Mars United
Well-known member
I'm planning a trip to China for 2 months starting in early August. My plan is to bring my SI-2K camera and make a documentary or two. My fiance is there working for the Canada pavilion for the Olympics (we got a couple of tickets to see some boxing!!!).
After the Olympics we plan to travel for 3-4 weeks to Shanghai and Hong Kong and maybe some other places if they beckon.
I've never really traveled with a camera and gear before, so I'm just looking for general advice. The size of the camera is a bit daunting, and I will have to carry batteries (probably Hytrons) and a tripod.
So, any advice on:
General travel tips
How to power my battery charger
Interesting Places to check out
How not to get my camera confiscated by authorities.
As to the last point, I don't plan on shooting any controversial footage of Free Tibet protesters, nor am I interested in "exposing" any perceived evil in China. I am looking for a story that is unique and hasn't been covered by western media. But still, I worry about wandering around with $50,000 worth of camera and sound gear.
I also need to thing about how to record sound, as I don't have any sound recording gear at present. I could just hook up a mic to the camera, but it would be good to have a dual system, but one that I can operate myself while shooting.
I'm just throwing this out there in case anyone has any input that might be useful, or provide something to think about. I'm not really asking for doc ideas. I'll figure that out before I go. But if you know of any way-out crazy thing/place/people etc., I'd love to hear about it. For example, there used to be this entire city (I forget where exactly) that was a collection of tightly packed high-rises and joined together so that no light got through. So if you left your home and went to work, then stopped to pick up some milk on the way home, it was all in this labyrinth of dark "streets" and alley ways. A visually stunning place and a crazy way of life. Unfortunately it has since been torn down.
Cheers,
Chris.
After the Olympics we plan to travel for 3-4 weeks to Shanghai and Hong Kong and maybe some other places if they beckon.
I've never really traveled with a camera and gear before, so I'm just looking for general advice. The size of the camera is a bit daunting, and I will have to carry batteries (probably Hytrons) and a tripod.
So, any advice on:
General travel tips
How to power my battery charger
Interesting Places to check out
How not to get my camera confiscated by authorities.
As to the last point, I don't plan on shooting any controversial footage of Free Tibet protesters, nor am I interested in "exposing" any perceived evil in China. I am looking for a story that is unique and hasn't been covered by western media. But still, I worry about wandering around with $50,000 worth of camera and sound gear.
I also need to thing about how to record sound, as I don't have any sound recording gear at present. I could just hook up a mic to the camera, but it would be good to have a dual system, but one that I can operate myself while shooting.
I'm just throwing this out there in case anyone has any input that might be useful, or provide something to think about. I'm not really asking for doc ideas. I'll figure that out before I go. But if you know of any way-out crazy thing/place/people etc., I'd love to hear about it. For example, there used to be this entire city (I forget where exactly) that was a collection of tightly packed high-rises and joined together so that no light got through. So if you left your home and went to work, then stopped to pick up some milk on the way home, it was all in this labyrinth of dark "streets" and alley ways. A visually stunning place and a crazy way of life. Unfortunately it has since been torn down.
Cheers,
Chris.
