Planning: Tech Dilemma
I’m a huge nerd. I’m not ashamed. But I am nervous about what that means for my travel plans.
At any given time you can expect to find me with my iPhone, MacBook Pro, 2-3 cameras (film and digital) and who knows what else. I’m reliant upon technology and I’ve become accustomed to a lifestyle where I’m connected all the time.
I think, more than anything else, not having the internet at my fingertips is going to be one of the most trying parts of this trip. Not only that, but figuring out a way to maintain a manageable level of connectivity while still keeping my backpack moderately light is going to prove to be an interesting challenge.
Two problems:
1: My laptop is huge. It’s a 15″ MBP, which is great for school and everything I need it to do here, but on the road, lugging around 15″ is a lot of excess weight. Don’t forget the accompanying wires (mainly the charger). I -need- a laptop though. I need a place to download/store my photos and being able to power Photoshop with moderate efficiency is also key. And, of course, access to Flickr. Here is where a MacBook Air with a solid state drive would come in handy.
2: Camera gear. I have a lot of photography gear and I intend to spend a large portion of my trip taking photos. Paring down the gear to cover all of my bases without adding too much weight or creating too much to carry around in general is going to be a challenge. Not to mention the film part – carrying around a film camera is no big deal, but carrying film (both fresh and shot) adds bulk. From what I’ve read film is really expensive in Europe so I’m either going to pack it or forsake it altogether. That’s still to be decided, but it’s literally been giving me nightmares over the past few days. I can’t tell you how much it scares me to be in Europe without my camera. Sad, but true.
I think once I really put some thought into it, the camera situation will work itself out without me going out to buy any new equipment. The laptop on the other hand is going to be tricky. I don’t want to rely on computers in internet cafes or anything like that, especially for dealing with photos, so if you have a solution for that I’m all ears!
Tags: gear, photography, Tech
Nearly any European hostel worth its salt has internet. Often it’s free and open-access, sometimes they make you pay a very small fee for the time you spend on the computer. I have also used internet cafes, and the computer in the back-office of the Museum of the Erotic in the sex shop district of Paris. (Ask and you shall recieve details of said tale…). Nowadays, I’m pretty sure it’s easy to find free wifi, too, in cafes and such.
It’s very easy to find plenty of internet, particularly if you are a normal person and do not require 24/7 access (cough). It’s a good way to force yourself to actually *be* on the trip rather than having continuous connection to home.
Photoshop poses a very different problem, and I’m not sure how to help you there. Be aware that you will need to have plug adapters if you want to bring an American laptop around with you (though it can probably handle the voltage conversion just fine).
Also, don’t get robbed. It sucks to lose cash. It sucks more to lose photos.
Ha! This was the first thought that came to my head too – omigod how will she pack? The cameras! The film!
I actually find getting away from computers while travelling to be somewhat liberating! And nighttime outings to Internet cafes can serve as good ways to pass otherwise idle hours. Though two months is perhaps a long time to be without laptop. And photo storage is pretty essential. At least memory cards are relatively cheap these days, no? And worse comes to worse, you can always mail your film back as you go. I don’t think it’s necessarily that much more expensive to buy film in Europe, either, as long as you don’t buy it from souvenir shops. Supermarkets or pharmacies sell it, or special camera shops. In Germany, I was on a mission to buy up all the Agfa film I could find as it’s cheaper there and so rare here.
I used to try to pack for every eventuality, and didn’t end up using half of it. I realized I could always just buy something if I needed it. Now I don’t even pack shampoo or soap, I just go to a supermarket when I get there. I ALWAYS pack a second pair of shoes though, as even the most comfortable pair can get mighty uncomfortable after a few days of non-stop walking. Gotta switch it up. Also, empty plastic bags, a water bottle, tissues, hand sanitizer and a pillowcase.
OK, I’ll shut up now…
@Meghan – I definitely agree about that last line. I think that’s going to me my mantra for the trip!
I think I’ll be fine without constant connection. There will be enough to keep me occupied. The only thing that I’m going to have an issue with (should I not bring a laptop) is not being able to do anything with my photos. Still haven’t come up with a decent solution. I’ll have to do some research to see what other people do…
As for actual photo gear – I think I’ll manage to figure out a way to minimize. I’m trying to train myself to only carry around one lens at a time to get used to not having so many options.
It’s kind of strange that I’m more concerned about what camera and tech gear I’m going to pack than I am about actual clothing and things like that. You can tell where my priorities are…
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