with Lorelle and Brent VanFossen

Hurricane Ernesto: Stress and Water Rises Again

We had a lot of plans of things that need to get done this weekend, and now our plans are changing. Again. I turned on and found out that Tropical Depression 5 is now Hurricane Ernesto and computer models show it on a path that may turn right for us.

While the models are just models and not certain fact, recent familiarity with hurricanes in the Gulf Coast now make us very wary. Yes, this hurricane could fumble and stall. It could twist and bend and smack elsewhere. Or it could come roaring right down our throats.

By Wednesday we should have a better clue, one way or the other, if this hurricane is coming for us. It could hit Friday, Saturday, or Sunday at the latest, if it continues on its present course and anticipated speed.

Now, folks, are you paying attention? Probably not. But read this closely. A hurricane is coming to the Gulf Coast of the United States and will be here by Friday. Are you packed, ready to evacuate, or ready to hunker down and get NO HELP for three to five days or more?

If I know Americans, I’d vote for not, but for us, we’re changing all our plans today and the next few days to pack up and prepare for evacuation.

Everything outside must be put inside, tied down, or tossed out. That includes all patio tables and chairs, umbrellas, plant stands, bird feeders, drying racks, and plant pots. It also means I need to get into my garden and pull out all the stakes which label what I planted where, as these can become flying debris. Hoses will be curled up and ready to store. The awning snapped and broke while I was gone and Brent removed it and stashed it under the trailer, thinking some part or piece might be salvageable. Well, all of it is for the trash heap now. We don’t have a place to store it if we move and time is short here.

A lot of things will get thrown away just because we don’t have time to mess around with things between our work and preparations to evacuate.

In the past few weeks, Brent and I have done a lot of fixing on the trailer in anticipation of a job change, as the contract is near its end. Tires need to be checked and inflated, and water tanks cleaned out and refilled. Still, a lot of the repair work has been done, though work still needs to be done on the generator. That may require a specialist, so if we move, we might include a stop at a professional repair place for that to happen as a several hundred pound built in generator isn’t something you can throw in your car and haul to get fixed.

Inside the trailer, all of the books, files, and stuff on shelves has to come down and be put in boxes. Which means we have to go get boxes. Dishes, pots, pans, and all the cans and bottles in our food pantry have to be secured, padded, and protected from the bouncing and jarring rigors of the road. Same with everything in our fridge and freezer. All computers, printers, and electronic gear that clutters our lives must be cleaned up and ready for fast stowing.

Sitting still for a while means spreading out and accumulating stuff. We’ve gotten better at this, but it still happens. So gathering and stowing all that stuff in a trailer with little storage space is painful and time consuming. Hopefully, we can get this all ready in the next two or three days, while trying to not melt in the abominable heat and humidity outside, and be ready to pull out with 24 hours notice or less.

Where will we go? That depends upon the hurricane’s path. It goes to the east of us, we head to the west, though we’ve learned we don’t have to go far as the west side of a hurricane usually doesn’t fare so bad, which is why there is flood damage but not a lot of wind and hurricane damage in New Orleans, but Mississippi, to the east, got the hell beaten out of it. If the hurricane is to our west, we head north and east as far as possible. Depending upon the size of the hurricane, when you are on the east side, there is rarely far enough you can go to avoid it totally. We ran to Atlanta for Hurricane Katrina and were smacked with it there, tornadoes, lightning strikes, floods, power outages everywhere, but at least out of the direct path.

You live in a tin box, this is your life. You are easy victims of nature’s forces.

We’ll let you know our plans as our lives now revolve around internet, radio and television weather reports. But consider this your warning. You have 5-7 days to prepare for disaster. Make the most of it and don’t whine about not expecting it. You’ve been warned.

Vietnam Photographers Enjoy Online Social Networks

Vietnam News Service’s Linh Ha writes about how the “Net Gives Camera Bugs a New Playground”, highlighting the growing popularity of Vietnamese photographers and photo websites.

With the development of the Internet, more and more Vietnamese photographers, professional and amateur alike, now know better ways to share their hobby with others though online communities specifically for photography-lovers.

At first, “playing photos online” was just an idea tossed around between people who share the same hobby.

Today, there are about 20 Vietnamese websites about photography. Some of them run like online newspapers with photo galleries and comprehensive information sources about photography, such as: www.nghethuatnhiepanh.com; www.photoworld.com.vn; www.vnphoto.net; and www.photo.com.vn. There are also smaller forums on photography included big forums like Nghe Thuat Nhiep Anh (Photography Art) at www.ttvnol.com and www.hanoicorner.com.

Members of these forums vary from amateurs to professional photographers and journalists.

Photo.com.vn, which just came on-line a year ago, now has 5,000 members, the biggest number for Vietnamese websites on photography. Also quite new is www.photoworld.com.vn, which has attracted more than 2,000 members, including many famous professionals.

Many countries are taking advantage of access to the Internet to create online communities dedicated to their hobby and interests, and photography and the web go together like hand in glove. When the first online communities began a long time ago, I loved the social interaction they provided, giving me a chance to talk photography with other photographers. It led to online presentations, programs, and workshops, and a lot of new friends.

The article shares many tips and interests for online photo enthusiasts, including the joy of sharing photographs and information with each other. They are also taking their passion for photography offline with group trips and meetings as they connect with others in their community through these online forums and sites.

End of Camera Making Era for Kodak

The Times Online reports “Kodak to Finish Camera Making”, news that Eastman Kodak will stop making cameras.

Eastman Kodak is to stop making cameras, marking the end of an era for the manufacturing business started more than a century ago by George Eastman, the photography pioneer.

The troubled photographic equipment maker is to outsource its remaining camera making businesses to Flextronics, a hi-tech designer and manufacturer, as Kodak continues to struggle in the digital arena.

Flextronics will manufacture and distribute Kodak consumer digital cameras, while Kodak will continue to control high-level system design and advanced research and development.

George Eastman mass produced his first Kodak cameras in 1887 and quickly saw a market for the “average person” to embrace the camera and open up a huge money-making marketplace by creating cheap and easy-to-use cameras. Many credit this moment with the “photographic age”, the beginning of putting a camera in the hands of every human being, young and old.

Unfortunately, the digital market caught Kodak off guard and they have been slow to change and embrace the new, fast growing technology. Their businesses losses are reflected in massive layoffs and restructuring. News of the announcement also dropped their shares on Wall Street over 13 percent. Ouch.

Adorama Academy: Online Photography Workshops

Adorama Academy is the online “photography workshop” program for the popular camera equipment and supply store. They have expanded their online educational programs and feature some top notch photographers and experts sharing their expertise in photography.

Highlights include:

Oxygen Starved Dead Zone on the Oregon Coast Larger Than Ever

Shore Crab, Oregon Coast, photograph copyright Brent VanFossenThe KGW News in Oregon, reports that the “Oregon Coast Dead Zone is Bigger Than Ever Before”, explaining:

The “dead zone” off Oregon’s coast is back — larger, thicker, and more lethal than ever. For the fifth year in a row, scientists have witnessed thousands of sea creatures dying in the Pacific Ocean.

This year, the dead zone covers 1,200 square miles, according to Oregon State University marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco.

…”There are no fish down there that we could see,” Lubchenco said. “This is an area where we have measured chronically low oxygen.”

…Scientists found almost no oxygen in the water there. According to OSU marine ecologist Francis Chan, “we’re only half-a-step away from zero — or the absence of oxygen.”

According to the article, the “dead zone” covers the Pacific Coastal area of Oregon from Florence to Lincoln City, with a smaller “pocket dead zone” just off Washington’s Olympic Peninsula to the north.

Have you heard of this? It’s a new one for me.

The Free Internet Press reports:

This dead zone is unlike those in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, which result from fertilizer, sewage or runoff from hog or poultry operations carried by rivers. The Oregon zone appears when the wind generates strong currents carrying nutrient-rich but oxygen-poor water from the deep sea to the surface near shore, a process called upwelling.

The nutrients encourage the growth of plankton, which eventually dies and falls to the ocean floor. Bacteria there consume the plankton, using up oxygen.

Jane Lubchenco, a marine biologist at Oregon State University, said the phenomenon did not appear to be linked to recurring El Niño or La Niña currents or to long-term cycles of ocean movements. That made Dr. Lubchenco wonder if climate change might be a factor, she said, adding, “There is no other cause, as far as we can determine.”

The dead zone, which appears in late spring and lasts a matter of weeks, has quadrupled in size since it first appeared in 2002 and this year covers about 1,235 square miles, an area about as large as Rhode Island, Dr. Lubchenco said.

The zone dissipates when winds shift.

A report on Yahoo News via the AP says the “Pacific Dead Zone to Exceed Fears”:

Scientists say the oxygen-starved “dead zone” along the Pacific Coast that is causing massive crab and fish die-offs is worse than initially thought.

Scientists say weather, not pollution, appears to be the culprit, and no relief is in sight. However, some say there is no immediate sign yet of long-term damage to the crab fishery.

Oregon State University scientists looking for weather changes that could reverse the situation aren’t finding them, and they say levels of dissolved oxygen critical to marine life are the lowest since the first dead zone was identified in 2002. It has returned every year.

Strong upwelling winds pushed a low-oxygen pool of deep water toward shore, suffocating marine life, said Jane Lubchenco, a professor of marine biology at OSU.

…After a recent trip to the dead zone and an inspection via camera on a remote-controlled submarine, she said, “We saw a crab graveyard and no fish the entire day.”

“Thousands and thousands of dead crab and molts were littering the ocean floor. Many sea stars were dead, and the fish have either left the area or have died and been washed away,” she said. “Seeing so much carnage on the video screens was shocking and depressing.”

While many blame global warming, and try to blame pollution, according to this report, “Some dead zones been caused by agricultural runoff. Those similar to Oregon’s have been found off of Africa in the Atlantic and Peru in the Pacific.” So Oregon isn’t an isolated event.

The Oregonian reports on other scientific discoveries associated with this anomaly:

Scientists suspect swings in the Earth’s climate tied to global warming may be shifting wind conditions to bring about such grim results.

Seawater turns deadly for marine life when concentrations of the dissolved oxygen they breathe fall below about 1.4 milliliters per liter. On Monday, Chan measured a concentration of .05, or almost 30 times below the lethal level, about 90 feet below the surface.

It is very close to a complete absence of oxygen, a situation rarely known in the world’s oceans, said Jane Lubchenco, a professor of marine biology at Oregon State. New bacteria that take over when oxygen disappears are known to release poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas.

From the many articles I read through, it is possible the hypoxia off the Oregon Coast may have been happening long before this recent five year spell, though there is little historical evidence yet. Now that this event has hit its five anniversary, it’s no longer a fluke and worth more interest and research.

Brent crawls across the tide pools at Strawberry Hill tidal area near Yachats, Oregon, photograph copyright Lorelle VanFossenHow long it will last, how wide it will spread, are all questions awaiting answers.

Yachats, Oregon, is near one of my favorite tide pool beaches where sea lions hang out due to the abundant food resources. I fear that if their food has starved for lack of oxygen, they they may leave the area. The tidal areas will suffer as well, I’m sure.

New UK Terrorist Threat – Tips For Travelers and Photographers

Suitcase tags, photograph by Brent VanFossenThere is a lot of confusion over the new high threat risk advisory and recent arrests in Britain of terrorists. Let’s look at the specifics.

Expect Long Delays and Multiple Security Inspections
No matter where you are traveling, but especially at international hubs, expect double to triple waiting times as you are processed through security. Two hours minimum, four to six average.
Expect Hand Searches:
Anticipate being hand searched. This involves one or more security agents doing a pat-down search of your body, all shoes, coats, belts, hats, scarfs, and other outerwear must be removed for inspection. Be prepared and wear as few of these as possible.
Checked Luggage Limited to Two Bags:
You are still limited to two pieces of luggage, so all carry-ons unacceptable to security and not allowed on the plane must be put in those two pieces of luggage to go into the cargo compartment.
All Carry-ons Banned:
All carry-ons are banned on some flights except for “wallet-sized items”. No purses, briefcases, laptops, laptop cases, or other bags permitted. All items are requested to be inside clear plastic bags. Everything will be inspected and pass through xrays.

A summary of the instructions from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Threat Level Change for Aviation Sector (8/10/2006) and British Home Office – Advice to Travellers – Increased Security Measures (10 Aug 2006) is:

  • No Liquids or Gels: All liquids and gels of any kind will not be allowed in carry-on luggage. All beverages must be consumed and discarded before boarding. Even those purchased within the airport are not allowed on the plane. All liquids must go into your checked luggage. This includes all beverages, shampoo, alcohol, liquor, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.
  • No Carry-on Luggage or Purses on Some Flights: Overseas and flights originating to and from the UK current ban all carry-on luggage. You may carry pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards, etc.) and if necessary, put these in clear plastic bags. Handbags, carry-on luggage, laptop cases, briefcases, shopping bags, and all other carry-ons are not permitted. Exceptions may be made for clear plastic bags with diapers and other essential child care items if traveling with a child.

    The specific rules on what can be carried on the plane are:

    • Spectacles and sunglasses without cases.
    • Contact lens holders without bottles of solution or eye drops.
    • Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, unboxed and inside clear plastic bags.
    • Baby formulas:The only liquid exception is baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling. The liquid will be tested by the security agents using chemical testing procedures or by the passenger by drinking it.
    • Prescription Medications May Be Permitted: Medicines must be clearly labeled with a pharmacy label and the name must match the passenger’s ticket an identification. Insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines may be permitted, but only in an amount appropriate for the duration of the flight, not the trip.
    • Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs
    • Keys with safe or non-electrical key fobs.
  • Travel Documents Permitted: All travel documents essential for travel, including tickets and passports) are permitted to carry onto the plane. The name on the documents must match the identification and person.
  • Purchases Within the Airport Not Allowed as Carry-Ons: All purchases within the airport, including duty-free purchases, are not allowed on board the plane. They will be checked at the gate to be carried in the cargo.
  • No IPods or Music: While not on the list, expect that all MP3 players, video and CD players, handheld computers, electronic games, and radios will not be allowed. You’ll have to listen to plane music.
Be Patient, No Jokes, But Complain If Necessary:
Passing through security inspections, do not say anything unless asked. Be patient. Make no jokes. Make no complaints. If you feel you were improperly treated during the security checks, do report it, in writing, after your flight.

Do not feel obliged to tolerate unnecessary abuse or privacy violations just because “it’s for everyone’s safety”. Immediate responses to security issues are usually over-zealous and violations happen. Comments and complaints are reviewed in the administration offices and help make such security techniques more well-rounded and professional if the problems are reported. We all benefit in the long run.

Traveling With Camera Gear

While these new temporary security cautions, photographers are really stressed. No excuses are acceptable for carrying laptops, computers, or camera equipment on board the plane. Luckily, much of today’s camera gear and laptops are much more durable than they used to be.

If you are still traveling with print or slide film, consider now as time to switch to digital or a chance to test-drive digital equipment. If you are, consider mailing it or buying new film upon arrival. If you insist or are particular about your film, call the specific airlines and airports you will be traveling through to check on what their current policy is on film. The current rule allows film as described in “Know Before You Go: Myth – Airport Security X-rays Won’t Hurt Film” and “Know Before You Go: Airport Security and Traveling Photographers”, but current events change things.

Buy a suitcase as light as possible to save weight, but as sturdy as possible. It’s a trade off on weight versus compression and protection. With lowered weights for checked luggage, every ounce counts.

Camera equipment, photograph by Brent VanFossenWrap all equipment in thick bubble wrap and then with clothing. Do not put hard sides against hard sides. They scratch, rub, and press against each other, potentially cracking their cases. Use padding.

Keep all cables, connectors, and power cords, as well as small electrical items such as digital recorders, USB hubs, and such inside of sturdy clear plastic bags. I recommend heavy duty freezer zip lock bags. All checked luggage may be hand searched and this keeps parts and pieces together.

Carry as few clothing items as possible. Just about everywhere you travel, you can buy clothing and shoes upon arrival. Same with toiletries. Toothpaste, deodorant, sun lotion, and shampoo, though not your brand, is available generally everywhere. Buy it there.

If you will be at your destination for some time, then mail gear, clothing, and other items you will need. If you mail them in advance, they will be there when you arrive. This won’t work for all destination, but if it will, take advantage of it.

Consider renting camera equipment upon arrival. Through the web, you can often find services and make arrangements before you arrive. These may include long lenses, flash units, tripods, and even camera bodies. Such rental services are available only in the largest metropolitan towns, unfortunately.

Hopefully, most of these restrictions are temporary. Over-caution and over-zealous steps are being taken, and things will get back to a little more normal and tolerate in time.

Sunset and Forest Fires

Trees silhouetted against sunset, California, photograph copyright Brent VanFossen, VanFossen ProductionsDriving up towards Yosemite National Park in California, the sunset turned incredibly intense. Recent forest fires had left particulates in the air which turned the sunset intense reds and oranges.

Brent VanFossen quickly pulled over, looking for any subject to frame as a silhouette against this vibrant backdrop of color and found he was in a burnt out forest area. Nothing but stumps and burned trees. He wandered down the hill with his tripod and camera, desperate to find some pattern, some interesting shape.

Down the hill he saw a burned out tree and thought that would be good. He raced down through the burnt scrub and it wasn’t right. The next one further down the hill wasn’t good either. Then there it was.

The tree branches seemed to twist in and around themselves, arms reaching towards the sky. Just beyond it was the moon, a tiny sliver of white in the rich sunset reds.

Brent set up the tripod and camera, sweat pouring down his face from the rough climb down the hillside of charred snags, and positioned the camera, snapping photographs as quickly as he could, adjusting, playing with the exposure, and moving fast.

The sunset didn’t last long. He only had a minute or two and it was gone. The darkness of the night dropped down fast. He turned off the camera, closed up the tripod and put it on his shoulder, and turned, and sighed.

In his rush to find a subject, he’d traveled quite a ways down the devastated hillside. Without a flash light. It took him a very long time, and a few staggering stumbles, to climb over the snags and scrub to get back to the car, his hands and clothing smeared with ash and charcoal.

The intense colors in the photograph were enhanced by using Fuji’s Velvia film, a slow and richly colored film, which leans heavily towards purple tones. This added more intensity to the colors of the sunset, which a slight underexposure enhanced even more. Digital cameras are currently unable to capture such color spectrum, though they may soon. For some things, film still serves a purpose.

Arabic Books in the Markets of Istanbul

Arabic books photographed in the markets of Istanbul, photograph copyright by Lorelle VanFossenI recently stumbled across this photograph I took in one of the many markets of Istanbul, Turkey, and I wanted to share its story with you.

We love photographing markets. Everywhere in the world we travel, we look up open air, covered, above ground, underground, and ancient markets. Fish markets, cheese markets, meat markets, clothing markets, used rummage markets, and all-the-junk-in-the-world-you-can-buy-cheap markets. We photograph their wares, the sellers, fish, meats, cheeses, scarfs, jewelry, baskets, puppets – you name it. If it stands still in decent light, and the seller doesn’t mind, we photograph it.

I love books. It doesn’t matter the language. I just like to look, touch, and smell books.

On this particular occasion, the book seller had stacks and stacks of books piled up outside of his shop in the Egyptian Spice Market. It was nearby an outside door that the afternoon light just sneaked through, enough for a warm glow over the books. Their gold embossed titles along the spines glimmered in Arabic and Turk. The book jacket colors of red, pink, and blue and the gold designs made the books look more like a scarf or embroidered quilt than a stack of books.

My eye traced down the stacks, following the pattern of the spaces between the books as well as the size and width of the books themselves. In particular, I was drawn to this section, where the line between the books was slightly diagonal.

I placed the line between the books slightly off center, which accentuated the “crack” effect rather than a split between the stacks. I kept the thicker books towards the bottom to give the image “weight” and a sense of gravity. The light falling off the bottom of the image in my viewfinder would add to the heavy bottom effect, I remember thinking in the few seconds it took to position my camera on the tripod for the photograph.

In a market area, busy or not, I want to use a tripod due to the low light situations, but also because many of my market images require careful composition. There is so much distraction in all the items the sellers have to offer. I want to zoom in on the patterns and textures that captured my attention, not the entire scene. I want the details to tell the story.

Unfortunately, I am often restricted to a monopod (or using my tripod as a monopod) or hand holding due to the crowds and traffic flow through the market. In this case, it was a slow afternoon in the middle of the week and there were few people about. We’d been exploring the old downtown areas of the city, tripods over shoulders, so everything came together for me to have the right equipment for the right composition and lighting moment.

The side lighting from the nearby door was very dim. Only enough to warm the colors. So my exposure was very slow, about a 30th of a second to a half second. I didn’t need a lot of depth of field as the books were all on one plane before my camera, so I bracketed the shutter speed and decided on the image slightly underexposed. When photographing low light subjects with intense color and reflective qualities, I usually choose the underexposed image as it seems to intensify the colors.

I only had time for a fast bracketing of five photographs and the light was gone. The sun passed behind a building or a cloud, and the moment was gone.

The end result, I believe, is an interesting pattern photograph, and a fabulous memory. It is also symbolic. The Arab world was so far advanced than what we now call “Western Civilization” in education and writing. Their work in numbers, number theory, poetry, writing, and scholarly pursuits is legendary. So much has been lost to time and wars, sadly. The grace and artistry of the writing fills the imagination of those who cannot read it, but merely see it as swirls and designs. It is mysterious and beautiful at the same time.

As I look at the photograph, in my memory I can hear the hawking nosies of the shopkeepers, with the squawking of pigeons and chickens, overlaid with the distant echoes of the call to prayer from the nearby mosque towers. I smell urine, sweat, dust, body odors, and cigarette smoke. I see beggars and ragged people pushing their way through the crowds, hands out, asking for money and cigarettes. A young boy with shirt tails flying rushes through the crowds seemingly obvious to their crush, a brass plate held high over his head with eight small clear classes of tan colored tea and green mint leaves still steaming in the cool air of the winter evening. Two heavy set Russians pass by, billows of nasty blue smoke swirling around their faces from their unfiltered cigarettes, arguing and waving their arms about. High pitched noises follow them as a crowd of young women passes by, all holding each others arms, giggling and chattering, only their white faces visible among their many dark scarfs and jilbabs. A tall man in an exquisite Italian suit strolls by, his white shirt radiant under his dark face and silk tie. He looks straight ahead and walks with a marching saunter, his destination known only to him. The girls part, giggling, to make way for his royalness. A chicken escapes a seller’s hands and flies into the open wake behind the man. Shouts and scrambling to catch the chicken begins another element of the show of life inside the Egyptian Spice Market.

This is the world that reads these books.

Photographing Water Droplets

Water droplets on grass-vertical, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenRisk. Danger. Anticipation. And nerves of steel. These are the thrills and spills of photographing water droplets. There is a constant threat of danger as they dangle, so close to the edge, hanging on until the last second…then splat. Gone.

We love photographing water droplets. They are lenses within your lens, offering a new perspective on the world around us. Like tiny fish-eye lenses, they shrink down the scene and give it a circular distortion, smoothing the edges on a harsh, sharp world.

Water droplet on Huckleberry, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenWater droplets form from rain and condensation. In nature, they tend to cling to the fine hairs and fibers of plants. They line up in rows along spider webs. They stay for a short time in the early morning of summer before the heat blasts them away for the day. In winter, they can freeze into icicles, creating long daggers off the edges of anything that stays still long enough.

Photographing water droplets is all about timing and perspective. The key is to photograph the droplet before it drops, and not to do anything to encourage it to drop. It sounds much simpler than you might think.

Dew on sheet spider web, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenAny wind or motion around or against your subject will usually knock the water droplet off. The heat of your body can cause wind on cool days, shaking the water droplet. This is especially true when photographing delicate dew-covered spider webs. As the heat of the day rises with the sun, a slight breeze can make a mess of your water droplet covered subject.

Keep a good working distance from your subject by using a long lens with a zoom on a tripod. This stabilizes the camera for the often low light situations, allows longer exposures to maximize depth of field, and keeps you back a bit from your subject to ensure you don’t bump it.

Early morning dew on high alpine lupine, Mt Rainier, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenWater droplets are found hanging from edges and nestled in leaves and flowers, held there like water storage tanks for as long as possible, feeding and cooling the plant at the same time.

Photographing them may involve bending over your subject and photographing down upon it, or getting low to the ground so you are at “eye level” with the water droplets hanging from grasses, flowers stems, branches, or on spider webs. Be sure and wear water proof gear if you are working within a lot of wet and damp. At least bring a plastic sheet and/or kneeling pad so you don’t get too wet.

As you look through a water droplet, the subjects behind it are reduced down to fit within the small globe. Move slightly to the right or left, up or down, and the view changes, depending upon how close the background subject is.

There are two ways of photographing a water droplet. You can photograph it as part of an overall scene, such as the water droplets on the grasses in the photograph at the top of this article. The water droplets are part of the story of the grasses right after the rain. They look like jewelry, glittering along the grass stem.

Water droplets on grass in series, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenThe other method is to photograph the view through the water droplet. The water droplet shrinks the background so we see it clearly, though slightly distorted. It isn’t necessary that we see the whole background since it is inside of the droplet, but it helps to see just enough of an echo of the background to add to the sensation that we are viewing the world beyond through a secondary lens beyond our camera.

If the water droplet is the focus, then keep your camera’s focus on the water droplet, not the background, a challenge with some of today’s auto focus cameras which may fight for a subject to focus on. With the camera on the tripod, focus on the water droplet in the center area of your viewfinder, then turn off the auto focus to position the water drop in your frame as desired. Or switch to manual focus and focus it accordingly.

Fill as much of the frame with the droplet to capture the image inside. Carefully choose how much of the background you want within the picture’s frame, but keep the water droplet on center stage. Remember, the subject is what is seen inside the water drop, not just the water drop. Not all views through a droplet work. Choose your background scene carefully. As with all photographs, keep the scene simple and free from unnecessary distractions.

Water droplets on grasses, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenDetermining the aperture and depth of field for the photograph of a water droplet is a challenge. The focus is on the water droplet. What is in focus in front or beyond is part of your creative decisions. If the background is too much in focus, you might lose the water droplet in the picture. If it is too much out of focus, the echo of the background in your image might distract more than echo. A good background perspective choice is to echo the view inside of the water drop, not overwhelm it.

Water droplets on grass in series, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenIn the two comparison photographs here, you see that one has more depth of field, so the grasses are visible as lines even though they are still out of focus. The other, vertical image, has a much more narrow depth of field, so the background grasses blur into a soft color behind. We know they are grasses, so it doesn’t matter that we can’t clearly see them. We see them in the water droplets, and get the “impression” they are grasses, so our mind fills in the blank.

Generally, a low to middle range apertures will work best. Bracket your aperture to experiment with the various depth of field perspectives to find the one you like best.

Water Droplets in the Studio

Photographing water droplets is not limited to outdoors in nature. If the weather or lifestyle isn’t cooperating, you can create your own droplets in a studio, be it your kitchen, living room, or photography studio.

Water droplets on flower stem, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenUsing the natural light coming in from the sliding glass doors of our living room, we photographed these water droplets on the stem of a flower, with the flower behind it echoing the image inside of the water droplets.

Water droplets on flower stem photographed in a studio situation, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenThe stem was held in place with the weight of a lamp in front of the camera on its tripod. We spritzed water onto the stem until we formed a good looking water droplet. You can also use clear glycerin to fake a water droplet. The thick liquid will stay longer and have less chance of falling, too.

The flower behind it was set in a vase, positioned to maximize the image in the droplet and far enough away so our depth of field would still allow for enough recognizable focus to create an image echo.

We used a gold reflector to brighten up and warm the image and balance the side light from the windows, and took a variety of bracketed photographs to make sure we got the effect we wanted.

Water droplet on window screen with flower in behind, photograph copyrighted Brent VanFossenAs we worked, Brent noticed that the process of spraying the water on the stem caused water droplets to sit in the window screen next to the camera, forming many water droplets reflecting the view of the backyard inside of them. He moved the flower behind the window screen and instantly saw dozens of flowers in the water droplets. He played with fill flash and natural light and bracketed across apertures to get the final image here.

Experiment with water droplets to see what you may see. A whole new world inside of a drop of water.

Most water droplet photography requires some familiarity with closeup photography, as well as closeup or macro photography equipment. This includes extension tubes, teleconverters, and close focusing techniques that also keep a wide working distance. For more information on closeup photography, see our online book I Long to Be Close to You: Closeups in Nature Photography, and take time to also look at our online book Bows and Flows of Angel Hair: Patterns in Nature Photography.

Nikon D80 New 10.8 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera

Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide, announces Pics of Nikon D80 Leaked Accidentally on Purpose.

To be launched August 9th, 2006, the new 10.2 megapixel Nikoin DLSR D80 will have some great bells and whistles.

From the pictures, you can plainly see the new model will be called the Nikon D80, not the D90 as some speculated. There are a few extra buttons on the camera, such as a physical self timer, IR remote button, an autofocus button, and it looks like the D80 uses SD flash memory cards instead of the CompactFlash cards used on its predecessor.

Invitation to Hebrew and Arabic Bloggers to Blog for Free on WordPress.com

As many of you know, I’ve been working with on a variety of projects, including testing and publishing on with , and I’d like to extend an invitation to all my Hebrew and Arabic speaking friends to blog about their experiences, opinions, and perspectives on current events (and other things) on WordPress.com – FOR FREE.

I’ve written about how to do this on my WordPress.com blog but I wanted to extend this to all my friends in the Middle East. The world needs to hear your opinion and views on what is going on in person. It also helps to “talk about it” and share your personal views on the situation.

Some of you are very eloquent in English, but this is also a chance to write in Hebrew or Arabic and share your feelings and the events around you as it happens or when you can. It will also help us keep in touch on what is going on in Israel, Lebanon, the Palestinian terriortories, and elsewhere in the Middle East.

To get a free WordPress.com blog, apply for your free WordPress.com blog and have a valid email address as they send the password to you via email. That’s it.

From there, it’s up to you to write about any aspect of what is going on or your life. If you choose to do this, please post a link to your new blog in the comments below and let me know. I hope this free way of expression will give you some form of comfort and help the rest of the world understand what is going on. We need to hear more about it from people in the midst of it, not just from the bias news media.

Coming Home to Find War

My apologizes to all of my friends in the Middle East for not getting through to you sooner. I’ve been traveling extensively these past few weeks, crisscrossing the United States again, and this week found me in tons of airports and long car rides without much Internet connection nor news information.

To all of my Israeli, Arab, Palestinian, and other Middle Eastern friends, my heart and worries go out to you. The games politicians and militants play with our lives are great acts of “dick wagging”, as Brent calls it. Nonetheless, it punishes the innocent more than the guilty.

I’ve just arrived back in Alabama after four months on the road. It’s been terrible being away from my husband and two fuzzy kitties for so long, but it’s been an amazing trip and I’ve done great work. I’ll have more on that later, though you can catch up with some of the genealogy work I’ve been doing on my new family history blog that is still a bit under undevelopment. You can catch up with some of the none-photography and writing work I’ve been doing at , too.

Brent and I have a lot of catching up to do and I’ve got stacks of work, but I will make time to get the email back up and running. Know that we are now watching the news, worrying and fretting, and hoping that you all remain safe and away from the line of fire. If you have to fight or support the troop action, on whichever side you may roam, then we support your efforts in that, too.

Much love! And many hugs, especially now during the darkening hours…again.

Amelia Takes a Road Trip

Amelia Hits the Road, by Marissa Moss (and YEEHAW – Amelia!), is a fantastic book for children, introducing them to travel and life on the road.

This is my new travel notebook. Mom bought it for me so I wouldn’t be bored on the long driving part of this trip. She said if I’m busy writing, I won’t be busy fighting with Clea. I don’t fight with Cleo. She fights with me.

…Mom says we should enjoy this togetherness. It seems like TOO much togetherness, if you ask me. Especially when Cleo gets carsick. Then the last thing in the world I want is to be together with her!

….We sand every song we could think of – “Found a Peanut”, “On Top of Old Smoky”, “Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky”, “The Bear Went Over the Mountain”, “Goofy Grimy Gopher Guts” – until Mom screamed at us to STOP!

Then Cleo started reading every sign we passed until I hit her to shut her up and she him me back so I hit her again and Mom yelled at us some more.

I asked Mom is she was enjoying all this togetherness. She just glared at me.
Amelia Hits the Road, by Marissa Moss (and YEEHAW – Amelia!)

Does this sound like every road trip you ever took as a child! FINALLY, someone is telling the truth about travel as a child and travel with a child.

The book is a delight. It is colorful, filled with activities and suggestions for things to do. It isn’t a “things to do on a trip” book, but more of a guide which inspires the child or children towards activity, such as the list of songs to sing shown as an example of what Amelia and her sister did. Notice that it also shows the consequences of when it gets out of control.

The graphics and pictures are wonderful, designed to amuse the young and the old. It’s an adventure and practical guide for a traveling children, helping them to understand that, yes, long drives suck and are boring, so expect it and get over it, and that there are still many things to do to amuse yourself on long travel days.

One unexpected aspect of Amelia Hits the Road is the journaling. The book is written as if it is a real journal, with hand drawn pictures, doodles, graphics, and even notes in the margin. Pictures replace words sometimes, and postcards and pictures appear to be stuck onto the pages alongside stamps and other memorabilia traditionally collected as you travel.

By setting the book in journal form, the child is encouraged to create their own journal of the trip, copying the techniques and preserving memories of the family trip. They are encouraged to write, learning how to write and express an idea and concept, as well as storytelling techniques.

I can see the child, 30 years from now, coming across their journal and a copy of the book in some dusty box and being instantly transported back in time to when their brother kept hitting her in the backseat and calling her names, and the glory and delight when he got carsick and puked up all over the door before the window could be opened. As gory as it is, for a child now grown up, it’s a brilliant example of the cosmic forces of the universe exacting a precious moment of revenge.

The book’s journal goes from California to the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, and then back through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Mono Lake and Yosemite National Park, one of the most popular travel routes for many Americans, as well as international travelers. Amelia is introduced to a diverse range of educational information, but it isn’t hammered in, it’s experienced.

Highlights of her adventures include understanding tourist gimmicks (“The truly mysterious place was the gift shop, where there was an astonishing display of junk. I couldn’t believe anyone would buy that stuff.”), geology (“Mom says the Grand Canyon is the Earth’s old age wrinkles, like the lines on her forehead.”), astronomy (“I love to think that people saw and named those same stars thousands of years ago!”), discovery and exploration (“I can’t imagine being the first person who saw all this.”), international and cultural exchange (“I met a boy. His name is Mako. We hiked together the whole way. Mako is from Japan, and he’s really nice.”), change and evolution and differences in generation values and experiences (“Mom says sometimes when things change, they get worse, not better. But she’s not always right. She only likes old music.”), archeology (“I thought I would find some treasure or old coins, but I didn’t. Cleo found a bone. She said it was from a dead miner. Mom said it was a chicken bone…”), and the unpleasant business of war (“…we were in a place called Manaznar, where 10,000 Japanese-Americans lived during World War II…”).

For the family traveling through the California-Arizona triangle tour, this is a wonderful guide to what the family and children will be experiencing along the way, with some well-thought out and expressed perspectives.

For the parent, there is enough in this book to keep any child amused on road trip. There are things to do, games to play, assignments, and examples. At the least, the parent could ask the kid to write down everything they want to do on the trip from suggestions in the book. And then check them off each time the family or child does them.

If you are traveling with a child on a driving trip across the country or even across the state, I highly recommend Amelia Hits the Road as a wonderful aid to your traveling family adventures.

Impressed with this book on Amelia’s adventures, I also recommend the whole creative series of Amelia books.

Traveling With Pets Overseas

Dahni the blind traveling cat in his traveling carrier, photograph copyright Lorelle VanFossenWe’ve traveled extensively by car, trailer, motor home, and airplane with our pets. Dahni, our eye-less wonder traveling cat, traveled with us on at least 12 airplanes visiting six countries. So we have a little experience with transporting animals on airplanes as well as across borders.

Each country has their own requirements, though the creation of the EU (ECC) has made transporting pets around Europe much, much easier, with one requirement for most all countries within the EU. Some countries are fairly lax, while others are very strict. Check with your destination countries laws and embassies to determine those specifics.

The process of transporting a pet between countries is two-fold. You have the laws of the country you are leaving (export) and the laws of the country to which you are traveling (import). Traveling with your pets is different from importing and exporting animals for commercial purposes, and the law treats them differently. I’ll only address domestic pets traveling with their owners. Different procedures and requirements are necessary for pets traveling without their owners, which may include hiring a professional animal moving service, an often expensive process with much more paperwork and regulation.

At a minimum, most countries require the following:

  1. Pets must accompany the owners during the trip (not shipped separately) in the cargo or passenger compartment. The owner must claim the pet at both ends of the trip.
  2. Pets are considered dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and rodents which are not considered “wildlife”. Check with the country regulations for what determines a “pet”.
  3. Travel with up to two pets is permitted and exempt from a Veterinary Import Permit (or equivalent). More than two may be considered as commercial import or export.
  4. Pets must have a current Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a local or government veterinary of the exporting country within 7 to 15 days of travel, encompassing the travel days. It must state that the animals have been examined and found to be “healthy and free from infectious diseases”, and that all applicable vaccinations are up to date. Sometimes a declaration is required from the owner stating that the animal has been in his or her possession for at least the past 90 days, dependent upon the exporting and importing country laws. Many countries use the United States Interstate and International Certificate of Health examination for Small Animals form for their own form, and this form applies for all domestic pets leaving the United States for a foreign county.
  5. At a minimum, pets are required to be vaccinated against rabies not more than a year and not less than a month prior to the travel date. Others vaccinations and health inspections may be required including distemper, Carre Disease, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Panleucoopenia Feline, Calicivirosis, Rinotraqueitis, or Leukemia Feline.
  6. At the very least, the certificate requires the following:
    • Rabies vaccination and certification by a authorized government veterinarian from the country of origin.
    • Health certificate giving: sex, age, color, breed, and date of inoculation(s).
    • Letter or statement on the certificate that the animal is in good health and free of rabies, and that the animal has lived in an area free free of rabies for six months.
    • A statement that the animal has had a blood test that it is free of leptospirosis or other contagious diseases for the past month.
    • A statement that the pet is 3 months or older before the date of travel.
  7. Quarantines are rarely used any more, though check thoroughly before traveling with your pet. Quarantine times range from 48 hours to 6 months, if the country chooses to enforce them.
  8. Understand that animals without proper paperwork and health certificates will be returned (often without the owner or the owner will be refused entry along with their pet) to their country of origin or destroyed. If there is no one to claim the pet in the return county, the officials there may choose to destroy the animal, though arrangements may be made for kenneling until you arrive, if such services are available. There are often few ways or time enough to appeal such a decision. So research thoroughly, and get all the paperwork in order.
  9. Many countries now require identification microchip implants in the animals. Others still permit what is classified as “clearly identifiable tattoos” as an alternative, though there are no standards as to location or what that means. Unfortunately, different countries and vets use different microchip technology and detection machines with no universal system or standards either.

    I’ve had three microchips embedded in one cat because each could not be read by the different countries. However, proof that a microchip is installed is all that is required, not if the microchip can be detected by the departing or arriving customs offices or vets. If you are worried, check with your exporting and importing countries to find out if they have specific brand and type requirements for microchips.

The Airline Traveling Process and Experience with Your Pets

The following is the step-by-step instructions and tasks required for traveling with your pet.

  1. Check Before Buying Your Ticket on the Rules and Regulations for Traveling With Your Pet with the Airline: Each airline has different rules, prices, and restrictions on traveling with you pet. Make sure before you buy your ticket on what those are. Some airlines also restrict how many pets can be on a specific flight, so you may have to schedule your flight around their schedule and requirements. Some restrict which types and sizes of animals you may travel with. Some airlines will not allow some breeds of dogs on airplanes, as an example, while others will. Some will not allow snakes or “biting” or carnivorous animals, even if you can prove they will do no harm.

    Make sure you make all the arrangements with them and find out what their requirements are before you book your flight and proceed with the paperwork on the animal.

    Not all airlines honor your pet ticket across the various airlines on a single flight. Traveling from overseas back the US, we’ve often started with one airline, switched to another in Europe, and then flew from there on another airline, only to be transfered to another airline for the last leg of the flight. In several instances, we’ve been stopped while transferring planes and told to pay again for transporting the cat. I have argued with them that if I pay one ticket price for the entire flight, and the money is distributed by that airline to the other cooperating airlines, then why should a pet ticket be treated differently? This works sometimes, but not always.

    Since not every airline honors the first pet ticket you purchased as “good for the full length of the entire flight”, make sure that each airline you travel with knows you are traveling with a pet and that you abide by each airlines’ rules. Check first and check thoroughly.

  2. Get all the Paperwork and Research Done in Advance: Your vet maybe unaccustomed to national and international health certificates and travel regulations for your pet. Make sure you print out the certificates and paperwork they need, with resource information so they can verify this information themselves. Bring it all to the vet’s office with the pets and all their records at most 4 days before you travel.

    Some countries require the health certificate to be signed and stamped by an official representative of the government, often called the State Veterinarian. Getting such an official document may require ordering online, processing it through the mail, or traveling to the office for an in-person inspection of the animal before the certificate is approved and signed. Make time in your schedule if this is a requirement in the country you reside. Call in advance for an appointment and for information to make sure this is what you are required to do to get the international health certificate.

  3. Make Your Vet Appointment 6 Weeks and Then 4 Days Before You Travel: Most countries require rabies vaccinations at least 30 days to 60 days before the travel date. Make sure you have the pet’s vaccinations updated within that time period and all paperwork and records brought up-to-date and ready for the next step.

    While most countries require 7-15 days before the travel date to get the international health certificate, four days or less before your travel date, bring the pet in for another check and to complete the paperwork, letter, and certificate from the vet. This gives you some time leeway if there is a last minute change in your flight, or if you have delays between the legs of your trip, as the health certificate’s valid time must include the days of flight and the arrival date.

  4. Arrive 2-5 Hours in Advance at the Airport: Depending upon the length of your flight and the airline requirements, plan on arriving 2-5 hours before your flight.

    Some airlines require you to check in at the check-in counter and then will escort you to another office within the airport for the animal to be checked, weighed in its carrier, and other paperwork filled out and fees paid. It may also mean another trip across the airport to the customs agents for inspection and more fees to be paid. We’ve been in countries where the ticket office was on one side of the airport, the weighing and paperwork was filled in on the other side of the airport, then payment had to be made in another office elsewhere in the airport, and then we had to return with the receipt and all documentation to the ticket office before they would give us our tickets and take our luggage. While some airlines make this easy, others make it miserable, so the process of getting your pet on the flight can take some time.

    The fees associated with the airline ticket include a base fee for the animal plus the weight per kilo of the pet in its carrier, and customs and export fees for the exporting, and possibly the importing, country(s). The customs fees may be paid to the airline which pays the government, or you have to pay the government directly.

    Make sure you take everything out of the carrier except the animal before you weigh it. Especially all food and water. Do this before you enter the office or ticket counter, and put it in your carry-on. The price per kilo (and gram) can add up very fast, so keep the carrier’s weight at a minimum so you are paying for the animal as much as possible. The animal is typically weighed once, so you can put their food and goodies back in the bag after you finish with ticketing and inspections.

  5. Bring Cash and Credit Cards: No matter how much you research and ask all the right questions, it seems that somewhere along the line you will be asked to hand over more money for transporting your pet on an airplane. Bring extra money, just in case.

    You may be required to pay extra for pet weight, ticketing, or custom fees. Not all airlines and custom’s offices in all countries accept credit cards. All accept US money. Depending upon where we are taking our pets, we carry from USD $200 – $500 to make sure our cats get through the surprise financial hand-outs.

    As mentioned, we’ve had tickets for us and the cat paid for the entire flight, but midway through, we found we had to pay another ticket for the cat as that airline didn’t honor the ticket from the airline we’d just disembarked from 15 minutes ago. Be prepared with extra cash as they may not allow you on the next flight without paying. You can try to get reimbursed later, though it’s doubtful, but do try and complain loudly and in writing at the end of your flight.

    And if you cannot pay the customs fees in your destination country, you will not be allowed into the country.

  6. Get Tickets for Both You and the Pet: Do not forget to get tickets for both you and your pet, as well as the receipt of payment. Carry all certifications and health records with you as you pass through the airport, security, baggage claim, and disembarkation gates, just in case. You will be asked for verification on the ticket and payment of all fees for the pet.
  7. Airport Security: As you pass through airport security, you will need to inform the security agents that you are traveling with a pet. You will be required to remove the pet from the carrier and put the carrier through the x-ray machines. The pet will then need to be carried or walked through the security devices and possibly inspected.

    Keep the animal on the leash, whether you are carrying or walking it. The security agents typically will physically inspect the pet, but do not let go of the leash unless you are confident in the agent’s ability to restrain the animal if it becomes distressed.

    If the pet will become distressed or struggle if a stranger touches or approaches, be sure and warn the security agent before they approach. They may ask you to hold the animal while they inspect it, or wear padding clothing to protect themselves, depending upon their familiarity with traveling pets and the rules for that airport or security service.

    However they handle the security inspection of your pet, this is a risky time as the animal is out of the carrier and may see an escape and take it. Be prepared for any sudden movement or unexpected response from the animal in the busy security check point. I will often wrap the leash securely around my wrist and hook a finger into the harness at all times while handling the cat, just to make sure the cat and I stay attached.

    You may also be questioned about the animal and its health, as well as how long you have owned the animal and if the animal has ever been out of your sight. This is often a difficult question to answer, since we rarely keep tabs on our animals that closely. Be honest in your answer. They aren’t looking for an answer as much as they are studying the sound of your voice and emotional state as they interrogate you.

    When you return the pet to its carrier after the security check, make sure that all latches and zippers are tightly closed and secure and that all your carry-ons are with you. Double check that your pet is in the container before you move away from security.

  8. Check-in Again at the Gate and Confronting the Carry-On Battle: If the same people who checked you in originally are working the departure gate, you don’t have to check in again, but if they are different, make sure to check in and advise them that you are traveling with a pet.

    This bypasses the general confrontation about your carry-on luggage as you attempt to board the plane too much carry-on luggage, with a hundred tired travelers waiting in line behind. It also will typically gain you permission to board during the first boarding call in order to get you and your pet situated on the plane before the crowd comes in.

    Luggage airline tagsFood, water, favorite things, diapers, plastic bags, potty utensils, and the pet is a lot to carry onto a plane. Some airlines understand that you require a small bag for the pet’s things in addition to the pet and your own personal carry-ons, others don’t. On one flight, we made it through two legs of a four leg overseas flight only to be confronted with an flight check-in crew who would not allow the extra carry-on for the cat. I was told that the cat’s carrier represented my main carry-on. I had to check my laptop case, much to my distress, and then was told on the last leg of the flight that this wasn’t true. I wish someone would get their rules straight.

    Avoid this by traveling as light as possible in advance. Many pet carrier bags, like the Sherpa, feature pockets or attachable small bags for carrying the basic requirements for the pet in a consolidated manner. Even if they don’t, make sure you restrict your carry-ons to one small purse and a bag. Put as much as you can in your regular luggage and carry as little as possible onto the plane.

  9. Do Not Allow Your Pet Out of the Carrier Inside of the Airport or Airplane: As a general rule, unless instructed by an airline or security official, do not remove the animal from its carrier while in the airport or airplane. While the animal must go to the bathroom, do so in as much privacy and enclosed environment as possible. Do not allow the animal to out, even on a leash, while waiting for the plane as this can upset fellow passengers, and runs a risk of escape. This applies to all pets, including poodles and other tiny, toy, and friendly dogs.

    I don’t care how used they are to traveling, or how friendly and relaxed they are, it only takes one or two incidences of trauma before all pet-loving travelers are penalized. Due to a few recent isolated incidents of pets escaping on airplanes, in airports, and doing damage during flights recently, the cost of traveling with your pet has tripled on some airlines, and the restrictions, paperwork and hassles have increased.

    Stay low-key and invisible as much as possible when traveling with your pet. It helps fellow traveling pet owners and fellow passengers a lot.

  10. On The Flight Pet Handling: The ticket office usually gives your seat number to the air crew, identifying you as carrying a pet. It helps to identify yourself and your pet to the flight crew as you board, but also be prepared to be questioned. Avoid changing seats and let them know if you do.

    Before sitting down, check to make sure that there is adequate space under the seat in front of you for your pet’s bag. You are not permitted to sit in an emergency row, nor in the front seats of a plane’s section as there is no seat in front of you for stowing the pet carrier. If there is inadequate space, check with the flight crew before switching or changing seats.

    During the flight, keep the animal in its carrier. Pay attention to it by quietly talking to it or petting it, while ensuring it stays inside of the carrier. Avoid strangers handling or communicating with the pet as this brings attention to the animal in the cabin and may upset the pet, no matter how gregarious it is.

    If your carrier bag permits it, feed and water the animal with the bag remaining under the seat in front of you. If it doesn’t, or you need to help the animal go to the bathroom, then quietly pull out the bag with the animal inside and go to the restroom. Do not leave the bag behind and only carry the pet. Make sure the bathroom door is closed and secured before allowing the pet out of the bag.

    Do not expect to “walk” your pet or give them exercise during the flight. Keep the pet in the bag and keep the pet quiet as much as possible.

  11. Arrival with Your Pet: Depending upon your arriving airport, security and customs procedures, keep the pet inside the carrier until you are out of the airport and maintain a low profile.

    If the country requires a customs inspection, follow those instructions and be prepared to pay a customs or import fee, especially in less “modern” countries. The fee may be a surprise, so be ready for it, and it may range from USD $25-$200, often based upon arbitrary rules, regulations, and mood.

    Typically, unless they have a lot of signs and you have been warned about their customs’ regulations, just pass through baggage claim and customs normally, not calling attention to yourself, and there will be no problem as they often have bigger things to worry about than your cat or dog.

    With new security enforcement in place, many airports have dog patrols going around near baggage claim sniffing luggage. If your pet will be distressed by the approaching dog, which are normally trained to ignore other animals, do not make a scene or any sudden movements. Simply hold the animal on the side of body away from the security dog and calmly walk away to another point in the room.

    If the dog and its guard does approach and you are unable to move away, then gently raise your hand in the universal “stop” position with your hand open, palm facing them, and tell them you have a pet with you. If they do not speak English, use simple words like “cat”, “dog”, or even meow or bark softly while pointing to your pet carrier. Most security guards will smile and nod and move away.

    If they continue to approach, be prepared to step between the carrier and the dog to help ease your pet’s fears. Ask for someone who speaks English and the native language to help interpret for you, and advise them of the distress your pet may be under by the approaching dog. And be prepared to give your pet plenty of loving and reassurance when you get to your destination.

  12. Transportation from the Airport: If possible, make all transportation arrangements upon arrival in advance of your trip. Some taxis and airport shuttles or cars do not permit animals. Some countries are also not very friendly to pets in general, so check thoroughly and make special arrangements if possible.

    Upon arrival in your hotel or lodging, put the pet in a quiet place with no escape routes. Pet them and talk to them to make them feel better about what they have gone through and feed and water them, and make sure they have access to release their pent-up bathroom needs. Sometimes they will burst from the bag and race around as if in a panic. Much of this is just a way of releasing their pent up energy.

    Do not expect them to be “normal” for two to five days after arrival. Some pets take to this very well, while others take some time to recover. Just keep the food, water, and loving coming and they will be fine.

  13. Returning Home With Your Pet: Depending upon the length of your stay, as well as the rules and regulations, you will have to start this whole process over with a vet in this country. Be prepared with a list of approved vets near where you will be staying and make the appointment and arrangements before you begin your trip so they are aware of your need and prepared, too. The same applies with the airlines.
  14. Pet Traveling Tips

    We’ve been traveling almost full-time with our pets for over 15 years, so we have just a few tips for traveling with pets, especially by air.

    Pet Carriers

    We are huge fans of the Sherpa Bags for carrying pets and have been using ours for over 8 years. They were one of the first to make quality flexible bags for on board travel on airlines for pets. Now they have a wide range of different bags, but when we started, it was small, medium, and large.

    Size is critical. It must accommodate your pet and it must fit under the seat in front of you, and the two issues may not always match. Make sure the carrier allows the animal to stand and turn around, but not get lost in the case. A pet carrier that is too small will push the animal against the air circulation holes and possibly overheat the animal, as well as cause them cramps from lack of movement. One that is too large may cause the animals to slide around inside while you carry her, possibly causing injury.

    The case needs to be secure, with the animal unable to get out, but you need to be able to get in to check on the animal, reassure, or feed it. Do not put locks on the case for any reasons.

    Be sure and help the animal become accustomed to the carrier well in advance of the trip. Many people only pull out their pet carrier when it’s time for a trip to the vet. The same applies for any car ride. Therefore, pet carrier=torture.

    We use our pet carriers as a safe and secure sleeping place for our cats. We feed them there, pet them, even play games in and around the carrier, making it just another piece of furniture in the home. The more accustomed the pet is to the container, the less stress they have about being near or inside of it.

    Provide Some Food and Water

    The old motto of what you put in must come out gets complicated when traveling with pets. Some animals can go one or more days without food, but few can survive long without water. I’ll talk about handling the “what comes out” tip in a moment, but it is critical to provide water to your pet while traveling.

    Stowed under an airplane seat especially during long hot flights, a pet can become overheated and dehydrated. You can train your pet to drink from a water bottle or rabbit water bottle (upside down bottle with a drinking attachment), but take care leaving it open in the bag. The changes in cabin air pressure can cause the bottle to leak. We carry ours and then open and put it in the bag after the plane has reached cruising level. Or bring a small bowl and add water during the flight, taking care not to have the bowl too full so it sloshes and spills during the flight.

    If possible, depending upon the animal and the length of the flight, consider feeding the animal an hour or more before the flight, then only once during an average long flight, and then have food ready for arrival. Many animals aren’t interested in food with all the distractions and stress of travel, so don’t panic if they won’t eat.

    Harness and Leash Them

    Toshi wearing his harness - make them wear it all the time to allow them to become accustomed to the harnessSome airlines require the pet to remain leashed even inside the container. While this is rarely enforced, make sure the leash is ready and quickly attached if necessary. I also highly recommend putting a harness on your pet rather than a collar. Harnesses surround the neck and body, making them more secure and pets less likely to wriggle out of them. I always tighten them up a little more than usual for travel, to make sure that even the most terrified animal will not easily wriggle out if the opportunity presents itself.

    Don’t Tranquilize Your Pet

    If anyone needs a tranquilizer on a long trip it’s the owner not the pet. Do not tranquilize your pets for travel. If you are taking a pet which is unaccustomed for travel without preparation or training, and you know the animal goes berserk near a pet container or in the car, talk with your vet about the options.

    Drugs may cause more damage then good when mixed with enforced relaxation and panic. The animal may struggle with its natural anxiety and distress that may come from traumatic traveling causing the animal to fight the drug’s effect, which can seriously hurt the animal or cause it to hurt itself. A tranquilizer may slow or hamper your pet’s breathing or they find it difficult to adapt to the changes in air pressure or temperature, or even choke on food or water. It’s just too risky.

    Plan your travels with your pets and introduce them to traveling in a car before you take them on an airplane. Make it part of your schedule weeks if not months before you travel. It will make the experience a better one for everyone.

    Missing Animal – Just in Case

    Lost cat posters we posted when Toshi went missing in FloridaIt happens. Let’s not gloss over it. Animals get out of their cages and separated from their owners all the time. No matter how docile, no matter how secure you think the cage or carrier is, our pets are smart. Dahni figured out how to open his carrier and he was blind. Kohav also figured out how to open the pet backpack carrier zippers. Toshi could get out of anything, including a steal box with no air holes, I swear! So expect your pet to be just as smart as my street mutt cats.

    Carry with you one or two photographs of your pet in your travel documents. On the back of the photographs write the name, description, and contact information for the pet so you can hand it right to security or airline officials if necessary. Include copies of the microchip number and type along with any information that will help them find your pet.

    Train Your Pet to Respond to Its Name – Now

    With Toshi, as with all our animals, we trained them to come when we call their name. When he was separated from us for over a week in the wilds of Florida, we’d told many local residents about our missing cat and how he thought he was more dog than cat, coming when we called his name. Two days later, a fellow camper saw a black and white cat and remembered. He couldn’t remember his name, but struggled with “Tofu-Tofiti” and was startled when the cat suddenly ran to him and jumped right up in his arms for a desperate snuggle. Figuring this was our cat, he brought him to us and when they were four feet from us, I called his name and Toshi sprang from his arms to ours and wouldn’t let go of us for months.

    The most important lesson you can teach your traveling pet is to come when they are called, no matter what distractions are around.

    To train your cat to respond to its name, do not leave food out all day long. Have feeding times. Make a noise or indication that food is arriving and call the cat’s name at the same time. Do this for each feeding time every day consistently. Within a day or so, call the cat’s name before you rattle the food or start the can opener. Within a week or less, the cat will soon respond to its name not just the sound of food.

    When you play with the cat, call it by name. Begin to call the cat to you outside of the kitchen or feeding area, showing love and affection and a reward for their prompt arrival. When you open the door coming home, call the cat’s name to make sure it comes to you, whether it is outside or in. This reinforces the “greeting” call and encourages the cat to respond to your appearance as well. Within a very short time, even if your cat is an adult, he or she will respond to their name.

    Air Flight Layovers

    On many long overseas flights, we either chosen or been forced to stay in a layout country along our flight path. If the layover involves leaving the airport, then your pet may be affected by that country’s domestic animal import laws. For most countries, as long as you continue traveling within a 7-15 day period, they require no additional visits to vets or paperwork. Other countries may require you to jump through hoops again. Check before you go.

    The Poop Problem

    No matter how well you have trained your pet to go potty, no matter how fastidious they are about their potty habits, travel can screw up the digestive system of even the most sturdy human travelers.

    Make sure your carrier has absorbent cloths, diapers, or special pet waste absorbing materials in the bottom, and bring one or two extras if the flight is long. Also carry several plastic bags to dispose of the waste during the trip.

    If you decide to have your pet potty outside of their bag, make sure the animal is securely leashed and access to escape routes are completely restricted. Always use the same potty methods, whether a container or voice commands, and always use a gentle, loving voice around your pet, no matter how frustrated you get during the trip.

    Few airports offer access to pet potty areas like a grassy lawn, and few allow you to leave once you have passed through the security check points. So once you are inside of the airport, you need to be prepared to have other options for the pet potty process.

    If your pet is fairly used to travel, then consider bringing a small box, container, or large plastic bag and add some sand or gravel to it for a something to dig in (works for cats or dogs). During layovers, find a family/handicapped private restroom and make sure the door and all exits are tightly closed, preventing escape, and set it up for them to use. I’ve found that these work better than the public restroom as it removes distractions. Let the animal sniff around and investigate before directing their attention to the potty. I’ve trained my cats to “potty on command” which works some of the time, when they are motivated.

    Dahni was trained to use the toilet, making it easier for travel, photograph copyright Linda Kay VanFossenIf you are limited to a public restroom in an airport, choose a stall along the wall so only the front and side areas are open, or one in a corner with only the front open. With your body, carry-ons, and pet case, block the exits as much as possible. I usually sit on the floor, using my back and legs to block the open areas. Keep the pet on the leash at all times, close to you and the potty, and let them investigate within the stall and encourage them to use the potty. It’s not fun. It’s cramped, but you do what you can.

    In the aircraft, things get a little more complicated. With small animals familiar with travel, you can take them to the restroom on the plane. For animals not accustomed to travel, ts may terrify them even more. The toilet flushes using a vacuum system. While it should only activate when flushed, most planes keep a bit of a constant pull on the valve which makes a roaring rushing sound. Combined with all the other aircraft noises, this whistling roaring sound can make a sound sensitive cat very nervous. It can also cause dogs to bark, something you want to avoid on a plane.

    Allow the animal to roam and investigate the small area, and then encourage them to go potty. I will set the potty container on the toilet or the floor, or lay down a diaper-changing tray that many airplane bathrooms now feature, creating a solid base for them to use.

    On exceptionally long flights, I’ve befriended the flight attendants and occasionally they have offered me the use one of the back-of-the-plane kitchen areas or crew sleeping quarters to allow the cat out of the bag to explore or go to the bathroom in the traveling potty I carry. We close the curtain and I sit on the floor in the doorway, blocking escape. It’s often much quieter there than in the bathroom. We do this during the sleeping, movie or very quite and slow time on the plane. This, however, is a rare event with the increase in security concerns. So don’t expect it.

    Bring a Favorite or Familiar Toy

    Like children, while pets are often comforted by you, they often also have a favorite toy, plaything, blanket, or pillow. Make sure you bring that and put it in their container or at least let them see and smell it during the trip. This makes at least one thing familiar to them, and is often reassuring.

    The same applies with bringing a favorite food treat or food reward. Anything you can do to bring the familiar back to an unfamiliar situation will help calm the animal during the trip.

    Reassurance and Patience

    Always reassure the animal that they’ve done good, no matter what they do, and have a lot of patience. Some animals just won’t “go” while traveling, so make sure you keep giving them water and make the whole trip as stress-less as possible for them to help them through.

    Dead Body on the Plane – No Pet in the Cargo Hold

    Some airlines have a policy of not permitting animals to travel in the cargo hold if the flight is also transporting a dead body. Even if you have booked your flight and paid, if a deceased person is being transported on that flight, you may get bumped off.

    Traveling With Pets Overseas – Country Specific Information

    Related Resources and Articles

A Interesting Look at Today’s Frequent Flier Air Mileage Programs

Yahoo News offers “Frequent flier programs change course”, a interesting current look at what is going on with the Frequent flier programs.

The first frequent flier program began in 1981 with American Airlines’ AAdvantage as a way to keep profitable business travelers flying the same airline. Other major airlines like Delta quickly followed.

Twenty-five years later, travelers and industry experts say the programs have flown far off course from their original purpose. Yet it’s doubtful the airlines will ever change from their present direction because the programs have turned into huge revenue producers on their own, a $4 billion industry that’s even been listed by airlines as assets in bankruptcy and merger and acquisitions negotiations. Airlines have created a big business out of selling frequent flier miles to outside companies that in turn use miles to woo their own customers…

Frequent flier programs have grown — to the tune of nearly 430 million members worldwide, said Randy Petersen, editor of Inside Flyer magazine. More than 14.2 trillion frequent flier miles are still in circulation worldwide, for an average of 33,035 per program member — typically enough for one free domestic round-trip ticket in the United States.

…When American started its program, it looked to the S&H Green Stamps loyalty program as a blueprint. That program allowed grocery shoppers to collect green stamps for purchases that later could be traded in for prizes ranging from toasters to mopeds…

…United, American and Delta each rake in an estimated $1 billion a year from the partnerships between airlines and credit cards, restaurants and other companies that pay cash to purchase frequent flier miles. The companies then give them to their customers, Robertson said.

The article goes on to claim that “Ninety percent of the time somebody asks for a flight, they’re able to get the flight they want. Eighty percent at the time they wanted”. I have American Airlines, Continental, and several other frequent flyer programs, and several of our credit cards also work towards airline mileages, and only once in over ten years have we been able to get a free flight even though we’ve earned and qualified for many.

First, they put limits on how long you could accrue air mileage. If they weren’t used up within a specific time, you lost them. Then they changed that, and soon after doubled the number of miles required for a flight. That cut the value of our accumulated mileage in half. Then they got particular about overseas mileage, a pain when we lived overseas. And then they got all weird about code-sharing and using mileage across their buddy airlines. I’ve tried four times in the past six months to use our airline mileages for different trips and each time it ended up either “sold out” (no seats available even though our schedule was incredibly flexible) or costing us more than the mileage was worth between losing out on the value of the mileage and having to pay taxes, airport fees, and other costs on top of just getting the free tickets.

I don’t know if you have found frequent flyer programs working for you or not, and I’d love to hear your stories, but for us, it’s been a bust. Maybe we don’t know the tricks, or maybe we have higher expectations, but for us, frequent flyer programs have not been successful. What about you?

And if airlines are making so much money on airline frequent flyer programs, then why are they near bankruptcy? There’s some fishy business going on with the airline business and I’d sure love some answers to the many questions I have about it, wouldn’t you?