprised me as well with its build quality. The 1DS Mark III camera is the most rugged and best weather sealed, but the 7D and 5D Mark II (without battery grip) performed 100% in my opinion."

Hmmmm.

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Posted in: Hard Gear

China: Portraits of 56 Ethnic Groups

Photo © Chen Hai Wen-All Rights Reserved
Here's an interesting "ethno-photographic" gallery by Chinese photographer Chen Hai Wen (all the information was translated from the Wen Xue City news website using Google Translator) who has recently published large scale photographs in what seems to have been titled as Harmonious China depicting groupings of 56 ethnic groups in China.

From what I gathered from the rather awkward translation, Chen Hai Wen led 14 other photographers across China on photo-shoots which took over one year to complete. It seems the total number of photographs made during this massive undertaking was 5.7 million!!

The "family" photographs are technically perfect, and showcase each different group in its traditional dress. The poses are stilted for the most part...and they are all obviously painstakingly staged...but it's certainly a monumental tour de force.

The last portrait is of the Han ethnic group, to which the largest percentage of Chinese belong to. It's also interesting that ethnic minorities of Taiwan are included.

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Posted in: China,Photographers: Travel

Kroo Bay: Anna Kåri and Guilhem Alandry

Here's a humanitarian project produced by Anna Kåri and Guilhem Alandry, both photojournalists, titled Kroo Bay, and commissioned by and created for Save the Children It's an interactive panoramic multimedia, which adds a tactile feel to the project by its viewers...it's as if one was there. It's remarkably well done, and uses panoramas, videos, audio and stills.

Kroo Bay is an informal housing settlement located on the coastline in central Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. It has an estimated population of about 6000 people. Residents of Kroo Bay lack adequate access to sanitation and health services, and their settlement is treated as a garbage dump by the rest of the capital city.

Guilhem is a French London-based photographer, videographer and multimedia producer. His use of 360-degree documentary technique won him awards and has been used both in print, interactive projects, exhibitions and TV.

Anna Kåri is a photojournalist based in West Africa and London. Her work centres around issues of human rights and animal rights, migration, refugees and identity. She travels and works extensively in the Balkans, West and Eastern Africa. Anna's work has been published by the TIME, Sunday Times Magazine, Le Monde 2, the Guardian, Politiken and many others.

My thanks to photographer Jonathan Adams for the heads -up.

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Posted in: Multimedia,Photojournalism