Photography is often said to be an art where the artist paints with light. But timing is also among the necessary skill sets of an accomplished and talented photographer. I’ve traveled the world, toured over 25 countries, and photographed some of the world’s finest and most beautiful landscapes, and I will be the first to tell you that timing is as important as light. Hell, sometimes, timing the light is the most important thing, but with every situation the details matter most.
Some years back, there I was hiking a mountain in Connemara, Ireland. I fought through vicious wind, stumbling up the treacherous rocky terrain, and finally made it to the top. I sat and took in the view, chest heaving and blood pumping furiously. After meditating, I took a few big sky shots of the moody ocean shoreline. I then packed up my camera and threw the strap for my rucksack over my shoulders and I began venturing downward along the backend trail that descended from the mountain top. I hiked along in a glacial, tired pace, enjoying the lack of wind on this side of the mountain face, when bam! A wooly wild goat fled down the mountain, across my path and stopped to face me. I froze, fumbling to retrieve my camera from my pack. It stared at me, and I stared back. I lowered my pack to the ground, turned on my camera and took one shot as it fled, wild hair streaming, and then disappeared.
I almost missed the shot. I mean, I could have had a tremendously better photograph if I had my camera ready, but I was not expecting this sort of creature to surprise me like that. So, ever since, I carry a smaller bag that has easy access for just such an occasion. Now-a-days, I incorporate a messenger style bag, because I can sling it to the side, or fit it in my backpacker rucksack when I don’t need it.
I almost missed the shot. I mean, I could have had a tremendously better photograph if I had my camera ready, but I was not expecting this sort of creature to surprise me like that. So, ever since, I carry a smaller bag that has easy access for just such an occasion. Now-a-days, I incorporate a messenger style bag, because I can sling it to the side, or fit it in my backpacker rucksack when I don’t need it.
In September, my wife Leah and I ventured out west to explore and write about Wyoming’s Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park regions, as well as Montana’s Glacier National Park. I reached out to Ape Case to test and review two of their bags, the Ape Case ACTR500 Traveler Messenger, and the ACPRO3000 Maxess Backpack.
The Traveler Messenger offers quick access, a padded easy to organize design inside, and is ergonomically fantastic for my style of wander and shoot. The outer covering is canvas with leather straps and brass hardware, and comes in green and tan. It’s design is striking and looks classy, and has a sort of adventure safari aesthetic that I really like. The inside area of the bag offers padded compartments and a zippered area, which can generally fit one camera body, two or three lenses, and a handful of small accessories. The sling strap is comfortable and well built. It feels durable and never becomes a burden, even when worn all day. All in all, I fell in love with the Traveler Messenger bag, because of its comfort, quality build, and overall versatility. It’s now my goto for wherever my eye and my Sony take me.
The Traveler Messenger offers quick access, a padded easy to organize design inside, and is ergonomically fantastic for my style of wander and shoot. The outer covering is canvas with leather straps and brass hardware, and comes in green and tan. It’s design is striking and looks classy, and has a sort of adventure safari aesthetic that I really like. The inside area of the bag offers padded compartments and a zippered area, which can generally fit one camera body, two or three lenses, and a handful of small accessories. The sling strap is comfortable and well built. It feels durable and never becomes a burden, even when worn all day. All in all, I fell in love with the Traveler Messenger bag, because of its comfort, quality build, and overall versatility. It’s now my goto for wherever my eye and my Sony take me.
The Maxess Backpack is a different animal… For photographic-specific trips, where I’m not anchored down by my huge rucksack, I opt for something bigger and more versatile with a lot of carrying room for all my lenses and accessories. And the Maxess is in the same vein of how I like to mix it up depending on what style of trip I’m on. It has a main compartment with several compartments that are accessible from three different locations around the pack, which is a feature I really like. I can have lenses be easily accessible from the bottom back, my camera with lens attached quick to grab from the side, and then throughout the pack, there’s enough room to hold majority of my travel photography gear. The Maxess Backpack has an adjustable harness system and water-resistant cover, as well as an attachable storage pound. Both bags come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
All in all I found both bags to be well designed, built to last, versatile, comfortable and ergonomic. I am happy to recommend Ape Case, as I believe they’re one of the best on the market, offering high quality products at affordable prices.
If you would like to learn more about Ape Case, click here.
All in all I found both bags to be well designed, built to last, versatile, comfortable and ergonomic. I am happy to recommend Ape Case, as I believe they’re one of the best on the market, offering high quality products at affordable prices.
If you would like to learn more about Ape Case, click here.
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