Egypt, Jordan, Israel trip photos

[David Kilpatrick]

Yes, he's back, has already filed one article with me but he's got two other magazines with deadlines in the next 48 hours and he's a bit fed up with having to write solidly!

He took the Leica M9 with a few Voigtlander lenses. Only problem, it got stacks of dust on the sensor when changing lenses in the dusty/sandy situation and he had not taken any means to clean it, nor had anyone else on the entire trip - loads of professional photographers, and they all forgot their sensor cleaning kit.

David

[bakubo]

Yes, he's back, has already filed one article with me but he's got two other magazines with deadlines in the next 48 hours and he's a bit fed up with having to write solidly!

That's good news! Glad he is back and busy writing his articles.

In April 2005 I was in Ecuador when there was unrest. The last couple of days there were big demonstrations in Quito and although I stayed away from it I could often smell teargas and burning tires in the air. I caught my flight at the scheduled day and time and then when I landed I found out that after I left the president had escaped from the palace and was holed up in the Brazilian embassy in Quito after his attempt to get to the airport (the one I had left from some hours before) was thwarted by a big gang of demonstrators inside the airport.

He took the Leica M9 with a few Voigtlander lenses. Only problem, it got stacks of dust on the sensor when changing lenses in the dusty/sandy situation and he had not taken any means to clean it, nor had anyone else on the entire trip - loads of professional photographers, and they all forgot their sensor cleaning kit.

I always take a bulb blower with me when I travel in case I need to blow off the sensor, but so far haven't needed to use it. I never had to clean my Canon 300D or A700, but I did clean my Canon 30D and KM 7D with a wet cleaning system. I cleaned the 30D once myself and once had Canon do it in Tokyo. I cleaned the 7D once and also had KM Canada do it once.

By the way, why didn't he take the A55 and/or NEX 5 instead of the Leica M9? Seems like that would have worked out well, probably better.

[bakubo]

Mubarak is gone. The protesters did it. Who knows what comes next though? Contrast the way the regime in Egypt treated protesters with the way the regimes in Iran, China, and Burma treated their protesters in recent years. In Egypt there was a small amount of violence and thuggery for a day or so last week, but nothing like the terrible brutality in Iran, China, and Burma when they totally eliminated their protests.

[aster]

Mubarak is gone. The protesters did it. Who knows what comes next though? Contrast the way the regime in Egypt treated protesters with the way the regimes in Iran, China, and Burma treated their protesters in recent years. In Egypt there was a small amount of violence and thuggery for a day or so last week, but nothing like the terrible brutality in Iran, China, and Burma when they totally eliminated their protests.

Yes, finally he's gone. We were very disappointed with the content of the speech that he addressed the Egyptian people yesterday, because of his reluctance to leave office for good.

Watching Tahrer Square live on TV right now and the crowd is celebrating with fireworks and loud cheers. : ) Sadly some aflamed the cars parked on the side of the streets.

I hope they lead their way to a peaceful democracy and a secular government. The people deseerve it. : ))


Yildiz

[bakubo]

I hope they lead their way to a peaceful democracy and a secular government. The people deseerve it. : ))

Yes, me too! Time will tell how things work out in Egypt, but I am hopeful. I don't think that after 30 years of looking at Iran and seeing what an Islamist regime looks like Egyptians will want that. Of course, it is possible they won't get what they want. I am sure the Islamists will try to use this opportunity to gain some advantage, but it seems that after the overthrow there is not anarchy since the Egyptian Army is in charge. We'll see if the Army just installs another dictator or really holds fair, free elections. If they try to do that though the people will probably be out on the streets again.

This morning in Midan Tehrir (Tehrir Square) I see that the protesters are cleaning up the mess made there in the last few weeks and trying to get it back in shape so life can go on.

I wonder if the people in Iran will be encouraged to try again?

[aster]

I hope they lead their way to a peaceful democracy and a secular government. The people deseerve it. : ))

Yes, me too! Time will tell how things work out in Egypt, but I am hopeful. I don't think that after 30 years of looking at Iran and seeing what an Islamist regime looks like Egyptians will want that. Of course, it is possible they won't get what they want. I am sure the Islamists will try to use this opportunity to gain some advantage, but it seems that after the overthrow there is not anarchy since the Egyptian Army is in charge. We'll see if the Army just installs another dictator or really holds fair, free elections. If they try to do that though the people will probably be out on the streets again.

This morning in Midan Tehrir (Tehrir Square) I see that the protesters are cleaning up the mess made there in the last few weeks and trying to get it back in shape so life can go on.

I wonder if the people in Iran will be encouraged to try again?

I hope there's a 'light' there for the Iranian as well, since there seems to be a triggering effect of the 18-day-consistent Egyptian protests; Algerians had a protest today that was held down by the police. The people of Egypt that crowded the Tahrir Square really stood their ground and got the resignation they demanded of Mubarak, so can many others in the region.

The military appears to be in favour of and backing a civil democracy and will be tested in the makings of a peaceful transition. I believe they can succeed and the Egyptians are more than ready for their new future...Although Muslim Brotherhood seems to take advantage of this period to make itself more present in any ruling, I hope the people see themselves in a secular system rather than yet an other over-bearing regime.

I wish them the best and the perseverance to accomplish the democracy they deserve.

Yildiz

[bakubo]

I saw that there were some protests in Iran today. We'll see how this might develop in the coming days.

[aster]

I saw that there were some protests in Iran today. We'll see how this might develop in the coming days.

Interesting, isn't it ?


Yildiz

[bakubo]

Good article from today.

Revolution and the Muslim World

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20110221 ... 31af7e6f88

This article isn't really typical of what they usually write. This is a bit more of a bit of the history of mass revolutions, successful and unsuccessful, to try and put what is going on into some sort of context.

I have been reading articles from Stratfor for 15 years. They do intelligence gathering and analysis and are non-partisan, non-ideological. Here is some info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratfor

[bakubo]

It is interesting to read this PJ's article about the gear he took to Egypt:

http://www.popphoto.com/gear/2012/06/in ... ?page=full

He ended up taking way too much and didn't use a bunch of it. It looks like he was just in Cairo so not moving around the country so that makes things much easier. He should have asked me for advice about gear before packing.

[mikehawthorne]

I love the documentry style and you have a journalistic approach to the photos you take, and we all learn something from them, great photos and good work. Pity David cant give out awards for it.
Learning from photography is what its about, well in my opinion anyway!
mike hawthorne

[bakubo]

I love the documentry style and you have a journalistic approach to the photos you take, and we all learn something from them, great photos and good work. Pity David cant give out awards for it.
Learning from photography is what its about, well in my opinion anyway!

Thank you for the kind words, Mike.

I am getting antsy because I want to go on a trip abroad with some of my new camera gear to try it out for the kind of stuff I really love and the kinds of situations I often find myself. Also, I want to enjoy the smaller/lighter load while traveling! I think it will have to wait for at least a few months though.

[mikehawthorne]

i know what you mean about lighter stuff, hot climate and heavy lenses can take some lugging about.
nex7 looks inviting.
mike hawthorne

[bakubo]

i know what you mean about lighter stuff, hot climate and heavy lenses can take some lugging about.
nex7 looks inviting.

I had seriously considered the NEX 7, but decided against it. I wrote a bit about that here:

http://www.photoclubalpha.com/forum/vie ... =49&t=6740

[bakubo]

The unrest in Egypt continues. I hope that Egyptians will find a peaceful and prosperous way in the future.