JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • Home
  • STC Miami 2018
  • About
  • Gallery
    • This Was STC Miami 2016
    • This Was STC Santorini 2015
    • This Was STC Miami 2015 – Temple House
    • This Was STC Miami 2014
    • This Was STC L.A. 2013
    • This Was STC Bahamas 2013
    • This Was STC Miami 2012
    • This Was STC Vegas 2011 – 2
    • This Was STC Vegas 2011 – 1
    • This Was Miami 2011
  • Model Search
  • The Work
    • Jarmo Pohjaniemi
    • Byron Newman
    • Ric Moore
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Contact

Blog

Electronics Travel Ban and Photographer Gear & Safety

Posted on: 06-26-2017 Posted in: Photography

iPad--ad-290

I have traveled around the globe since my early teens, but lately, things have gotten a bit more complicated since we have an electronics travel ban on certain incoming flights to the USA.

In addition to my latest travel experience, I tested a few GPS trackers to ease my paranoia about my gear getting lost or not arriving at all. So, what’s the problem with having your equipment appear a day or two late?

Trackimo GPS tracker

Trackimo GPS tracker

 

It’s no big deal unless you have a client waiting in a far off destination location where each day may cost up to $10,000 or if you are a traveling photographer and are heading to the wilderness. Sure, the airlines will understand.

So, it turns out that the GPS tracker does work. I tested Trackimo, and it’s affordable compared to what’s at stake.

Here a scenario that happened to me in Barcelona while traveling to Santorini a few months back. Upon arrival, we had to collect all of our luggage and recheck it again since the Thira, Santorini airport does not have customs.

Leaving Miami. Testing GPS tracking during taxiing

As usual, not all of the luggage arrived in Barcelona, and the airline staff told me that my gear flight case seemed to have gone directly to Santorini according to the help-desk’s computer system. Lucky me, finally something worked in my favor. “But,” I thought, “let me check, just in case, what the GPS tracker has to say.”

Trackimo saves the day and reveal my flight case in the Barcelona oversize belt

Trackimo saves the day and reveal my flight case in the Barcelona oversize belt

It looked to me like the baggage handlers had left my flight case on the oversized luggage conveyer belt which was in an entirely different place and far from the belt where my other luggage had appeared.

More additional images and explanation here

1-Trakimo-gps-568

Trackimo is a small device that fits anywhere

2-Tracimo-i2-568

Battery live for Trackimo lasted for four days – One ping per minute

3-customs-note

Friendly customs officials left me a note in the flight case

4-flight-case-re-wrapped

The flight case arrived safely in Santorini. Nicely re-wrapped in plastic after inspections

If I did not show the counter lady (who was super helpful, I might add), I would have left my gear flight case behind believing that it was on its way to Santorini. Thanks to Trackimo GPS for saving the day. So, in the end, do I recommend photographers get a GPS tracker for their most valuable possessions? I do unless you want to be wearing your battle-tested underwear for longer than anticipated.

Sometimes in paradise, you may have to take unexpected actions to satisfy your comfort

Sometimes in paradise, you may have to take unexpected actions to satisfy your comfort. Here some battle tested socks and underwear.

So, what’s the fuss about the electronics travel ban to the USA bound by certain airlines? It’s funny that some of the world’s best-known airlines are part of this travel ban. I do support US carriers, but I find the ban unreasonable based on my findings.

qatar-boxing-320

Nicely wrapped and ready

I find it odd that if there’s a threat that someone could hide a bomb in an electronic device, then why do the airlines not check your iPad or laptop any differently than they did before?

What they do now is they bubble-wrap them very nicely at your departure gate to make sure that your electronics are safe and put them in a separate cardboard box which will also be sealed by security tape.

qatar-wrapping-320

It’s almost like getting a gift to yourself at your arrival

Then these boxes are hand delivered from your departure gate to your aircraft and re-delivered the same way at arrival with your signature.

Safe! What does suck is that you don’t have your laptop, iPad, and cameras with you while on the flight. But, I would not applaud how these airlines are handling your possessions.

So, this leaves me to question the real reason behind this electronics ban since a bomb goes off the same way in the cabin or baggage storage according to a captain of a QATAR 777 airline that I confronted about this issue on my way back to the USA.

qatar-collecting-320

The collection process was very well coordinated to ensure the safety of your belongings.

Take a Quiz

Here’s an interesting image which is very hard to shoot due to airport security and safety regulations. This is my camera gear from my last trip. For you who know it all, why not put your knowledge to the test and see if you can determine what’s inside my travel cases.

Click the image to enlarge

Click the image to enlarge

Reveal the results and travel case contents here

Camera flight case

lense-case-568

Click to enlarge

From left to right starting with the top row.

  • Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Lens
  • Tiffen 77mm Circular Polarizing Filter
  • Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM Lens
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
  • Hoodman 3.2” Compact HoodLoupe
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens
  • Canon EOS 5DS R DSLR Camera

 

Drone flight case

dji-inspire-1-568

Click to enlarge

  • DJI Inspire 1 v2.0 PRO Quadcopter (White one is now discontinued).
  • Zenmuse X5 4K Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal
  • DJI Transmitter for Inspire 1 Quadcopter
  • Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 Lens
  • DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH Prime Lens
  • Apple 9.7″ iPad (2017, 128GB, Wi-Fi + 4G LTE
Top

shop-stc-click-pointer-2-568STC-LA-seminar-568-banner

© 2010-2017 Copyright ShootTheCenterfold.com. All rights reserved.

  • Popular Posts
  • Related Posts
  • Light Modifiers: Chimera’s Dynamic Duo Passes the Test
    Light Modifiers: Chimera’s Dynamic Duo Passes the Test
  • Kelly Has Laser Guns and a Sizzling Bedroom Personality: Interview
    Kelly Has Laser Guns and a Sizzling Bedroom Personality: Interview
  • Let's Talk Gear and What You Can Expect to See at STC Miami 2018
    Let's Talk Gear and What You Can Expect to See at STC Miami 2018
  • STC Attendee Ajitesh Sharma Wins the
    STC Attendee Ajitesh Sharma Wins the "Annual Taste Award" With an Image From STC Asia 2017
  • Dxomark: iPhone 8 Plus is the Best Smartphone Camera We’ve Ever Tested
    Dxomark: iPhone 8 Plus is the Best Smartphone Camera We’ve Ever Tested
  • STC Attendee Larry Johnson Shoots a Playboy Pictorial and Cover
    STC Attendee Larry Johnson Shoots a Playboy Pictorial and Cover
  • Sara Slekovec's Playboy Cover and Pictorial - STC Santorini 2017
    Sara Slekovec’s Playboy Cover and Pictorial – STC Santorini 2017
  • Josh Ryan's Success Continues With Sexy Charlotte McKinney Shoot
    Josh Ryan’s Success Continues With Sexy Charlotte McKinney Shoot

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Join our mailing list.

Twitter Feed

  • Model Kelly Deinstadt at STC Miami 2018 kept the colors in check and photographers… https://t.co/rRWAYfHKwA about 14 hours ago ReplyRetweetFavorite
  • Quick Behind the Scenes from STC Miami 2018. #behindthescenes #jadeamberwilliams #leannabartlett… https://t.co/1k9Am6PbxH 04 AM April 24 ReplyRetweetFavorite
  • Polina Ross by Chris Sariego. STC Miami 2018. #polinaross #chrissariego #stcmiami2018… https://t.co/zPyEqAKsuE 04 AM April 22 ReplyRetweetFavorite
  • Shoot The Centerfold kicks off STC Miami 2018 with the most beautiful model lineup ever. Hensel… https://t.co/Ifnh7j2488 07 PM April 21 ReplyRetweetFavorite
  • Setting up my Tuesday’s tone with the past Hensel campaign shoot. This location never gets… https://t.co/mGtzFAIjbr 01 PM April 18 ReplyRetweetFavorite
@thecenterfold

Archives

  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • September 2010

Search Blog

Recent Posts

  • Light Modifiers: Chimera’s Dynamic Duo Passes the Test Light Modifiers: Chimera’s Dynamic Duo Passes the Test
    04-11-2018
  • Kelly Has Laser Guns and a Sizzling Bedroom Personality: Interview Kelly Has Laser Guns and a Sizzling Bedroom Personality: Interview
    04-8-2018
  • Let's Talk Gear and What You Can Expect to See at STC Miami 2018 Let's Talk Gear and What You Can Expect to See at STC Miami 2018
    03-28-2018

Popular Posts

  • Beyond a Playboy: The Exacting, Demanding, Work-All-Night Hefner by Gary Cole Beyond a Playboy: The Exacting, Demanding, Work-All-Night Hefner by Gary Cole
    03-5-2018
  • Hugh Hefner, Playboy Founder and Leader of '60s Sexual Revolution, Dies at 91 Hugh Hefner, Playboy Founder and Leader of '60s Sexual Revolution, Dies at 91
    09-28-2017
Every photographer has a story to tell …
© 2011 Shoot The Centerfold. All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy
  • Customer Support
  • Ordering Details FAQ
  • Payment Methods
  • Return Policy FAQ
  • License Agreement
TwitterStumbleUponRedditDiggdel.icio.usFacebookLinkedIn