A Merry Dominican Christmas

After spending a lovely week in the Dominican Republic with the family for Christmas, I'm back in the country. It was a great holiday, though there were definitely some limitations on the photography and birding (more to come on that later).  I did get some photos though, and they are coming!  For now, here's an early favourite:

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)

Hopefully more soon!

Kyle

New Product and Trip Countdowns!

I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated honest reviews of photography products written by their users, and have used them as a shopping aid on several occasions.  With that in mind, I decided to write up a short, “first-look” style review of a recent acquisition: the Lowepro Primus AW Backpack.  I thought this product would be of particular interest, as it addresses a problem in the photography backpack market for which I have long sought a solution.  Perhaps I am not the only one.

The Lowepro Primus AW, showing the harness system and
water bottle pocket.

The problem is as follows.  Like presumably many photographers, I own a camera backpack that is very rigid and protective.  It has a square-ish compartment with adjustable dividers, which allows the various lenses and bodies to be snugly nested in place.  Unfortunately, as a result of its structure it is also tremendously uncomfortable to wear, and provides no space for non-camera items such as a water bottle, field guide or spare clothing.  As a nature photographer I frequently find myself camera-in-hand, hiking through a forest or traipsing across a marsh, so features such as these are completely indispensable.

As a result of these shortcomings I often find myself throwing my valuable camera gear into a regular daypack, along with a water bottle and perhaps a sweater.  Loose in the pack the lenses bounce around, vulnerable to impact, and are constantly at risk of water damage should there be some sort of catastrophic bottle failure.

Seeking some middle ground, I set out to buy a new daypack for my upcoming trips – one that combines the structure of a camera bag with the comfort and utility of a hiking pack.  After a great deal of searching with little success, I finally stumbled on the Lowepro Primus AW.

The rigid bottom compartment has adjustable dividers and
pockets for memory cards and other small items.

At first glance, the Primus truly seems to represent the best of both worlds.  It has a rigid lower compartment with dividers for camera gear, and a capacious, flexible upper compartment for whatever else you need to carry.  In addition it has an open front compartment which accepts a large hydration pack, and an adjustable tripod/monopod rig on the outside which I suspect will also support a snake hook or bug net poles.

The upper compartment has room for a surprising amount of
gear, and more small pockets for various items.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this bag though, is its 8-point adjustable harness system.  Similar to systems found on much larger expedition packs, it is complete with a proper padded waist-belt and lumbar bolster.  The bag has some other handy gadgets too, like a side access panel for grabbing your camera quickly, an external water bottle pocket, a waterproof cover, and rear access to thwart would-be thieves and to keep the straps out of the mud when accessing your gear. 

The open front pocket supports a 2L hydration pack.

As if all that weren’t enough, there are incentives for the eco-friendly consumer too.  The bag’s fabric is made of primarily recycled material; Lowepro claims that each one uses the equivalent of 22 plastic water bottles.  To make it even greener, Lowepro donates a portion of each sale to polar bear conservation!

This bag definitely generates a favourable first impression.  I have worn it loaded for a short hike and it is remarkably comfortable.  While wearing the bag I am able to pull my 7D body and Tamron 180mm out of the side hatch with minimal difficulty.  It is only just big enough for one body and 3 medium-sized lenses (the smallest of which will likely ride the top compartment) but I appreciate the compactness, and it is apparently carry-on compatible.

The side access panel allows the wearer to access the
camera without removing the pack.

I am excited to break this bag in on my upcoming trips to the Dominican Republic and southern Africa, and will be sure to report on its performance when I get back.  Incidentally, the countdowns are on!

Dominican Republic: 5 days 

Madagascar and South Africa: 27 days

I can’t wait!

Kyle

Website Update

I have been doing some work on the website in the last couple of days, and now have completed (for the time being) the "Butterflies and Moths" page of my image index, with a bunch of new images online.  It can be accessed here: http://www.kylehorner.com/photography/image_index.html.  Have a look if you'd like to reminisce about butterfly season!

Kyle

More Confusing Critters

Well I got back at the photos today, and it seems the ones I leave till last are the ones that are the trickiest.  This also means they take the most time and energy!  Here are two creatures that forced me to break out the field guides!

The first is a dragonfly - some sort of mosaic darner to be more specific.  After lots of reading and photo-referencing, I'm going to say it's a Shadow Darner, though I would love to be corrected if you know differently!  I do have other photos of the entire insect, if anyone fancies the challenge.  I really do need to get myself a better dragonfly field guide...

Shadow (?) Darner (Aeshna umbrosa)

The second creature of the day is a tiny moth that I can't find in any of the books I have (though as previously mentioned, my library is far from complete).  It's a good-looking creature, but I have no idea what it is!  Photographed in the Guelph Arboretum.

Unknown Moth

That's all for now!

Kyle

Random Photos

Well it has definitely been a slow fall for blog posts - I blame that on my real job and a daunting stack of unsorted photos.  I have started to sift through this aforementioned stack, and some of the results can be seen here.

On another note, I am gearing up for some time out of country - a week in the Dominican Republic with the family over Christmas, and the 2.5 month journey to southern Africa that I posted about earlier.  I am hopeful that both will deliver some excellent opportunities for good photos and stories to match.  I am long overdue for a shake-up, and can't wait to get going!

Anyway, on to the photos.  The first is an odd one that has been sitting in my "To Sort" folder for months, mostly because I'm not sure what to do with it for several reasons.  Firstly, I'm unsure of the species, though my educated guess is Sweetflag Spreadwing.  Secondly, the picture also features some mysterious white orbs (on the stem, under the damselfly), and I have no idea what they are.  I have asked a few knowledgeable folks, and they have been stumped as well.  I don't know if they are associated with the damselfly at all, or if it is simply a coincidence that they are together.  If anyone can solve this mystery, please let me know!  Also of note is the cluster of red mites attached to the underside of the spreadwing.

Sweetflag (?) Spreadwing (Lestes forcipatus)

The second shot is another that fell by the wayside because it took more than 10 seconds to identify (and I'm sometimes lazy).  One of several plain, brown butterflies that lives here in southern Ontario, the Northern Pearly-Eye.  Distinguishable - it turns out - from the others by the reduced or absent second (from the front) spot on the forewing, especially noticeable from the underside (because I know you were wondering...)

Northern Pearly-Eye (Enodia anthedon)

This next one was a surprise find and a bit of a mystery.  I was herping in Simcoe County with a couple of friends, and one of them turned over a rock and uncovered this moth.  It certainly appears to be to be a Virgin Tiger Moth, but what I can't reconcile is that the forewing pattern is distinctly pinkish-orange, instead of the usual yellow.  I haven't seen a lot of these moths, so I don't know if this is a normal variation or if it's unusual.  Alternately, it is a different but similar species of which I am unaware.  I don't own a good moth book (necessary future investment) and have not been able to figure this out.  I was able to push the forewing aside, and it did have the red hindwing pattern that I associate with Virgin Tiger Moths (though apparently I was not smart enough to document this photographically).

Virgin (?) Tiger Moth (Grammia virgo)

The last shot for today was a quick grab-shot I took while looking for snakes in Norfolk County.  It was sweltering hot, we were out in a field, and we were skunked for snakes.  This little butterfly landed in front of me and, being unsure of its identity (and knowing I had not photographed one before), I started snapping.  I got three shots before it flew away - two were blurry, so this is now my only photo of an American Copper.

American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Well that's it for today, but it feels good to have made a dent in the pile of photos - hopefully it'll motivate me to do more soon!  I'll also get some details up about the upcoming travel as the preparations progress!

Kyle