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kipling bag

In an earlier post I mentioned that I am looking for the perfect bag to take to Germany and Switzerland with me this fall. One that will function as a purse while at the same time enabling me to safely carry my DSLR camera with its large lens. Thus the Curse. I think I may have found it today. I was at Macy's and had asked the clerk about whether a purse I was looking at had a way to make the strap longer as I want to wear it across my body. When I explained to her what I was hoping to accomplish with the bag, she steered me towards the "kipling" display. I had briefly looked in the area but thought the purses were all either too small or too much like back packs. I overlooked this one altogether.

What I like about it is that the bag is made of nylon, so it will be easy to clean and somewhat water resistant. It is also very light weight, which is important as I will be loading it up. It has several pockets on the outside, including ones which may work for a small umbrella and a water bottle. There is a secure zippered area inside the purse as well to keep my money and passport safe. The adjustable strap means I can wear it across my body or shorten it for a different look.

So what don't I like about it? It is a little more casual than I was hoping for, and it looks a bit like a camera bag. But the biggest issue is that it does not have any dividers inside, allowing me to keep my iPad separate from my camera. Are these things deal breakers? I am not sure yet. For now I will haul my stuff around the house in it to see how it feels on my shoulder.

Added bonus of this bag? A cute little ape hanging off the side. I think he needs to go abroad, don't you?

let's go ape!

In preparation for my genealogy trip this fall, I have been analyzing the type of bag I want to carry on a daily basis. Normally I use a backpack that was specifically design to hold a DSLR camera. It has adequate space in the top to carry my billfold, reading glasses, small notebook, umbrella, rain jacket, etc. Bottom line is that there is no need to carry a purse, so this backpack is what I normally use when I am out shooting photos. And it has the added bonus of a pouch on the side to take along a water bottle. What it doesn't have is a spot for my iPad. First of all, I don't know if my hotel room will have a safe so that I can leave it in there during the day. Second, since this is a genealogy trip, I will definitely be hauling my iPad around to check my facts and take notes. Also I am not sure I am comfortable with having the bag on my back subject to pickpocketing.

Now, I could also carry a smaller purse along with the backpack. Then I could keep my iPad, billfold, passport, etc. in the purse and just have the other items on my back. But that means hauling two bags around each day. Do I really want to do that?

So I did what any red-blooded American woman does in this situation - I asked advice from Google. Wow! So many options! They do indeed now make purses that are designed to carry your camera as well. And some of them are super cute. But I think the co-pay at the hospital for the delivery of my first baby was less than some of these purses are going for. I also don't know how much most of the bags weigh empty. I don't want the bag alone to add 5 pounds on my shoulder. A cross body style with a padded strap would be ideal. Then I could carry all the items I need in one bag that would be in front of me so I can keep my eye on it.

I am glad I started looking into this early as I don't think a decision is going to be too easy for me. If you need me, I will be sitting at the computer searching for the perfect Curse.

One of the books I had autographed while at Book Expo in New York in May was entitled, "Confessions of a Compact Camera Shooter" with the tagline "Get Professional Quality Photos with Your Compact Camera". I joked with the author, Rick Sammon, that perhaps he could finally teach me what the camera classes had not. He replied that this is the book for me. We'll just see about that, mister!

A few weeks ago I was waiting for one of the cars to be serviced and I took along the Shooter book to read. Rick is a professional photographer who believes that anyone can take great pictures with a compact camera. By which he does NOT mean a point and shoot camera. Your camera must have some settings on it for this book to be of much benefit. Anyway, I had just read the section on how you should never go anywhere without your compact camera. After all, it will fit in your pocket, purse or briefcase, so there is never an excuse to be camera-free.

This came back to haunt me as I was walking the dog that very same day. I came upon the truck of a landscape contractor. He had the usual pickup truck, so nothing special there. What caught my eye was the trailer on the back of the truck. It was the typical mesh-like metal trailer, but on the back of the trailer was an assortment of items - dolls, action figures, small stuffed animals... Apparently whatever he finds in the yard as he mows gets attached to the back of the trailer. It was a moment...and I even knew what I would title my photo. "Yard Waste."

But where was my camera? Back at the house, of course. Had Rick Sammons taught me nothing? Apparently not, because Monday as I walked the dog along came same landscape contractor buzzing down our street. Was there a camera in my pocket? Nope. And just to further mock me, I had the dog out earlier than usual today since it is so hot, and the landscaper passed me again. I'm beginning to feel like Richard Dreyfuss in "American Grafitti" as he keeps getting a glimpse of Suzanne Somers in the '56 Thunderbird but can't seem to hook up with her. "Ain't That a Shame?"