Personal protection is a must. GPS beacons are great. I've found my best protection is the skill of keeping a cool head. I've crossed paths with poachers many times and if you simply keep your cool and leave them be, you'll walk out without need for protection. Of course I imagine poachers are not a problem everywhere. Still, keeping a cool head applies to every survival situation.
Nice one Kevin - I enjoyed coming along for this one. I really like the car-camp setup you have there - very cool. I was on the coast near Houston once for a work meeting and seeing the pelicans there was epic! Such amazing birds :)
I saw all kinds of those Pelicans while out in Colorado a few months ago. I carry a Garmin Inreach Mini 2. I go many places where nearest civilization is miles away. It gives me a big piece of mind. Also bear spray. If in can stop a grizzly in full charge it means a human after my camera doesn’t stand a chance.
The slow down one is a good one. Most times when I leave home I put in my pants pockets my mobile phone and in another my extra batteries. But many times I have thought I had them but all I has was my batteries and no phone which I use as my GPS. So if I slowed down and done a better check I would know I am going out of the house with both and not just one of them. So I fully agree. And one other thing we need here as I am sure you need there is some sort of spray on or roll on Insect Repellent.
Oh hahaha. Yeah I may change it back, I haven't decided. I just have planned to add more of a broad outdoor experience not just photography. Thanks ks again Craig.
Great video Kevin. Well, I laughed and laughed when you mentioned the coffee mug because it was me who asked you about it. Regarding personal safety being a female photographer, I never tell people that ask me about locations on the internet as there are just too many weird people out there in the world and they don't need to know where I go. I do however tell my husband so at least he knows why I'm not home. In the field I don't use a portable hide/blind as you just can't see what's coming and that can be either a snake, scorpion or meat ants etc. not just people. If I'm out in a remote area then there's someone with me, mainly as a look out. Well, I'm grateful for getting out this morning and spending time with some royal spoonbills even if there was no color in the sky and the light was horrible, so I just sat and watched and enjoyed the birds. Have a great week. Cheers, Maria.
Thanks maria. haha yeah i still hve the mug. Its honeslty my favorite for camping but dont use it enough as it just doesnt keep coffee hot like the titanium ones do. Heading out with someone is also a good idea, especially as a female i totally understand. Im glad you had an opportunity latley to get out. Its all about the experience and less about the photo. getting a shot is just a bonus.
Always enjoy seeing the white pelicans down on the Gulf of Mexico coast. That said, with an ever increasing number of pelicans overfishing some areas, the other species numbers have diminished.
I like the idea of using a hiking bag as opposed to a camera bag. My Ospreys are way more comfortable than my camera bags. I would like to see how you load out your photography and hiking gear in your bag in a future video.
Good video, Kevin. Always love to see the pelicans. When I'm out and about with my gear, my dog and 45 ACP are always close at hand. I would add that if you have Personal Protection, you best know how to use it. Had a film photo shoot over the weekend and am thankful the film negatives turned out well. Have great week now.👍👍
First thank you for brining up such an important subject Depends on location but most every where I go I carry my knife and peppergel it’s like grabbing my wallet and keys but i also conceal carry once again that depends on where I’m going since I refuse to leave my conceal carry in the car even if it’s in a car safe as a female out taking photos it’s been more then a few times I ran into people that I would not want to run into with camera gear or not
Slow down! Yes sir. I just was invited to go out on the lake. My buddy fishes and I watch for eagles and osprey. I turned down the invite. I just felt like I need a little break. So I'm going to continue going through and saving my best images of 2023. I need to catch up on computer. So yes for sure slow down and get some areas of post processing done. And hopefully start learning about editing. Great shots. I love my cat bird but the Ceder waxing is my bird.
Great video Kevin! I have yet to see a pelican up here in SE Michigan, but hopeful I will soon. Great discussion about having protection while you're out, and as Terry said, it's vastly important to know how to use a gun if you're carrying. Today I'm thankful for my family. My daughter was in a car accident on Monday, and while she's more embarrassed than hurt, I'm thankful it was relatively minor and she's alive.
Kevin: I plan my shoots and only take the gear along that I need. If only I could get away with $4k of gear. All of my bodies have the brand name covered, usually with fingernail polish. Doesn’t hurt the camera, but lowers the resale value in a big way. I don’t get excited, I am the kind of guy that can fall asleep in a blind. Another great video! Get well Chuck, we are rutting for you!
Hey Kevin, all good insights here. It's pretty frickin' sad to hear about so many having their gear stolen. Its happening a lot here. Even a low end binoculars are a target for birders let alone the camera gear. Reports are that hoodlums .... are using scopes from a distance to see who to take from. Pelicans are crazy cool, they are a bit clumsy at times which makes for great video. See you on the next video! Greg
for personal protection, I have a couple CCWs that cover 37 states and bear mace as a warning, you need to know the laws in the state you are carrying in and I never use a camera bag it's in my hand or in my pack where people never see it.
I agree. I live in a constitutional carry state, but I still carry a CCW for states I travel to outside my home state that are reciprocal. I also never use a traditional camera bag.
Unfortunately some states like CA, NY, HI, and a few others are too far gone. Sad because I'd love to live in Hawaii for a few years but they keep voting in the same corrupt people that are destroying those democratic states and leaving criminals to control their streets. Wife and I May move to Florida or Tennessee when the kids go off to college. I don't really like politics. They are all the same. Both parties are corrupt. The D. party just has gone off the rails in recent years. I'm more a libertarian/constitutionalist. Hands off the 2A, lower my taxes, (which is theft anyway) keep government small, and leave me alone. Individual Liberty for everyone is what I believe. Unfortunately we are very far from upholding the US Constitution anymore. Been far gone for decades.
