Equipment advice for indigenous Mexican fiesta

I have to limit the amount of equipment I'm taking to an indigenous fiesta in Central Mexico next month. The celebration is fiesta de San Miguel Arcangel in the Huastecan community of San Luis Potosi. My focus is anthropolgy and fine art - I'd like to do an exibition of 11 x 16 prints and entitle the show "Danzas Indigenas de la Huasteca." Something like this that I did for Guatemala:

http://www.pbase.com/lahuasteca/danzas_indigenas_de_guatemala

OK, space lmitation - one Lowepro Off-Road beltpack. So, it looks like a Nikon F100 and two lenses - 28-105 and 70-210 f4, plus SB800 flash. I'm travelling by bus then hop into the back of a pickup truck. In my clothes backpack, I'll stuff an FE2 and 1 or 2 primes for backup (used to be my main camera, but changing lenses is too slow for the traditional dances).

Film - Fuji Astia 100F and Kodak 400UC. Digital D70s, even though I'd like to take it, gets left home.

Any suggestions or comments?

Maybe a monopod if you can swing it. Try some shots of dance with slower speed handheld and a good flash to stop a bit of the image. But it sounds like you've got a good equipment roster there. Have fun and post some images when you return.

Too much gear, unless you have both bodies out and each mounted with a short or long zoom. That's still heavy.

Walk around with your full kit, as if you are already there, decide if it's really necessary. You're the one who will have to carry it, and if it gets in your way....

I'm still unconvinced that zooms are all that worthwhile. At least for me I find myself shooting almost exclusively at the long end of my tele zoom and the wide end of my 24-105. Might go back to primarily primes after all.

Leica still works: http://www.marcelataboada.com/

bjorke said:

Too much gear, unless you have both bodies out and each mounted with a short or long zoom. That's still heavy.

Walk around with your full kit, as if you are already there, decide if it's really necessary. You're the one who will have to carry it, and if it gets in your way....

I'm still unconvinced that zooms are all that worthwhile. At least for me I find myself shooting almost exclusively at the long end of my tele zoom and the wide end of my 24-105. Might go back to primarily primes after all.

Leica still works: http://www.marcelataboada.com/

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Complete agreement on all points, with the added observation that if you're looking at an exhibition of big prints, primes will be sharper and faster. The latter will be important in reducing camera shake as light levels fall; I take it that like all fiestas I've ever been to, this goes on well into the night.

Certainly, all I'd be inclined to take is two Leicas, both around my neck, and at most three lenses: 35/1.4 and 75/2 mounted, 135/2.8 in case I needed it.

Otherwise, I'd make a feature of impressionistic softness, with such lenses as my 135/1.8 Porst on a screw Pentax.

I have experience photographing in Central and South American markets which I assume are similar.

I agee with the other -- go light and take a monopod. Also, take a cable release and a wider lens e.g. 24mm for the Nikon.

I would be surprised if you have enough room for the tele lenses unless you want some really tight shots. Many people won't want you to take their picture. Also, it is usually very crowded. At markets, I had luck with my Pentax 67 and 45 mm lens walking around with the camera at abdomen height, mirror locked up, and snapping the cable release when I came across an interesting scene. I paid attention to keeping the camera level, set at f8 and hyperfocal distance, and liberal use of film. The Bogen (Manfrotto) monopod with the trigger release is nice for quick height adjustment and is an excellent weapon for dealing with stray dogs.

Also, be prepared to be robbed. You will be at least a head taller than everyone else, standing in a crowd with both hands on your camera and eyes attached to viewfinder. An easy mark. I had a belt-attached pouch that zipped shut and held my valuables. A very small Ecuadoran women made off with my American Express card very easily. Now I carry valuables inside my shirt or inside my pants.

Three liters of Tequila...you'd be amazed at your photos.

Glad I asked the question here. Prime lenses, hyperfocal distance, wide angles - that's really my kind of photography. Guess I'll dance with those who brung me. FE2, 24, 35, and 135 mm primes. That's what I feel comfortable with. The area, La Huasteca, is generally safe, on fiesta days photography is more tolerated than other days. Will be careful.

paullgj said:

Glad I asked the question here. Prime lenses, hyperfocal distance, wide angles - that's really my kind of photography. Guess I'll dance with those who brung me. FE2, 24, 35, and 135 mm primes. That's what I feel comfortable with. The area, La Huasteca, is generally safe, on fiesta days photography is more tolerated than other days. Will be careful.

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I wouldn't leave the F100 at home alone but take it with the shorter zoom.

Look at your fixed lens kit....it jumps from 35 to 135! You need at least one if not two primes in b/w if you don't want to use a zoom.

Besides, the AF on the F100 will be invaluable for quick shooting, we're talking a dance festival here. Now unless they are dancing a slow waltz - why wouldn't you want the rapid fire capability of the F100?

You can pump that manual lever as fast as you can and you will not be able to effectively shoot the scene as you can with AF on an auto camera! Remember, the faster you pull that lever the more you are dealing with camera shake etc.

And, despite the naysayers here, believe it or not - they have batteries in Mexico - in fact, most every pack of Duracells I buy are made there!

I'm sure you love your FE - but if I were limited to one body, I'd bring the F100 and the manual primes plus the shorter AF zoom.

Oh, and yes, I'd probably try to carry that monopod!

Bienvenido and enjoy your trip. Since you are shooting transparency film
bring as much as you can, sometimes it's difficult to find slide film outside the big citys such as Mexico city, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

jeroldharter said:

Also, be prepared to be robbed.... An easy mark. I had a belt-attached pouch that zipped shut and held my valuables.

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Jerold,
This is an unfounded and careless statement. What makes one an easy mark is wearing all or your valuables in one little indiscreet pouch. You could easily suffer the same loss in Milwaukee by doing that.

pandino said:

Jerold,
This is an unfounded and careless statement. What makes one an easy mark is wearing all or your valuables in one little indiscreet pouch. You could easily suffer the same loss in Milwaukee by doing that.

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I can't argue with you about my stupidity. However, that has been a constant worldwide with extensive travel. I think muggers would be more of a problem in Milwaukee than pickpockets.

I meant no slight to the average person who lives in Mexico. Nevertheless, insurance with itemized replacement cost is a good idea when traveling with expensive photographic gear. If you watch travelers in some areas, they wear their backpacks backwards (pack on chest) because of the likelihood of being ripped off.

This is why I always keep my wallet in my front pants pocket, even when at home. Makes it much harder for someone to lift it without my noticing. That and keeping an eye on my gear bag, ideally having it between my tripod legs and my feet when working with a view camera, have kept me out of trouble so far when travelling.

Sounds perfect to me, equipment wise, except only take one prime for backup. However, i'd skip the muliplicity of film types. If you're printing 11x16 maximum, just take Kodak Portra 400NC (better latitude and easier to print than UC).