Going to Iran next week! Check me please.

[lsucadien]

Hey guys, I'm just looking for some feedback. Here are the facts...

Been shooting film for 1 month, will get my first color rolls developed today/back tomorrow. 1 roll of Provia 400x, 1 roll of Velvia 50.

I'm leaving for a 11 night trip to Iran next week.

I'll be taking my Minolta CLE, 15mm VC, 28mm CV, and 40mm CV. Will also be bringing the Oly XZ-1 and taking raw files.

I believe I want to shoot all slide film while I'm there. In my cart on B&H currently is
10 rolls of Velvia 100F
5 rolls of Provia 400x
5 rolls of Velvia 50

Many shots will be done outside capturing the architectural beauty of the mosques etc, however many will be done inside as well. (Will have carbon fiber tripod in tow at all times that I'm allowed to).

To people who have traveled shooting film in these types of places, how does this plan sound? I've never traveled and shot film before. I'm just trying to cover all my bases. Thanks for any feedback

[mbisc]

First of all, NEVER go on a big & important trip with a new camera setup

Having said that, and knowing that you'll do it anyway , I would suggest that you only take one type of film, and plenty of it. Since you seem to have a preference for ASA100 film (which is a good choice for general photography), I would take at least 15 rolls of it (one roll of 36 exp. film per day of sightseeing, plus a couple of rolls extra.

With a rangefinder (i.e. no mirror slap) and non-zoom lenses, you should be okay with 100-speed film in most low-light situations.

Enjoy -- and show us some results afterwards

[raid]

Wtch your back, and don't flash around your cameras. I would go with one tiny camera and one lens.

[taskoni]

Don't forget your spot meter
Regards,
b.

[ZeissFan]

Keep your passport in a safe place. I wear one of those money belts that go under your shirt. And I always kept extra money in it.

Make a photocopy of your passport and keep it separate from your passport. And certainly, watch your back. Keep an eye out for the Basij. Don't be naive.

I also agree with the comment about keeping the gear to a minimum.

[kully]

I found Iran to be the friendliest, safest place I've ever been to, I envy you.

You didn't say where you are going, things change masssively between some backstreet in Tehran and Isfahan, but your gear seems good too.

Perhaps something long to pick out the architectural details?


EDIT: Just realised you have just starting shooting film, and you're going to be shooting slide film at that... Danger! Wil Robinson. If you're not confident, then I would take something you will be 'ok' with.

[jarski]

Originally Posted by ZeissFan

And certainly, watch your back. Keep an eye out for the Basij. Don't be naive. ...

equally, dont spoil your trip being overly paranoid and cautious either.

have fun and share some pics after

edit:typo

[lsucadien]

Originally Posted by raid

Wtch your back, and don't flash around your cameras. I would go with one tiny camera and one lens.

First, thank you for the advice. Just curious if this is from experience there or in the region or just general advice for travel photography?

I have travelled and photographed in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt prior to this trip. Learned my first lesson in what NOT to photo on my first day in Beirut. 4 hrs, militia members, and a police chief latter...all was well.

[lsucadien]

Originally Posted by kully

I found Iran to be the friendliest, safest place I've ever been to, I envy you.

You didn't say where you are going, things change masssively between some backstreet in Tehran and Isfahan, but your gear seems good too.

Perhaps something long to pick out the architectural details?


EDIT: Just realised you have just starting shooting film, and you're going to be shooting slide film at that... Danger! Wil Robinson. If you're not confident, then I would take something you will be 'ok' with.

I'm glad to hear of your positive experience in Iran before.
We will be doing the general cultural tour that most first time visitors do, and I'm american so I'll be with a guide everyday. Tehran, Isfahan, Sharz, Yazd, Persepolis, etc.

I had wondered if I'd need something long, but I have the Oly and it zooms to 110mm I believe.

And yes, I realize having more time to practice with the film would be ideal, it just didn't' work that way. The CLE is known for having a very good aperture priority mode with accurate off the film plane metering. I also figured I could use my digital cam's Histogram and get my metering off of it for the rangefinder.

I will have the oly and it shoots raw and has a nice fast lens so, besides the inconvenience of doubling up most shots, at the worst I should catch what I miss with the film using the digital? That's my logic anyways, seems like it should work out.

[lsucadien]

Should I be considering color negative film instead, given my very short time to work with slide film before the trip?

[Michiel Fokkema]

I've been in Iran twice and had time to shoot some pictures. I found it however very handy to have a guide who could tell me when it was okay to photograph or not and to negotiate with the authorities when necessary.
I never felt unsafe.
I did shoot slide film but I was there in the winter. In summer I'd choose negative film.
When going from inside to outside and vice versa I'd opt for two bodies to be able to switch between 50/100 and 400 easily. I have a CL for sale:-)

Have fun,

Michiel Fokkema

[lsucadien]

Originally Posted by Michiel Fokkema

I've been in Iran twice and had time to shoot some pictures. I found it however very handy to have a guide who could tell me when it was okay to photograph or not and to negotiate with the authorities when necessary.
I never felt unsafe.
I did shoot slide film but I was there in the winter. In summer I'd choose negative film.
When going from inside to outside and vice versa I'd opt for two bodies to be able to switch between 50/100 and 400 easily. I have a CL for sale:-)

Have fun,

Michiel Fokkema

Thank you very much for the advice, I will also have a guide and am depending on him for the exact same reasons!

Can you tell me why you'd recommend film over slide in my case? More forgiving?

Are there good color negative replacements for the slide films I was planning on bringing?

Thanks for helping out the film newbie.

[bensyverson]

Seriously, why torture yourself with slide film? Ektar would be a good bet, as would Portra 160NC...

[Michiel Fokkema]

Negative film to fight the high contrast in the summer. Negative film has way more latitude then slide film or digital.
Kodak ektar 100 will give you nice results close to slide film. The new Kodak portra 400 is just gorgeous. BUt I'd take two bodies to mix films.
http://michielfokkema.wordpress.com/?s=tehran


Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

[lsucadien]

Fantastic! Thanks for the advice, I'll go find a roll of each and shoot them this evening see how it turns out.

The last thing I want to do is bring the wrong film and ruin this once in a life time photo opportunity because I didn't' have time to master my camera and film.

[raid]

Originally Posted by lsucadien

First, thank you for the advice. Just curious if this is from experience there or in the region or just general advice for travel photography?

I have travelled and photographed in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt prior to this trip. Learned my first lesson in what NOT to photo on my first day in Beirut. 4 hrs, militia members, and a police chief latter...all was well.

Times have changed the past few months. There can be street protests suddenly, and you could "vanish". I would go to the website of the US State Dept., if you are a US citizen, and register your trip. I highly recommend this process, just in case you get into trouble. A lot depends on the type of passport that you carry. If it is a US passport, then this would be different from a European passport, say.

[Chinasaur]

Extra batteries and more film.

[bwcolor]

Originally Posted by raid

Times have changed the past few months. There can be street protests suddenly, and you could "vanish". I would go to the website of the US State Dept., if you are a US citizen, and register your trip. I highly recommend this process, just in case you get into trouble. A lot depends on the type of passport that you carry. If it is a US passport, then this would be different from a European passport, say.

or a U.S. passport with stamps from Israel. Is your passport stamped? I would not go to Iran at this time. The regime is nervous... but that is me.

[d_ross]

I visited Iran some time ago, working on a travel story, I shot everything on med format film, and considering the light and your experience with film I would suggest colour negative film, if I was going now I'd take Ektar100. I would keep gear to a minimum, there's nothing worse than the confusion created by having too much gear to choose from when your surrounded by information overload.
Iran is an extremely beautiful and interesting place, with some of the nicest people I have ever met. Not once did I feel unsafe with my large camera and tripod etc, in fact if anything it made people come and talk to me! the first question was usually why do Americans want to change us? I'm not American, but the resulting conversations were always interesting. Iranians are very educated intelligent people with a great cultural history. Take every opportunity you get to talk to them, the man in the street is more than often nothing like the regime would make you think. Like anywhere in the world one needs to be careful and observant of what is around them, even here in New Zealand!

[lsucadien]

Originally Posted by bwcolor

or a U.S. passport with stamps from Israel. Is your passport stamped? I would not go to Iran at this time. The regime is nervous... but that is me.

I got a fresh passport, the only thing in it is my Iranian visa right now. Should quite an interesting time to go visit, I'd imagine our guide will steer us very clear of any and all protests.

[lsucadien]

Originally Posted by Michiel Fokkema

Negative film to fight the high contrast in the summer. Negative film has way more latitude then slide film or digital.
Kodak ektar 100 will give you nice results close to slide film. The new Kodak portra 400 is just gorgeous. BUt I'd take two bodies to mix films.
http://michielfokkema.wordpress.com/?s=tehran


Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

Michiel, I enjoyed this series very much, thank you for posting. I shot half a roll of Ektar 100 tonight (ran out of light), I'll finish it tomorrow evening and see how she looks. Thanks again for the help everyone!

[lsucadien]

Originally Posted by d_ross

I visited Iran some time ago, working on a travel story, I shot everything on med format film, and considering the light and your experience with film I would suggest colour negative film, if I was going now I'd take Ektar100. I would keep gear to a minimum, there's nothing worse than the confusion created by having too much gear to choose from when your surrounded by information overload.
Iran is an extremely beautiful and interesting place, with some of the nicest people I have ever met. Not once did I feel unsafe with my large camera and tripod etc, in fact if anything it made people come and talk to me! the first question was usually why do Americans want to change us? I'm not American, but the resulting conversations were always interesting. Iranians are very educated intelligent people with a great cultural history. Take every opportunity you get to talk to them, the man in the street is more than often nothing like the regime would make you think. Like anywhere in the world one needs to be careful and observant of what is around them, even here in New Zealand!

Thank you for the suggestion, I'm looking hard at the Ektar 100, shooting a test roll now.

I can't wait to experience the Iranian curiosity and hospitality. If they are half as friendly as the Syrians I'll be thrilled.

As for that question, I'm actually really glad you posted that, if asked I'd like to have thought my response through.

[ZeissFan]

I really like Portra film. The reformulated film has excellent color and much more latitude than slide film.

When I traveled, I was always very cautious, especially when in countries ruled by totalitarian regimes. In my case, it was China. And when I was in Tiananmen Square, for example, I didn't push my luck. I generally always felt safe in China, except for the time when I was taking photos near an embassy (and didn't realize it), and the guard almost began to chase me.

But I did the same things that I suggested: photocopy of my passport, extra RMB and kept my passport in a body wallet under my clothing. I think these are common sense things.

A colleague had her passport stolen (can't recall which Asian country), and it was a major ordeal getting it replaced.

I also had a colleague's wife get ripped off in Hong Kong -- group of youths surrounded her. One sliced her backpack and removed her wallet. Within 30 minutes, they had maxed out her cards.

I just think you should always be cautious. Not paranoid. Just be aware of your surroundings, especially if you're an American in a country that is hostile toward the U.S.

Just ask those dumb American hikers -- of whom two are still sitting in an Iranian prison. And it doesn't matter if they're political pawns. The bottom line is that they're still in prison.

Of course, this might not apply to you with regards to Iran.

[lsucadien]

Originally Posted by ZeissFan

I really like Portra film. The reformulated film has excellent color and much more latitude than slide film.

When I traveled, I was always very cautious, especially when in countries ruled by totalitarian regimes. In my case, it was China. And when I was in Tiananmen Square, for example, I didn't push my luck. I generally always felt safe in China, except for the time when I was taking photos near an embassy (and didn't realize it), and the guard almost began to chase me.

But I did the same things that I suggested: photocopy of my passport, extra RMB and kept my passport in a body wallet under my clothing. I think these are common sense things.

A colleague had her passport stolen (can't recall which Asian country), and it was a major ordeal getting it replaced.

I also had a colleague's wife get ripped off in Hong Kong -- group of youths surrounded her. One sliced her backpack and removed her wallet. Within 30 minutes, they had maxed out her cards.

I just think you should always be cautious. Not paranoid. Just be aware of your surroundings, especially if you're an American in a country that is hostile toward the U.S.

Just ask those dumb American hikers -- of whom two are still sitting in an Iranian prison. And it doesn't matter if they're political pawns. The bottom line is that they're still in prison.

Of course, this might not apply to you with regards to Iran.

I appreciate the advice. The great thing about touring as an American in Iran is that they force you to sign up and use a government sanctioned tour service. It's the guides job to keep you out of trouble, letting you know what is or is not appropriate when they are with you. However in other countries, Syria for example, one has to be much more cautious, the secret police are everywhere and they appear out of no where.

[Ranchu]

You should also take a small film point n shoot, imo. And a bunch of superia 200.