Finally heading to Europe :)

[Sean]

Some delays but we're now booked to head over in October (my wife and I). It took a lot of changes, like downsizing to a 60sqm apartment to improve our finances (3 months here so far and we are loving the minimalist life). It might still be a stretch but we plan to be in the region for 10 months, then head back to NZ summer.

Closer to the time I will try organising some group meetups. I'm open to suggestions as well. It would be so amazing to meet some of our Euro members and do some shoots.

I'm sure I will dip in at times for some general advice. We'll probably be in Shengen zone 90 days, the Montenegro 90 days and back to Shengen.

More soon.

 

[koraks]

Exciting times!
I hear Montenegro is very nice. A friend of ours comes from there, but they fled the country when he was a kid due to the (risk of) violence in the late 1990s.

 

[Hassasin]

@Sean Schengen, just so they don't lock you up for hate speech

 

[Klaus Mähring]

Feel free to contact me; I am living in eastern Austria and have travelled the eastern parts of Europe extensively. Which - in my opinion - are by far more interesting than the Shengen area. At my place there is also a darkroom and a small gallery, if you'd like to develop, print or show some work.

 

[grain elevator]

Hit me up if you come through Frankfurt and want to have a beer or coffee!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Enjoy your trip with your wife; you earned it!

 

[Daniela]

I propose a Paris meetup at the end of November and we hit up the loudest and most fun of all marches: the feminist one (ok, maybe the second after the pride parade)

 

[Sean]

Thanks all! I will definitely be in touch with anyone who is up for a meet, only depends if I make it to that area.

 

[Sean]

@Sean Schengen, just so they don't lock you up for hate speech

Yes! doh

 

[F4U]

As an American country boy to the bone, I hit upon this thread accidentally and read every post. Gave me pause to give thanks. Maybe some day I'll go to Europe or Schehgen, if that's what they call it now. The day when someone deposits $250/hr into my bank account in advance, from the minute I walk out my front door till the time I re-enter it, I'll go to Europe. Thank God I'm a country boy. Have fun on your trip, sincerely. Like I tell my Sister and her husband who take "vacations" every 5 minutes and go to places like that: I'm glad it's you and not me. Don't ask me to play golf though. That'll cost you a sizeable surcharge. This whole thread reminded me of a John Denver song from way back. These are for Sean, owner of the world famous Photrio/ APUG website. And remember there's no place like home. Be safe.

 

[Sean]

As an American country boy to the bone, I hit upon this thread accidentally and read every post. Gave me pause to give thanks. Maybe some day I'll go to Europe or Schehgen, if that's what they call it now. The day when someone deposits $250/hr into my bank account in advance, from the minute I walk out my front door till the time I re-enter it, I'll go to Europe. Thank God I'm a country boy. Have fun on your trip, sincerely. Like I tell my Sister and her husband who take "vacations" every 5 minutes and go to places like that: I'm glad it's you and not me. Don't ask me to play golf though. That'll cost you a sizeable surcharge. This whole thread reminded me of a John Denver song from way back. These are for Sean, owner of the world famous Photrio/ APUG website. And remember there's no place like home. Be safe.

NZ has become quite insanely expensive over the years, I might be way better off in EU for a while

 

[koraks]

Europe or Schehgen, if that's what they call it now

Europe = the continent
European Union = the administrative, monetary & legislative entity that comprises most countries on the European continent
Schengen area = an administrative construct that pertains to eliminated border controls between most European countries (although this has eroded away a bit in the last year)
There's a few differences between the three of them.

Schengen

European Union

Schengen preceded the Union by a few years. In Europe, nobody refers to countries as being in the 'Schengen area' in practice, other than in specific legislative or logistic contexts.

Note how e.g. Iceland and Norway are part of the Schengen area (no border controls) but they're not part of the EU (so you pay in Icelandic resp. Norwegian kroner instead of euros). Conversely, Cyprus and Ireland are EU members and hence you can pay with euros there, but presently not (yet) part of the Schengen area, so you need to show a passport when crossing the border.

It's kind of confusing, although fortunately, for most 'inland' travels in Europe all of this doesn't really matter. For @Sean, there's an administrative reason that makes it opportune to stay in Montenegro for a while (on the European continent, but not EU or Schengen) and then temporarily move to Schengen country.

 

[Sean]

I'll be faced with a dilemma closer to departure. Do I go with my fujifilm x-t3 and chunky 16-55, 2kg all up (camera/lens/slingbag) or do I swap to a x100vi which rivals in quality (although fixed lens) but is only 500gms and practically pocketable. I am mostly a street shooter and the 35mm equiv lens could be good. The ibis means indoor or night shots could be managed without a tripod. The built in 4-stop ND filter is interesting as well. I absolutely love my current kit but will it be a drag lugging it all over Europe (leaning towards yes, with it being one more bulky item to add on top of a backpacking lifestyle). My back and shoulders aren't what they used to be. Hmmm...

 

[koraks]

I'd go for the lightweight option and not look back, honestly.

 

[IMoL]

I would also go for the X100vi option. I regularly do multi-week trips with one camera, one lens approach either because I am taking something like a Rolleicord or beacuse I am trying to go really light (I once did 3 weeks in Andalusia with just an original X100).

 

[Tel]

I travel fairly frequently to Europe (usually Ireland and UK) and over the years have brought along everything from a Bronica ETRS with a couple of lenses to a tiny Rollei 35 and a few in between, mostly my Nikon S2 or a Rollei Baby when I want to shoot 127. The older I’ve become and the less reliable checking baggage with the airlines has become the more often I default to the Rollei 35. Right now I’m travelling in the PNW (Seattle to the uninitiated) with two Rollei 35’s and a Sekonic Twinmate meter and a fistfull of Portra and Tri-X, all in my carry-on duffel bag. I strongly support Koraks’ advice.

 

[Prest_400]

Sweden: Uppsala and Stockholm here. I'm part of a local photo community with a strong film group. Sometimes am close to Barcelona, mostly the month over winter holidays.

For travel I'd go light, with the cynism of carrying a medium format film camera. Last time it was a 1" compact which really did almost anything I wanted digital. 18-55 gets my vote for the versatility, but will you have a "base" where you are leaving heavier checked luggage and can store excess items?
OT: Given the current geopolitical and personal situation, I am finding short trips around Europe a quite nice and practical way to travel. I would like to visit asia soon again but further and longer trips just require more logistics, though it is nice to snowbird too.

 

[Gregory_Nolan]

Would be really cool if there was a Photrio meeting somewhere close!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'll be faced with a dilemma closer to departure. Do I go with my fujifilm x-t3 and chunky 16-55, 2kg all up (camera/lens/slingbag) or do I swap to a x100vi which rivals in quality (although fixed lens) but is only 500gms and practically pocketable. I am mostly a street shooter and the 35mm equiv lens could be good. The ibis means indoor or night shots could be managed without a tripod. The built in 4-stop ND filter is interesting as well. I absolutely love my current kit but will it be a drag lugging it all over Europe (leaning towards yes, with it being one more bulky item to add on top of a backpacking lifestyle). My back and shoulders aren't what they used to be. Hmmm...

Take what is most pleasing to use and you are most comfortable.

 

[Ernst-Jan]

Hit me up if you come through Frankfurt and want to have a beer or coffee!

Which one?

 

[loccdor]

Which one? A Pilsner or a Hefeweizen?

 

[cowanw]

A Pilsner and a a x100vi

 

[Ron789]

In case you visit The Netherlands and want to meet locals, feel free to let me know! I live close to Amsterdam and I'm in touch with many people here doing (analog) photography.

 

[Sean]

Would be really cool if there was a Photrio meeting somewhere close!

That's the plan!

 

[Sean]

In case you visit The Netherlands and want to meet locals, feel free to let me know! I live close to Amsterdam and I'm in touch with many people here doing (analog) photography.

Closer to the time, I'll be building a list of members that want to meet up and also see if we can do some group meets/shoots. We've got our main flights and travel insurance done and are working on itinerary (it will be a challenge to thread the finances needle, especially with such a weak NZD).