Travel with Large format in Scotland

norm123 · Feb 20, 2017

Hi
Next summer, me, my wife and my son plan to go to Scotland. I want to bring an LF kit, Sinar F1, 4 lenses and everything I need, tripod, holder.... We figure to rent a car for some days. I'm not sure about the use of a tripod in some public places. What are your experiences? Can I bring a backpack carry-on luggage? I think it's a bit too big. What's about X-Ray if I put all films in the suitcase?

It's a family trip. My wife know me very well and she knows my interest in photography. I don't know about LF.Maybe I won't.

What are your experiences?

Regards

BMbikerider · Feb 20, 2017

I have never had a problem with using a tripod anywhere in Scotland and I can only think of a couple of places that may be problematic. These are the estates owned by the Crown I.E HM The Queen. There are Bye-laws covering these lands and if they are the same as in London, whilst photography is allowed anywhere, the use of a tripod is not allowed unless you have prior permission.

The Law in Scotland is markedly different from that in the rest of the UK and I am not an expert, however I do know where it expressly prohibited access on land there is a freedom to roam principal.

Try Googling something like 'Royal Parks Bylaws (Scotland)' and you may find your answer. Out of interest what part of Scotland are you thinking of visiting?

As for 'carry on luggage' in the form of a rucksack, the best people to ask is the Air Line you intend to travel with. Films such as 35mm and 120 can be carried by hand and a hand search requested. Again the people to ask will be the airline who should be able to advise. Is there any reason why your films cannot be carried on board as hand luggage and ask for a hand check rather than go though an X Ray device.

BMbikerider · Feb 20, 2017

I have just had a look myself and if you google :-
Part 1 Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003:

this should give you a lot of info. I cannot find anything specific regarding the Crown Lands in Scotland.

haziz · Feb 20, 2017

I have no specific info regarding Scotland. When traveling always carry your film with you in the hand/carry on luggage. I would have it X-rayed rather than risk the airport security personnel try to open the box, since many of them may not recognize sheet film or associate the box with film. If you have a field camera, try to take that. A Sinar F rail camera maybe more difficult to pack into your carry on luggage.

Always keep film in your carry on, NOT your checked luggage since the latter gets significant radiation using equipment similar to a CT scanner. Another option is to mail the film to yourself, but this maybe more of a hassle and more expensive if you are traveling internationally. The radiation for carry on luggage is fairly insignificant and has never affected my film even with multiple passes.

Skiver101 · Feb 20, 2017

In Scotland, you can mostly go wherever you like, as long as you're not breaking things.
As a genuine, touring Canadian family, I'm sure you will have no problems.
If anything, worry about the weather.

Lachlan Young · Feb 20, 2017

norm123 said:
Hi
Next summer, me, my wife and my son plan to go to Scotland. I want to bring an LF kit, Sinar F1, 4 lenses and everything I need, tripod, holder.... We figure to rent a car for some days. I'm not sure about the use of a tripod in some public places. What are your experiences? Can I bring a backpack carry-on luggage? I think it's a bit too big. What's about X-Ray if I put all films in the suitcase?

It's a family trip. My wife know me very well and she knows my interest in photography. I don't know about LF.Maybe I won't.

What are your experiences?

Regards

Don't put your film in your suitcase, carry it on, or buy & get it processed in the UK if you're extremely concerned about X-rays.

Generally you won't face problems over the use of tripods etc unless you are markedly getting in the way of pedestrians & vehicles - lugging a Sinar & tripod will pretty much guarantee you'll become a temporary tourist attraction in your own right.

I'd also ask you to consider how far you are willing to lug the Sinar - yes you can drive pretty close to most places of interest, but if the Sinar makes you a 'hundred paces from the car' type of photographer, you might want to think lighter weight - several friends of mine have dragged Sinars to fairly ridiculous places in Scotland, then fairly promptly gone and bought cameras of the Speed/Crown Graphic or Ebony/Shen Hao/ Chamonix type

Finally, the weather - it can change with brutal speed - this is where kit that's fast to pack down is essential, as is suitable clothing.

Whereabouts are you planning to go in Scotland? The distances may seem relatively short, but the roads away from the trunk routes can be pretty slow & at times hair-raising and very dangerous - especially in the highlands - this is worth bearing in mind if you have multiple destinations to visit & need time to set up at each.

norm123 · Feb 21, 2017

Thank you all for suggestions. I'll take film with me, I mean carry-on. I have some other options like a RB67 with 2 lenses (65 and 127), Leica stuff with 25,35,50 and 90. Set up more fast, tripod less heavy.
Maybe a Fujifilm GW690II too. In this way, my wife and my son will wait less.

Luckless · Feb 21, 2017

Skiver101 said:
In Scotland, you can mostly go wherever you like, as long as you're not breaking things.
As a genuine, touring Canadian family, I'm sure you will have no problems.
If anything, worry about the weather.

Some of my relatives, a genuine touring Canadian family, apparently had a bit of a problem with some of the locals when out photographing landscapes and hiking a few years ago. - They kept getting invited in for tea, and caught up with talking to locals that they often missed out on the evening golden hour by mistake.

Does that sound like a common thing in rural areas, or was it more likely a localized issue?

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 21, 2017

Nothing but good things to say about Scotland, the people and large format photography. Don't worry about your film as long as you don't put it in your checked baggage, or it's screwed. Beware of the Scottish Coo, though. They like to sneak up and scare the crap out of you!

norm123 · Feb 22, 2017

BMbikerider said:
As for 'carry on luggage' in the form of a rucksack, the best people to ask is the Air Line you intend to travel with. Films such as 35mm and 120 can be carried by hand and a hand search requested. Again the people to ask will be the airline who should be able to advise. Is there any reason why your films cannot be carried on board as hand luggage and ask for a hand check rather than go though an X Ray device.

Thank you all for tips. I'm thinking to use X-Ray shield pouch to put all film.

BMbikerider · Feb 22, 2017

I forgot to mention the dreaded Scottish Midge!!!! ARGHHHHH! From about the start of May until the end of August, if you venture out near to water in the early morning or evening be prepared to become a fast food bar for these little blighters. They are more prevalent on the west coast and so long as you are not at sea level, say above 500ft, you may get away with only a nibble or two. If there is a breeze they don't fare too well either, anything above 10mph is fine, but that prevents most images of lakes which can be beautifull with a mirror reflection.

norm123 · Feb 22, 2017

Lachlan Young said:
Don't put your film in your suitcase, carry it on, or buy & get it processed in the UK if you're extremely concerned about X-rays.

Generally you won't face problems over the use of tripods etc unless you are markedly getting in the way of pedestrians & vehicles - lugging a Sinar & tripod will pretty much guarantee you'll become a temporary tourist attraction in your own right.

I'd also ask you to consider how far you are willing to lug the Sinar - yes you can drive pretty close to most places of interest, but if the Sinar makes you a 'hundred paces from the car' type of photographer, you might want to think lighter weight - several friends of mine have dragged Sinars to fairly ridiculous places in Scotland, then fairly promptly gone and bought cameras of the Speed/Crown Graphic or Ebony/Shen Hao/ Chamonix type

Finally, the weather - it can change with brutal speed - this is where kit that's fast to pack down is essential, as is suitable clothing.

Whereabouts are you planning to go in Scotland? The distances may seem relatively short, but the roads away from the trunk routes can be pretty slow & at times hair-raising and very dangerous - especially in the highlands - this is worth bearing in mind if you have multiple destinations to visit & need time to set up at each.

Thank you all for suggestions. I'll take film with me, I mean carry-on. I have some other options like a RB67 with 2 lenses (65 and 127), Leica stuff with 25,35,50 and 90. Set up more fast, tripod less heavy.
Maybe a Fujifilm GW690II too. In this way, my wife and my son will wait less.

removed account4 · Feb 22, 2017

hi norm123
i've brought armloads of gear and film with me to excursions to the europe, its best just to bring 1 camera and 1 lens and enough film
to enjoy yourself. too much gear ( camera bodies, different formats, different lenses &c ) ends up being a distraction in the end.
i might be going back sometime soon and i might just bring a olympus 1/2 frame camera and 1 lens...
have fun on your trip !
john
ps carry on for film, and dont' worry about the scanners

MattKing · Feb 22, 2017

norm123 said:
Thank you all for tips. I'm thinking to use X-Ray shield pouch to put all film.

The X-Ray shield pouches don't help. When the scanner operators see an unresolved blob on their screen, they will probably re-scan a couple of times, then require you to unpack things in your carry-on until they can determine what is in the blob.

rmann · Feb 25, 2017

BMbikerider said:
I forgot to mention the dreaded Scottish Midge!!!! ARGHHHHH! From about the start of May until the end of August, if you venture out near to water in the early morning or evening be prepared to become a fast food bar for these little blighters. They are more prevalent on the west coast and so long as you are not at sea level, say above 500ft, you may get away with only a nibble or two. If there is a breeze they don't fare too well either, anything above 10mph is fine, but that prevents most images of lakes which can be beautifull with a mirror reflection.

Fully agree, which makes the time to set up and take down your camera seem very long indeed. I would take along a smaller, quicker camera for the times when using a 4x5 might be unbearable.

Black Dog · Feb 28, 2017

The local outdoor shops will be only too happy to advise on the best midge repellants!

Jan-Peter · Mar 1, 2017

Hi, Norm;

take whatever you can to Scotland! - I've been there several times with my Hasselblad! - Where to go?? - You'll find the usual sightseeing objects.

If you mind to get deeper into the country side you ought to know that Britain has a phantastic pattern of "public footpath", trails that lead you in most intimate areas. - You can consult walking guides or even better: Many trails are in the internet.

For film you will always find enough at "Process Supplies" - London and also "Silverprint" also in London; they ship free within Britian - and it take just about three or four days.

Have much fun there!!

Jan-Peter

donkittle · Mar 2, 2017

Hi there, I did a trip to Iceland with my Wista last May and here are my observations.

My film was in my carry-on backpack. I asked them to hand search on the way to Iceland but it got x-rayed on the way home. I had not issues with any of the ~100 sheets and 20 paper negatives from that one x-ray experience. FWIW, I went to South America/Antarctica last December and my 120 film (Provia 100, FP4+, Ektar & Fuji 400H) went through the carry-on x-ray 6 times and I saw no impact on any of the 24 rolls).

I use a Dakine Sequence 33L backpack. I'm able to fit my filters, meter, film, Wista 45DX and 6 lenses in this bag (a 150mm reverse mounted inside the folded camera along with a 75mm, 90mm f4.5, 120mm, 210mm, and Fuji 400mm T). I also had a messenger bag that had a Sony digital camera and my 10 film holders.

In my checked back, I had my tripod, head, changing tent (a Harrison medium sized) and empty film boxes that I'd put my exposed film in. I ended up unloading/loading film every day, sometimes twice so a tent was very convenient for me.

On the return trip, I wrapped my film holders in my clothes and put them in my checked bag. That left enough room in my messenger bag with the boxes of exposed film.

Hope this helps.
Don

BMbikerider · Mar 2, 2017

Black Dog said:
The local outdoor shops will be only too happy to advise on the best midge repellants!

Unfortunately they mostly don't work! My son was an outdoor instructor before becoming a full time teacher and worked from the Outward Bound centre near Fort William. He has 1st hand experience of what works and what doesn't - and none of them work for any serious length of time, The only upside is, if you are with your wife, they tend to go for females first!!!

On another tack, if you venture near or into Glencoe and it is quiet on the side roads, you may find (like I did) the deer are so used to humans and if you are lucky they will come close - as close as 2-3 yards away. I was in my car eating my lunch last Monday and about 7-8 came right up to the car and started licking the dried road salt spray off the sides. They were not inthe least worried by my presence.

In the summer though be prepared and watch out for ticks carried by them - they can carry something nasty called Lyme Disease. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Lyme-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Black Dog · Mar 3, 2017

I did find a bog myrtle based one quite good-but as you say none of them are 100% effective. I've had similar experiences with deer as well, and on another occasion on South Uist nearly trod on a Snowy Owl.

Steve Goldstein · Mar 4, 2017

Don't rule out a superfine head net.

Some years ago a Scots friend gave me a couple of "The Stopper" midge head nets made by a local firm called "Totally Herby of Scotland", along with a bottle the company's "Stop Bite" herb-based repellent based on bog myrtle, lavendar, and rosemary. I haven't been back to Scotland since so haven't had a chance to try this out, but I was promised it was the best available defense at the time. You'll definitely be styling with a head net, but it might be better than feeding the wildlife.

http://www.totallyherby.com/

Skiver101 · Mar 4, 2017

In rural areas during Summer and Autumn, the only defence against midgies is wind.

MattKing · Mar 4, 2017

Midges and kilts - those Scots are tough!

BMbikerider · Mar 5, 2017

Skiver101 said:
In rural areas during Summer and Autumn, the only defence against midgies is wind.

That is one quote that I will go along with. Also the head net makes life just a bit more endurable as well. Fortunately they seem to be mainly prevalent in the early mornings, in the open and as soon as the wind or sun starts to warm the air up they tend to retreat. On the upside you do tend to get a fair bit of wind - anything above 10 - 15mph and they struggle to get anywhere. That can be a problem too because the mirror like surface of the Lochs with perfect reflections are totally spoiled

Harry Stevens · Mar 12, 2017

The Loch ness monster caught on a 10X8 now that would be wonderful to behold.......

A monster camera for a monstrous creature.

Travel with Large format in Scotland

norm123

BMbikerider

BMbikerider

haziz

Skiver101

Lachlan Young

norm123

Luckless

Andrew O'Neill

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norm123

BMbikerider

norm123

removed account4

MattKing

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rmann

Black Dog

Jan-Peter

donkittle

BMbikerider

Black Dog

Steve Goldstein

Skiver101

MattKing

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BMbikerider

Harry Stevens

Travel with Large format in Scotland

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