Black Rapid Double Strap Review

Over the last 4 years I have been lucky to work with the Toronto based NGO, Free The Children.  I have traveled to Ecuador, Mexico and most recently, India.  I travel with a large group of kids varying in ages from 13-24.

In this scenario you have to be quick.  With 23 volunteers, 4 facilitators, and countless community children, everything happens fast whether they were building, playing games or involved in community activities.  I always carry two cameras with me, 2 Canon 5d Mark II, and a variety of lenses.  During past projects, trying to manage 2 cameras with basic straps proved very cumbersome.  No matter how you had them, they always felt awkward. When you are constantly re adjusting, your mind is never completely with the task at hand.  You never have 100% concentration on your subjects. 

With the Black Rapid Double Strap everything changes.  Such a simple design, it’s a wonder why this hasn’t been out for years.  I have to admit that the idea of my cameras hanging by a single clasp did worry me.  With all the moving around I was doing I was concerned that the FastenRs would come loose and I would drop my camera.  This was not the case, my cameras stayed secure no matter what I was doing. 

Having my cameras secure and on my side was a godsend.  I was able to move about freely, play with the kids, attempt to break language barriers with embarrassing hand gestures, and whenever a shot presented itself, my cameras were only a second away.  With your cameras hanging to your side, upside down, I could continue engaging my subject, reach for my camera, bring it up for the shot, not once looking away.  It may seem like a small thing, but when you are shooting people in foreign countries that may not be used to cameras, and there is a language barrier, eliminating distractions is key.  Keeping your camera away until you are ready also keeps your subject relaxed and the shot comes through naturally. 

Another perk to the Double Strap is that on a couple of occasions we went for long hikes and I was able to wear my pack (GuraGear Kiboko Pack), fasten the hip straps, and still use the Double Strap. 

There was a slight issue with weight transfer when I had a 70-200mm lens on one body and a lighter lens on the other.  But it was not a huge concern.  I think that just comes with the territory.  And when I think back on how it felt using the regular straps, it’s not an issue at all. 

All in all, this product is great.  The Double Strap is now a key component of my kit.  When comes to being in the field, on assignment, my life just got whole lot easier.  Thank you Black Rapid.

Back at it

So I realize it has been way too long since my last post.  It's funny, when you are away and inspired it's so easy to make all these action plans for when you get home.  All the things you are going to do, changes you are going to make, blogs you are going to keep up with.  Then you get home and the world swallows you up and the next thing you know 2 months has passed and nothing has happened.  So I'm back to blogging. 

I am off to Vancouver for Free the Children's We Day (www.weday.freethechildren.com/).  This event is truly my favorite thing to shoot all year.  Th energy is amazing.  Nothing like I have ever experienced.  15.000 kids all focused on social change, with We Day happening in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, it's inspiring to see so many kids focused on making change. 


More stories and photos when I get back.

Since this is a photo blog, here are few quick pics for ya

2 Days of Pure Joy. The last 2 days in India

The iron stomach has fallen, alert the troops, the impossible has happened.  After lasting 26 days in India, surprising even myself, my stomach finally said no more.  If I was to take a wild guess, it may have been the last 2 days in the village of Barliyas.  I broke pretty much every safe eating rule there was.  Except the opium, I did say no to that (they actually do eat it there).  If I had only eaten opium, I could have blamed that. 

Regardless of where and when it happened, it happened.  There is no need to get into detail about such matters.  But I spent an entire day in bed, curled up in a ball (feel free to sympathize at any time), making about 5 trips to the bathroom an hour.  Let me tell you, good times, good times. 

Best part is that it was 45 degrees outside, Phil had to bring me water and food, not that I ate much.  I love to eat so this was tough. Whatever bug I had reduced me to 4 bananas, and 3 toasts (melba sized) for the entire day.  I slept most of the day, and throughout the night. 

Day 2 things shifted from end to the other.  Feeling better I decided to get out of bed, get out, explore a little.  That ended with nausea, losing lunch and quick trip back to bed.  BY nightfall I was so hungry.  Feeling better, and famished I took to the street only to find it was raining, not raining, pouring, so much the street flooded.  Had I decided to leave I would have been treading through water at knee height.  Which in some cases, would have been great, I do love a good rain. However when cows rule the streets they leave behind wonderful gifts, when you combine those gifts with knee high water, one tends to rethink a frolic in the puddles at hand.  So there I was, sick for two days, stomach more than empty, finally feeling better, and no where to go.  2 hours later I was free, the streets drained and I hit up the Savage Garden (sounds like my stomach over the last 2 days), they are the only place I knew of that makes home made pasta.  My pesto chicken tagliatelle didn’t stand a chance.  Best part is that my stomach welcomed it with open arms, it didn’t send it back, or tell it to get out, it was happy.

Losing my last 2 days was disappointing as I missed a gypsy birthday party on the 21^st with my host Phil and I was planning to focus more on the traffic, and shoot a village just outside of Udaipur.  I really wanted to capture more of the feel of the city before I left.  Looking on the brightside of traveler’s Diarrhea, at least it happened at the end (no pun intended), after I had already experienced so much.. 

 

India, I will be back.  Bring on the UK. 

Since I haven’t been posting, I’ll probably be adding stuff at random.  Just so you know.

 

Some shots

I am posting some of my portraits.  The FTC stuff will be up soon as well.  Enjoy!!!!  By the way, food is delicious here.  My thought of losing weight is slowly fading.

Day 1 with the group

Today was special. Over the last couple of days I have been in Udaipur.  Where poverty unlike any other I have seen is right there in front of you.  But somehow this country continues to amaze me.  The beauty of the people shines through it all. Everyone is so happy, when you wave you are greeted with a smile and a wave.  Not just any smile, but one that seems to tell you that your simple action has lit up someone’s day.  I would love to think a simple wave could have that affect on people when I get home.  We have become so jaded, that our own neighbors in our own country, have become too much to even look at, let alone greet.  We are all strangers and it seems we want to keep it that way. 

As we drove into Lai, the village where FTC is building another school, children in the distance would race from their homes, running across the field just to say hi.  The further we drove the more smiles we seemed to leave behind. It always seems that those with the least seem to have the biggest smiles and cherish simple human interaction. These reactions are just on the way to the village.  We didn’t even get out of the car.  If it seems like we have this celebrity status, well it does feel like it.  But don’t be confused, we are not overpaid actors, musicians put on a pedestal and worshipped for no reason.  This group of cars brings kids, mostly half my age, which have decided they want to make a real difference.  They bring education to a village that most don’t even know exists. I use the celebrity reference for one reason…What if we all strived to be difference makers, to bring change to the world, to live a selfless life helping those less fortunate than our selves.  What if on the cover of People magazine, there were people who actually did something to better our world.  What if we chased down school builders like Craig Mortensen asking the questions everyone wanted to know, “who are you helping next?’ “How can I help? 

But that is not the way our culture lives.  I’ll come home to people caring more about who Jennifer Aniston is dating or what colour is in this season; this is the way it is.

Back to the trip.  We arrived in the village to the sound of drums.  Everyone had gathered for the welcoming ceremonies.  Upon leaving the vehicles we were greeted buy the women of the village, dressed in vibrant colour and even more colourful smiles.  They presented us with flowers and painted our foreheads with traditional red dots.  Soon after it seemed everyone was dancing.  Not me, I was taking pictures, though if there was ever a time I wanted to put the camera down it was then.  Seeing the group dancing with the women of the village was amazing.

The opening ceremonies were a moving experience.  To be honest, I had a hard time controlling my emotions.  This is a village that doesn’t even register in Caste System (a status system in India where people are unjustly classified).  They are in essence, unknown.  The original school was nothing more than a few bricks, and a dirt floor, with no roof.  Corrupt government officials had taken the money intended for a new one.  FTC has since build two buildings, and are now working on a third. 

One of the participants was honored because he raised over 10,000 for this project alone.  He is still in high school but almost single handedly raised enough money to build another room for this village. 

The rest of the day was spent playing games with the children.  I cannot describe how honored I am to be a part of this.  It is a special feeling knowing that what I do/am doing is in some small way helping this great cause.

Finally, Internet and a blog!!!!!

Hello all,

Internet is far removed for me, so posts may be long and scarce.  In short the last 5 days have been amazing, enlightening, educational, and humbling.  Were we are poverty is all around.  The village we are working in is on the lowest level of society here.  But the kids are so cute, amazing little spirits that continue to show us you don't need much to be happy.


The kids here with FTC are also doing great.  Full of energy.  We broke ground yesterday and they are all ready ahead of schedule.  As for me I have been touched on so many levels.  It's hard to think that there are 20 days left.  I am truly blessed to be doing what I do.

Remedios Pics

Juan