Photography Bring and Expect

BRENDAN REGAN
PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITIONS

WHAT TO EXPECT
WE WILL BE TRAVELING IN ONE OF THE MOST INTERSTING TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD. THE PEOPLE ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR FRIENDLINESS AND MAKE A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR INCOME FROM TOURISM. SO REMEMBER TO LEAVE THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE BEHIND, AS THIS COUNTRY OPERATES IN A MUCH MORE LAID BACK ATMOSPHERE THAN THE UNITED STATES.

WE WILL HAVE A VARIETY OF EVENTS PLANNED FOR EACH DAY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE ON YOUR OWN THAT IS FINE. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING READY ON TRAVEL DAYS HOWEVER. THIS IS EVERYONE'S VACATION AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE IT A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE TRAVELING DURING THE DRY SEASON IN CENTRAL AMERICA SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE LIMITED RAINFALL. IF MY LUCK HOLDS OUT BASED ON PAST TRIPS, WE SHOULD BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

PASSPORT
EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A VALID PASSPORT WITH TWO COPIES. GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE ONE. IT GENERALLY TAKES UP TO 8 WEEKS. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR INFORMATION.

HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV/PASSPORT/PASSPORT_1738.HTML

SOME ITEMS I RECOMMEND YOU BRING
STRONG COMFORTABLE FOOTWEAR.
RAIN JACKET.
A LIGHT JACKET OR SWEATER.
SPENDING MONEY - SMALL BILLS ARE VERY USEFUL.
MONEY BELT TO KEEP YOUR FUNDS SAFE.
BROAD BRIMMED OR PEAKED HAT
SUNBLOCK
LIP BALM
INSECT REPELLENT
BATHING SUIT
SMALL FLASHLIGHT
INSECT REPELLENT
SMALL DAY PACK OR CAMERA BAG

HEALTH
HEALTH IS ALWAYS A PERSONAL DECISION BUT I SUGGEST TALKING WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN
BEFORE YOU GO ON THE TRIP. THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL HAS A HELPFUL WEBSITE AT

HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/TRAVEL/CAMERICA.HTM

YOU WANT TO DRINK ONLY BOTTLED WATER WHILE WE ARE TRAVELING IN PANAMA. SINCE THE
PRIMARY INCOME IS FROM TOURISM, IT IS READILY AVAILABLE.

PHOTOGRAPHY
HERE IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS TO GO. YOU WILL CAPTURE THOSE MAGICAL MEMORIES FOREVER. FIRST OF ALL IF YOU WANT TO PHOTOGRAPH SOMEONE, ASK. I AM QUITE CERTAIN THAT MOST OF THE TIME THEY WILL HAPPILY OBLIGE.

“MAY I TAKE YOUR PHOTO PLEASE?”
“PUEDO SACAR UNA FOTO POR FAVOR?”

IF SOMEONE SAYS NO DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. IF YOU SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM HOWEVER, THEY WILL USUALLY
OPEN UP. FOR EXAMPLE I TOOK A PHOTOGRAPH OF A NICARAGUAN SOLDIER ON ONE OF MY TRIPS TO NICARAGUA. IT DEFINATELY WAS A LABOR OF PATIENCE. I HUNG OUT WITH HIM AND HAD TO ASK ABOUT TEN TIMES AND HE FINALLY SAID “DOS” OR TWO CHANCES.

PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
AS THE TRIP GETS CLOSER I WILL SPEAK WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS
AND CONCERNS.

CAMERA (DON’T OVERPACK LOTS OF CAMERAS)

LENS (IF YOU HAVE A ZOOM THAT WORKS. IF NOT BRING A WIDE ANGLE, NORMAL, AND TELEPHOTO IF YOU HAVE THEM)

FILM – ISO BETWEEN 100 AND 400. IF IT IS SUNNY ISO 100 IS GREAT, BUT FOR DARKER AREAS AND OVERCAST DAYS 400 IS HELPFUL. YOU WILL NEED AT LEAST 400 SPEED FILM FOR THE RAINFOREST SO I RECOMMEND BRING HIGHER SPEED FILM.

FLASH – I CARRY A VERY SMALL FLASH WHICH IS GREAT FOR DAYLIGHT AND AT NIGHT.

LIGHT TRIPOD – THIS WILL ELIMINATE BLURRY PHOTOS IF YOU HAVE TO SHOOT AT LOWER SHUTTER SPEEDS.

SHUTTER RELEASE - SO YOU DON'T ROCK THE TRIPOD.

LENS CLEANING TISSUE - THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO CLEAN YOUR CAMERA.

MEMORY CARDS – PEOPLE SHOOTING DIGITAL WILL WANT AS MUCH MEMORY AS YOU
CAN AFFORD. I RECOMMEND SHOOTING IN RAW FORMAT SO YOU ARE GOING TO USE UP SPACE VERY QUICKLY.

BATTERY CHARGER FOR DIGITAL CAMERAS – YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM CHARGING AT THE HOTELS.

BATTERIES - CAMERA AND FLASH – HAVE EXTRAS.

FILTERS – DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT.

SOME HELPFUL SPANISH
HELLO                                   HOLA
GOOD MORNING                BUENOS DIAS
GOOD AFTERNOON          BUENAS TARDES
GOOD EVENING                 BUENAS NOCHES
GOODBYE                            ADIOS
YES                                        SI
NO                                          NO
PLEASE                                 POR FAVOR
THANKYOU                       GRACIAS
YOU’RE WELCOME           DE NADA
DO YOU SPEAK                  HABLA INGLES ENGLISH
I DON’T UNDERSTAND    YO ENTIENDO
EXCUSE ME                        CON PERMISO
I’M SORRY                           LO SIENTO
MY NAME IS                        ME LLAMO
WHAT IS YOUR NAME     COMO SE LLAMA
I’M FROM                             SOY DE
MAY I TAKE YOUR           PUEDO SACAR UNA FOTO PHOTO
HOW MUCH IS….               CUANTO CUESTA
MEAT                                    CARNE
FISH                                       PESADO
CHICKEN                              POLLO

EMAIL BRENDAN REGAN AT BRENDANMR@MINDSPRING.COM

VISIT COSTA RICA DIVE AT WWW.COSTARICADIVE.COM

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