Interview with a HURRICANE

Going wide in the storm.

Mark Wallheiser is interviewed on 97.9ESPN Tallahassee by Brien Sorne.
Dated 05052012 http://tallahasseetalks.com/listen 

By Mark Wallheiser 

mark@markwallheiser.com 

To me there only one way to cover most anything and especially the only way to cover a hurricane is ditch the 70-200 and pick up the 16-35. Going wide in the storm forces one to interact with the survivors to get to know them, empathize with their plight and bring a piece of their personality to the film plane. 

Don’t get me wrong, I have a 70-200 slung over one shoulder and in many instances it makes the best frame in a series but after editing for my “Interview with a Hurricane” exhibition opening at 621 Gallery in Tallahassee May 6th through the 26th almost always the 70-200 was quickly followed up with the 16-35. In the film, pre-zoom days, it was the 24mm. 

It’s interesting going back and editing negs 25-30 years later for the exhibit and seeing how I shot, the progression and in most cases read my notes and IDs that I almost always stuffed in my negative envelopes. The first few hurricane notes were hard to read because the ink had run until I discovered that pencils don’t bleed in the rain. 

Interview with a Hurricane is a 50 print exhibition curated by Kenny Irby of the Poynter Institute, from the 16 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms I’ve covered since landing in Tallahassee in 1981. 

Sunday May 6^th from 3 until 5 pm, stop by the Nan Boynton Gallery inside 621 Gallery for the official opening.  

The show runs the month of May leading up to the 2012 hurricane season and is showcasing my photo reportage over the past 30 years. Cold beer and wine is part of the lure, of course.

Score with Think Tank Photo Rolling Camera Bags

A cluster of Think Tank Photo camera bag rollers spotted at a Florida Panthers vs the New Jersey Devils hockey playoff match. At left is AP's J Pat Carter, at front, and Panthers team photographer Eliot Schechter.

Our friends at Think Tank Photo just announced a special deal on their popular rolling camera bags.  Order their Airport Security V2.0, Airport International V2.0, Airport Airstream, or Airport TakeOff rolling camera bags before May 31, 2012 and you will receive one of their Artificial Intelligence V2.0 laptop sleeves for free!  This is a $59 value.
 
Their Airport rolling camera bags are considered the best designed, most durable in the industry.  Backed by Think Tank’s "No Rhetoric Warranty" and great customer service, their rollers have traveled millions of miles and been used on every continent.
 
All of Think Tank’s rollers are designed with the intention of helping you keep your bodies, lenses, and accessories near you at all times, even while flying.  Think Tank actually designs their rollers to comply with airline carry-on size requirements.

All of the rollers share three levels of security (TSA approved combination locks, front laptop cable and lock, and back cable and lock for securing entire bag to fixed object).  They employ the highest grade materials, including all fabric exterior treated with DWR (underside fabric underside is coated with PU for superior water resistance), 1680D ballistic nylon, abrasion resistant YKK® RC Fuse zippers, custom designed extra tall skid plates, replaceable in-line skate wheels, antique nickel plated metal hardware, nylon webbing,  and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.
 
If you are looking to buy a roller before you head out this summer, this is a great time to do so!

Heat Knicks Blow Out Photo Gallery

Click here to see Miami Heat vs New York Knicks  photo gallery by Al Diaz and David Santiago. The Heat blew out the Knicks 100-67 in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs.  Heat vs Knicks

Think Tank Photo Airport 4-Sight™ Photo Industry's First Four-Wheel Roller

Today Think Tank Photo is pre-announcing the release of the photo industry's
first four-wheel roller, the Airport 4-Sight™.

The Airport 4-Sight meets international airline carry-on standards. The roller's weight has been reduced dramatically through innovative design and by a strict focus on the features you've asked for.

The new four-wheel roller is scheduled for release in May. 

To be among the first to be alerted when it is available, click on the "Notify me when this product is in stock" link next to the price on the website.

The Airport 4-Sight meets international airline carry-on standards. The roller's weight has been reduced dramatically through innovative design and by a strict focus on the features that you and your fellow photographers find most beneficial. With professional photography gear not getting any lighter, Think Tank set out to design a more ergonomic roller to reduce fatigue and strain on traveling photographers. Walking a four-wheeler alongside one's self is easier than pulling it behind or carrying it over a shoulder. Putting the bags weight on four-wheels eliminates arm strain and makes rolling effortless. Four-wheelers are superior on many smooth surfaces. On thick carpet, the Airport 4-Sight leans over to perform as a traditional two-wheel roller. It has the added benefit of rolling sideways on two wheels to easily navigate tight spaces, such as airline aisles. 

• Features Include:
• High capacity. Holds Pro DSLRs with four to five lenses.
• Integrated removable Think Tank Cable Management organizer. 
• Side hinged lid opens bag completely for quick and unencumbered access to gear. 
• Two-position locking handle for comfort and ergonomics. 
• Zippered top pocket for boarding pass. 
• Lockable zipper sliders on main compartment. 
• Reinforced bottom panel for increased durability. 
• User replaceable handle and wheels. 
• Seam sealed rain cover included. 
• YKK RC-fused™ zippers. 

Specifications Internal Dimensions: 12.3" W x 16" H x 5-6.7" D (31.2 x 40.6 x 12.7-17 cm) External Dimensions: 14" W x 19.5" H x 8" D (35.6 x 49.5 x 20.3 cm) Weight: 7-8.9 lbs (3.2-4 kg)

Think Tank Photo is a group of designers and professional photographers focused on studying how photographers work and developing inventive new carrying solutions to meet their needs.

"You gotta be photographed by a Think Tanker!"

"If you are gonna be at the fights.... and want to take photographs use Think Tank Photo bags."

"You gotta be photographed by a Think Tanker!" So says the ultimate fight promoter Don King!

At ring side, you'll have a fighting chance to be ready "Before The Moment" with Think Tank Photo's latest addition to its best-selling Retrospective shoulder bag line. The Retrospective® 7 is scheduled for release in May. The bag is designed for standard DSLR systems.  Its classic design along with modern improvements create the perfect shooter’s bag.  This lightweight shoulder bag comes in fabrics that offer a sense of “retro” style that appeals to many.  You can even transmit, twit, pin it and post from ringside! A rear pocket has been designed to hold an iPad or an 11” MacBook Air.

Retrospective® 7 features include:
·         iPad/MacBook pocket
·         cushioned and padded nonslip shoulder strap for all day comfort.
·         Sound Silencers™ to turn off the front flap hook and loop for silent operation.
·         Organizational and zippered pockets for accessories.
·         Removable divider set for custom layouts.
·         Convenient carrying handle for grab and go.
·         Seam sealed rain cover.
·         Expandable front pocket for DSLR body or accessories.
·         Business card slot under the front flap for identification.
·         High quality YKK zippers.

In addition, in May ThinkTank will release its Retrospective® 5, Retrospective® 7, Retrospective® 10, Retrospective® 20, and Retrospective® 30 in a new color, Blue-Slate.

Think Tank Photo to Release Four New Products

Our friends at Think Tank Photo announced the impending release of four new pocket storage devices for your DSLR Batteries, Strobist Gels, and SD Cards.

DSLR Battery Holders -- The number one sin in photography is running out of power. To help prevent that from happening, in May, Think Tank Photo will release the DSLR Battery Holder 2 and the DSLR Battery Holder 4. These slim, collapsible, compact designs secure two or four standard size camera batteries. Features include: Compact carrier for two or four standard DSLR batteries; compresses flat when not in use, easily stored hook and loop closure with top fold design. 

Strobe Gel Wallet -- For all the Strobists out there, Think Tank Photo announces that in May it will release the Strobe Gel Wallet. This wallet stores photography gels in a neat and organized manner and keeps them protected. The wallet minimizes clutter by folding up and stashing away in your bags, cases, or backpacks. The five pockets have a large capacity. This enhances the ability to store and locate gels easily instead of having them mound into one big stack. Features include: Clear pockets for gels make identification easy; folds flat when not in use; business card slot; can be tethered to any Think Tank product, clothing, or belt; hook and loop closure with fold-up design; includes tether with clips for security. 

SD Pixel Pocket Rocket -- In May, with the release of Think Tank Photo’s SD Pixel Pocket Rocket, you will be able to keep your most important photography storage device, your SD cards, secure and organized. The SD Pixel Pocket Rocket keeps those very small but valuable SD cards safely stored in one place. No more lost SD cards, and no more found SD cards in the bottom of the washing machine. Additionally, it can be tethered to bags, clothing, briefcases, and backpacks for additional security. Features include: Compact carrier for nine SD cards; clear pockets make identification easy, folds flat when not in use; business card slot; hook and loop closure with fold-up design; tether with clips for secure attachment.