It seems Liz’s and my trip planning efforts have started to diverge significantly. While she continues to research important factors like accomodations and transportation, I continue to geek out searching for the next expensive (and sometimes inexpensive) piece of gear to pack on the trip. By my estimate, my two suitcases will probably contain about $1,000,000,000 worth of equipment.* They will probably also weight about 600 lbs. each.

Perhaps I am not quite living in reality. But someone needs to think about documentation. So I am now becoming an amateur photographer! I think back to the 700+ photos I took on my trip to Trinidad & Tobago in 2006 with great pride. Sure, the vast majority of those photos are definitely not printworthy. But they are records of a gret trip and a great visit with a really good, and dearly missed, friend. I think it is only prudent that Liz and I plan to take hundreds of photos and hours of video on this trip, sort through the results when we get back and put together a detailed and useful video diary of our trip.

In fact, I think it is vital to the success of this website. We’re counting on readers finding this site useful and informative. Pictures are compelling and the happen to do a great job of drawing readers in. And we really need to “finish” this site with our own personal touch. Some staged photos, landscape pictures and action shots will really help in that sense. Plus, there is a REI garage sale the other day, I stumbled upon Gorillapod flexible tripods for cameras. I remembered seeing these before in another stor for much cheaper and debating about purchasing one. I ultimately didn’t and am kicking myself for it now. I’ll have to pick one up – or two. I really want a nice, super compact one that could easily store in a backpack or pocket. But that won’t work for the hefty DSLR and zoom lens I so desparately want.

If I get the bigger camera, a larger tripod will work for both, the DSLR and the point-and-click camera. But its bulk and size may be inconvenient at best – unacceptable at worst. Then again, if I’m trudging around with a massive camera and lens, what is another pound? I suppose it wouldn’t be a major inconvience.

I think this little tripod is a must for staging some of the photos I am envisioning. With narry more than a tree branch, iguana or monkey around, we’ll need something to set up a level camera. I don’t know if you’ve ever worked with these resources but trust me, they neighter understand level nor appreciate the need for motionlessness during the execution of the photo. At least with the gorillapod we could get the iguana to hold the camera whilst he suns himself!

*this number is in no way exaggerated.