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Digital Travel Photography Digital Field Guide by David D. Busch
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The Complete
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Note: Italicized notations by the author.
Bring home the memories.
Olympus FE360 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Dual Zoom (Silver)
A camera case protects your LCD screen.
Case Logic ECB-1 EVA Compact Camera Case (Black/Red)
This is the camera that I use,
Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
with this amazing lens,
![Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens](http://enjoy-europe.com/images/B000BY52NU.jpg)
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens
and this filter.
HOYA 72mm Circularizing Polarizing Filter
More camera options.
Canon Rebel XTi 10.1MP
Digital SLR Camera with
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Olympus Evolt E500 8MP
Digital SLR with
14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5
Zuiko Lenses
35mm SLR Camera
Deluxe Kit with 28-90mm Lens
Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Silver Date
Sony DCR-DVD108 DVD
Handycam Camcorder
with 40x Optical Zoom
This is one of the handiest accessories you can find.
CLAMP-POD
Adorama SMALL 4001
JVC Everio GZMG255 2MP
30GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder
with 10x Optical Zoom
(Includes Docking Station)
Absolutely the best battery for digital cameras which use AA batteries.
Energizer
AA Lithium Batteries
4 Pack
OLYMPUS XD
PICTURE CARD 1GB
Sony MSMT2G 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2)
SanDisk ULTRA II 4GB
This is great software for editing, cropping, and enhancing your images.
Adobe
Photoshop Elements 7
You will need one or more of these plug adapters for your appliances and chargers.
Plug Adapter
USA to Continental Europe
by Samsonite
SIMRAN PLUG ADAPTER
Adapts grounded USA plugs to European plug
This is a universal plug adapter for the UK and Ireland.
Samsonite Grounded Adaptor Plug - United Kingdom, Ireland
To use this with American plugs you'll also need the USA to Continental Europe adapter.
Grounded Adapter
Europe to Switzerland
For charging the batteries of more than one gizmo at a time use this 250 volt universal
power strip. It comes with a grounded Continental plug so it does not need an adapter plug for Europe.
See the next item if you are going to the British Isles.
Surge Protector
Power Strip
6 Universal Outlets
220/240 Volt 50/60Hz
To use the surge strip in Britain and Ireland you will need one of these plug adapters.
Grounded Adapter
Europe to
Britain and Ireland
Only use this if your appliance is not marked 110-240 v and uses less than 50 watts.
Grounded Transformer
USA to Continental Europe
50 Watts, 220v to 110v
This is a stronger transformer rated for 200 watts.
Transformer - 200 Watt Non Grounded Heavy Duty
Absolutely the best battery for digital cameras which use AA batteries.
Energizer
AA Lithium Batteries
4 Pack
Rechargeable batteries will pay for themselves in the long run.
Sony BCG-34HRMF4 Battery Charger with LCD Display and 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
Wear a money belt under your shirt to protect your passport and valuables, especially if you are staying in hostels or dorms.
Victorinox Deluxe Concealed Security Belt
This portable combo door stopper and alarm will give you additional security in your hotel room.
GE 50246 Smart Home
Door Stop Alarm
This carry-on liquids kit meets TSA airline rules.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Custom Travel Bottle Kit
Be on time. Trains and planes don't wait.
Casio Men's G-Shock Ana-Digi Chronograph Sport Watch
Casio Baby-G Ladies Watch
It works well for civilian tourists also.
Lensatic Military Marching Compass
Tune in to local radio to absorb more of the culture as you travel.
FM/AM Radio Walkman
with MDR Headphones
Sony SRF-59
This will come in very handy once in a while.
Swiss Army
LED Flashlight
This is an industrial grade tool you will love, but it cannot be brought in carry-on luggage.
Leatherman 830039
New Wave Multitool
with Leather Sheath
The essential timetable for rail travelers.
European Rail Timetable
Summer 2010
Independent Travellers Edition
Thomas Cook
A comprehensive guide to 3,000 hotels and restaurants in 44 major cities throughout Europe.
Main Cities of Europe 2010
Michelin Guide
Wash in your room basin and save time, trouble, and money.
Woolite Laundry Soap
20 packs, ¼ oz. each
Inflatable clothes hangars help with drip dry clothes washed in your room.
Inflatable Travel & Laundry Hangers Set Of 4 by Whitney Design
Keep your stuff organized.
eBags Luggage Packing Cubes - 3pc Set - Raspberry
Samsonite Space Saver Bags for Travel
The two gallon size is excellent for packing your clothes, but it is hard to find in Europe.
2 gal. clear plastic bags
ZipLoc by SC Johnson
Quart clear plastic bags
One-Zip by Hefty
Much stronger than duct tape.
Strapping Tape
1" x 60 yards
3M Company #8957-1
, , , , , , , ,
It rains. Be prepared.
Totes Titanium Auto-Open/Close Umbrella
Weather protection is essential. This is a great lightweight water repellent windbreaker.
The Stormbreaker
by Turfer Sport
Womens's Light Weight Endurance Jacket
Look sharp and be comfortable.
Women's Long Sleeve Cotton Turtleneck
by Lands' End
Jessica Simpson Women's Satin Trench Rainwear
I wore one similar to this on my early spring trip to London and Dublin.
Lamb Leather Bomber Jacket - Brown
This is my "standard" shirt for most of the year in Europe.
Men's Combed Cotton Euro Design Ski Turtleneck
My favorite T-shirt/undershirt has a pocket for securely carrying passport, cash, and credit cards.
Hanes Tagless Pocket T-Shirt
For leg comfort on the plane.
Arriva Travel-Tec Travel Legwear with Smart Compression Technology
Block the light and noise while flying.
Bucky Shades Sleep Mask
With Earplugs
Rolling luggage sure beats lugging a pack on your back.
Delsey Helium Breeze 2.0 Carry-On Upright, 21"
Day luggage for your walkabout.
Delsey Helium Fusion
Personal Bag
A rugged travel combo.
McKleinUSA Buckingham Tech-Lite Ballistic Nylon Executive Travel Combo
To relax and sleep on the plane. This is a natural herb, not a drug.
Organic Valerian Root 515mg - 100 - Capsule
Walk on cork for all day comfort.
Birkenstock Bali Sandal
Birkenstock
Arizona Two Strap
Sandal
Just as comfortable as tennies and they look sharp.
Men's Riva
Comfortech Slip-on
by Florsheim
Stay trimmed and neat.
Gillette Mach3
Turbo Shaving System
Royce Leather Ladies
Travel Kit with Shaver
Make sure that your electrical appliances are dual voltage so they will work in Europe.
Vagabond Compact Styler
Conair's Dual-Voltage Ionic Hair Dryer
Conair Flat Iron 2" Ceramic Straightener
Dual Voltage
Travel Hair Setter
Dual Voltage
Remington H-1015
SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron (dual voltage)
Braun Series 1 150 Men's Shaver with Automatic Worldwide Voltage Adjustment
For light sleepers here is an international "white noise" machine.
Marsona TSCi-330 White Noise Travel Sound Conditioner For both USA and International Use
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NEW! — Stephanie's Paris Blog
O hey Europe
Chapter 12
(without photos) of
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
Internet edition.
A page from
enjoy-europe.com
with
John Bermont
American and Japanese travelers have at least one thing in
common — a camera on a neck strap.
IN GENERAL
This chapter provides some elementary information on cameras,
lenses, filters, and other accessories, and taking pictures
when in Europe. Key points are: know your equipment and
practice, practice, practice.
Pack Light
What kind of camera, lens, and
accessories should you use? The bottom line is
that your pictures please you. If they don't, all else is for
naught. Of course, others might not think that you are the world's
greatest photographer, but what do they know? They weren't
there.
Do not neglect the rule of pack light. Be comfortable with your equipment. In my
early travels, I lugged around entirely too much stuff, cameras and
lenses being the heaviest single items in a traveler's bag. Based
on decades of travel and photography for my book and website, a suggested photo
kit is listed at the end of this chapter.
Digital vs. Film
The digital revolution has accelerated in the past few years. Better cameras and lower prices
have all but eliminated film cameras. Even finding film is becoming difficult. Processing and
printing add to the cost and delay your enjoyment of the results.
But film cameras are still used by some people. My film cameras and lenses, which lasted me
over 30 years, now languish in a drawer. They are like an old pair of jeans. I just
can't let them go. But digital technology has passed them by in so many ways.
One big advantage of a digital camera over a film camera is operating cost. Images are saved on
a digital chip. Thousands of photos can be saved on a chip that costs about the same as a few rolls of
film. That's also a big disadvantage. You'll take so many pictures that you don't know
what to do with them. I have no problem taking 100 photos a day when I travel in Europe. I end up
throwing away over 95% of them. That is a time consuming process, but it doesn't cost anything.
Another advantage of digital cameras is that you can see the result instantly on the LCD
monitor. Camera monitors are equipped with zoom function so you can enlarge
the picture instantly. This allows you to check for details, focus, camera shake, and unwanted background.
If the image is not what you wanted just erase it and shoot again.
This entrance to the Paris Nord Metro station displays the unique type font used on many Metro signs.
The iron grill work is something they don't make any more. If you get lost you'll find maps of
Paris at most Metro stations. That sure looks like a typical Dutch white-tail bicycle locked up on the grill work.
[800356]
Operating Manual
Your camera box included an illustrated operating manual. It can be 50 to 200 pages or more. The manuals are
very technical. If you want to get the best out of your camera, study your manual. Using a digital
camera for maximum results is not simple or intuitive. I am a pretty smart engineer but
I have to say that this stuff is difficult to get your mind around.
I ended up taking a short course offered by my local camera store. Even though I have been
using high quality SLR film cameras for over 30 years this course was invaluable.
You never know what you didn't know until you know it.
Before leaving for the airport make sure
that you are familiar with the camera and that it is in good
working order. Read the entire instruction book, especially if you don't use the camera often.
Maybe make a cheat sheet or tab the pages and highlight lines to guide
you to the features you'll be using most often. Shoot a batch of photos to
make sure that you and it are seeing things the same way. Put them on your computer
and zoom in to see the details. If
anything is wrong, take it back to your camera shop for a checkup. You would
hate to come home from weeks in Europe to find that all your pictures are messed up. It happens.
The following brief discussion will introduce some of the rudimentary features
of cameras and lenses. If you believe that the world is flat you can stop with that.
CAMERA
There are two basic types of digital camera — point-and-shoot (PS) and single lens reflex (SLR).
A PS camera is relatively easy to operate. You turn it on, point, and shoot. They are small,
about the size of a deck of cards, and inexpensive. SLR cameras are big and bulky, and pricey.
Point and Shoot Cameras
While you can just turn on a PS camera and start shooting, PS cameras are so full of features
that you better read the instruction manual to get the maximum benefits. Each is different.
A typical PS camera includes a built-in flash and a zoom lens. Most have only an LCD monitor screen and
not a viewfinder, as in the old film days of range finder cameras. A viewfinder is handy because it
allows you to hold the camera against your nose, making it steadier. Cameras with only a screen
must be held out from your body and are more likely to shake.
A significant difference between film and digital cameras is the "ISO" you see on the box
of digital cameras. ISO stands for International
Organization for Standardization. ISO has over 17,000 standards for various products and processes that
facilitate commerce. In photography ISO is used to designate film speed. In the old days ISO was known
as ASA on film boxes. ASA is the former American Standards Association. With digital cameras there is
no film so the ISO applies to the camera. With automatic cameras the camera selects the ISO for you. You can
turn off the automatic feature and set the ISO yourself. There is more about ISO in a section below.
An amazing feature in many PS cameras is that they take video recordings. It is a limited option but
it works very well for a short glimpse of the action.
My Olympus FE-360 is my second digital PS. It is less than half the size of my first one, an FE-100,
now over 5 years old. I love this little thing and have it in my pocket whenever I am out. It takes
great pictures in bars and restaurants with the flash, and does a good job outdoors in most light
situations. Unfortunately it does not have a viewfinder so I heve to hold it out to see the monitor.
PS cameras range in price from about $60 to up in the hundreds. Hopefully you get what you paid for.
It's best to buy on close-outs. New models are produced almost weekly and the older model inventory has
to be cleaned out.
This mural at the Deacon Brodie Tavern in Edinburgh, Scotland briefly tells the story of the varmit.
He was a piker compared to modern day criminals. We should bring back public hangings for
politicians who corrupt their office.
[30286]
Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Cameras
SLRs are cameras for professionals and serious amateurs. The term single lens reflex refers to the feature
of viewing the subject through the lens by way of a mirror in the camera. When you press the shutter release the
mirror flips up and the image beams straight back to the image sensor. In the old days the
image went straight back to the film. What you see through the lens is what you get in your image.
Flipping the mirror up amd down is why SLR cameras make so much noise. The alternatives
were a twin lens reflex camera with two lenses or a camera with a lens and a viewfinder, a rangefinder camera.
You can google these terms to find out more about them, and perhaps find used cameras in antique shops.
The most important feature of an SLR is that the lens can be changed. Before the age of widespread
use of zoom lenses this was important. Serious photographers carried a range of lenses from wide angle
to telephoto. Nowadays one zoom lens can do what half a dozen used to do. For travel photography I've used
a zoom lens for decades to cut down on the weight of my camera gear. There is more about lenses in the
next section.
SLRs include all of the features of PSs, and then some. They are more complicated and require more
understanding of the camera and the lens. After going through the manual of my Nikon D60 a dozen times
I finally went to my camera store and took a how-to course. That was time and money well spent. You
almost need to be a PhD to operate a digital SLR.
You'll never fit an SLR in your pocket. These cameras are big and bulky. Carry it on a strap around your neck.
The price of SLRs ranges from a few hundred dollars to thousands. Kits, including the camera body and
a lens, can be purchased. Or you can buy the camera body and lens separately if you are not
satisfied with the lens that comes with the camera kit. Many lenses cost far more than the camera body.
My daughter Stephanie (burgundy top and back to the camera) and fellow students from
the Universidad de Salamanca made a field trip to a bull farm near
Alba de Tormes, Spain. They got into the ring with a baby bull and started taunting him. The result can be seen
at Bull Flight. What kids will get into!
[Photo by one of Stephanie's friends. 0566]
LENS
The lens is more important than the camera.
Focal Length
The primary consideration
when buying a camera is the focal length of the lens. Focal length
is a number expressed in millimeters (mm) which, for practical photo purposes, gives an indication
of the field of view. A small focal length, e.g. 21mm, gives a very
wide view. A high focal length lens, e.g. 200mm, is a telephoto
lens. Technically, the focal length is the distance from a simple lens to a focused image.
Modern camera lenses are complex multi lens systems so it doesn't work that way,
but that subject is far beyond the
scope of this discussion and you don't need to know about it to take photos.
By the way, if you have forgotten your high school math lessons on the metric system,
a millimeter is a metric unit of length. There are 25.4 of
them in an inch. For more on the metric system see chapter 27,
The Metric System in Europe.
The term 'focal length' is going out of fashion in describing lenses on PS
cameras because it doesn't mean what it used to mean on 35 mm film cameras. If you can find
the specifications in your instruction manual the lens' true focal length will be
stated and then in parenthesis the equivalent of a 35 mm camera will be shown. For
example, my FE-360 says "6.3 to 18.9 mm (equivalent to 36 to 108 mm on a 35 mm camera)."
The section in parenthesis is what I can relate to. The zoom goes from a 36 mm semi-wide angle to a zoom
of 108 mm, a pretty good range. The box says the lens is a 3X zoom, which is 18.9 divided by 6.3.
The popular
Canon Powershot SX110IS has a 10X optical zoom with 35 mm equivalence of 36 mm to 360 mm.
Now that's a zoom!
True focal length will probably be indicated on the PS lens but probably
not on the box. Instead the box is labeled 3X, 5X, etc. to describe the zoom
capability of the lens. Further, the zoom feature on some cameras is divided between 'optical
zoom' and 'digital zoom.' Only compare optical zoom because the digital zoom is
something you don't want to use. The picture quality goes way down in the digital
zoom range.
Focal length is still used on lenses for SLR cameras, but like PS cameras it doesn't mean what
it used to mean for 35 mm film cameras. The reason is that the image sensor is smaller
than 35 mm film. To relate digital lens focal length to
35 mm film focal length see the instruction manual for your lens. It might be there. My 18-200 mm Nikkor lens is
equivalent to a 28-300 mm lens according to one reviewer,
Thom Hogan. It's a pretty good 11X zoom lens.
Visitors to Roslyn Chapel outside Edinburgh, Scotland throw coins into the gargoyle head.
Children scamper for the misses in the pit below. I scored one hit for two tosses.
[30205]
f-stop
In addition to focal length, lenses are sized by aperture (diameter). The term "f-stop" is
the ratio of focal length to lens aperture. Larger
lenses let more light into the camera and are termed
"faster" because you don't need as long an exposure time to get enough
light on the film or sensor.
The larger the lens aperture, the lower the f-stop. Fast lenses
can be f/1.2 or f/1.4. Zoom lenses for digital cameras are typically f/3.5 or slower.
The f-stop is set for you by automatic PS cameras and by SLR cameras in automatic mode.
You can manually set the f-stop on SLR cameras by switching to aperture priority
mode. Why would you want to do that? If there isn't much light available or subjects are moving and you
don't want to use the flash, set the aperture at the lowest f-stop. But remember that
accurate focusing is important at low f-stops. At correct
focus, all lenses produce the sharpest pictures at about f/5.6. If you want to
make a photo with subjects both close and far away then stop your lens down as far as
you can, say f/22. It will take the camera a lot more time to capture enough light so you may need a tripod
or something else to steady the camera. Hope that nothing moves while the shutter is open.
When taking long exposure photos it helps to use the delayed release on the camera so you don't
shake it when taking the shot. A remote release is also handy. Then you can get in the picture!
ISO
ISO was introduced up above. Here are some more details. In the old days film "speed" was gauged by
it's ASA or ISO rating. They are equivalent. A low number, e.g. 25 for Kodachrome, indicated a
slow speed. A high number, e.g. Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white, indicated a high speed. A high speed film
allowed you to capture moving subjects and to shoot in low light situations without a flash. That would
be best of course, but there is a drawback, a trade-off. High speed films have more "grain" in the
images. I'm not talking wheat. The grain is a loss of sharpness in the image. You wouldn't notice
this on a 3"x5" picture but you could notice if the picture was made into a poster or if it was a slide and
you looked at the image with a projector. I shot all kinds of
film in my career just for experimentation to see what the results looked like. The Kodachrome 25
was the best by far. Such color and sharpness couldn't be matched by any other film that was available in
photo shops. But it was expensive and could only be processed by Kodak. I ended up using Ektachrome
400 for color, and Kodak Tri-X 400 for black and white. I taught myself to develop it and
processed the film myself to avoid errors by film labs, and to get the results quicker.
Well, that was the old wet chemistry days of film.
Now in the 21st century, film is nearly a dinosaur but ISO lives on. Instead of being the major feature of
non-existent film in a digital camera, it is part of the design of the digital camera. My cameras
set the ISO automatically, and allow me to do it manually. The ISO ratings I have available are 64 to
1,000 in my PS and 100 to 1,600 in my SLR. At high ISO the same problem of grainy images results, but
now the effect is termed "noisy." No wonder the English language has so many words. The noisy nusiance
will only be a distraction on extreme zooms and blow-ups. If you are in a low light situation crank up that ISO
so you can get the shutter speed as low as possible and freeze the action, not to mention reducing
camera shake.
Thirsty patrons crowd the bar in All Bar One at Leicester Square, London, England. This is an example
of a low light shot using an ISO of 1,600. The grain shows. This was shot at f4.8 and 1/10th second.
No flash of course. The digital image was enhanced with Adobe Photoshop Elements.
[40422]
Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is the amount of time that the shutter stays open. This can be set on automatic or
you can set this manually. Why would you want to set it manually when the camera can do all the work
for you? Well, sometimes the camera can be fooled by high contrast scenes, shadows, and bright lights.
When composing your picture take these factors into consideration.
Camera shutter speeds vary from 1/2,000 of a second or faster up to 30 minutes or more. If I am setting the speed
manually I usually shoot at 1/250th of a second with an ISO of 400 and f/5.6 for normal outdoor photography.
Use faster speeds on
fast subjects like a flying bird or a race car in motion. Try panning (following the subject) with these shots
to keep them in focus. This blurs the background giving the effect of speed. Using a slow speed in
automatic mode is a good way to take pictures of lightning at night, or any night scene for that matter. You need
a tripod and delayed or remote shutter release for best results.
The slowest speed practical for a hand-held shot is normally 1/30th of a second. Most people shake the
camera a little and it will be noticed in the result if you shoot at 1/15th second or less.
Image Stabilization, Vibration Reduction
A feature on some of the better SLR lenses and PS cameras is called "image stabilization"
or "vibration reduction" depending on the brand. These are monikers for a process that reduces
shake when taking pictures. For long range telephoto pictures it is a real benefit. It is
claimed that IS/VR improves the performance of a camera by several f stops. In other words,
it is equivalent to shooting at f/4 when you are actually shooting at f/11. In terms of shutter
speed you can get as good a result at 1/15th of a second as you would at 1/60th of a second.
Viewfinder
The viewfinder is the little lens you look through on SLR and on some PS cameras. Check your
user's manual to see if there is a diopter which can be adjusted. Fine tune it for your eyesight
if you are shooting with manual focus.
I was in Praha (Prague), Czech Republic and so were a dozen bands from Leichtenstein.
Dressed in all manner of crazy costumes and drinking plenty of beverage from
the local brewery, they played old tunes like "Louie, Louie," "Born in the USA,"
"I Will Survive," and etc. Mostly brass, they sounded great with echos off the
ancient buildings surrounding the central square. What a beautiful night of free music. Goldilocks
with the blue boobs must be a real party animal.
[a12060102]
THE DARN DETAILS
Camera Batteries
My first point-and-shoot digital camera used AA batteries, probably the most common battery made.
They are available nearly everywhere, but there are several diferent types.
The standard AA battery is an alkaline type. These do not last long in a digital camera.
Another battery claiming to be "ideal for digital cameras" is the
nickel zinc type. My experience with these batteries
is that they are rubbish. Panasonic makes an oxyride type battery which
is not bad. But the champion battery for digital cameras is the lithium AA. In
Europe this can be hard to find except in well stocked camera stores. In the USA
K-Mart carries it, so stock up if that is the one your camera uses. The best brand I
have found is Energizer. Note that the TSA prohibits putting "loose" lithium batteries in
your checked luggage. If they are shorted they become hot enough to catch fire. So leave them
in the original package or bring them in your cabin luggage.
Some point-and-shoot digital cameras use special or proprietary battery designs. One of
the reasons that I bought my first Olympus digital camera is that it uses standard AA
size batteries. My second point and shoot has a custom lithium ion rechargeable battery and a battery
charger. I charge it up every night. My Nikon SLR also has a custom lithium ion battery and
battery charger. If you have a camera which uses standard AA batteries you can
use rechargeable AA batteries. These are expensive but they will pay for themselves in a
few weeks of travel. Sony and others sell a kit of four rechargeable AA batteries and a
battery charger that works in the USA and Europe, with a plug adapter.
Rechargeable batteries for digital cameras come with custom chargers. Most, but not all,
chargers work on both European
(220v/50Hz) and American (110v/60Hz) electricity. Look at the microscopic specifications on
the bottom of the charger brick. All camera battery chargers purchased in the USA come with the American flat
prong plugs. You will need a plug adapter(s) in order to plug your charger into an outlet in Europe.
See chapter 11,
Electricity in Europe:
Travel Voltage Fundamentals, for detailed information on this topic.
Plug designs used in the UK, most of the Continent,
Switzerland, and some locations in Italy are different. See the Amazon adverts in the column
on the left for images of the different types of plug adapters.
Keep your camera ready to shoot through the windshield as you drive in
Switzerland. Scenes like this will greet you as you enter
many villages. A family owned Gasthaus is invariably a great place to sleep
(unless you have a front room overlooking the noisy road) and almost invariably
a great place to have your lunch or dinner. Note: this picture looks a bit
rough because it was scanned from the back cover of the second edition of
How To Europe: The Complete Travelers Handbook.
[1208]
Pixels
A major item in the specifications describing digital cameras is the number of pixels
it produces with each shot. Cameras nowadays can produce images of 3 to 15 and more
megapixels.
The image in a digital camera is captured by a small light sensitive electronic device called an image sensor.
The image sensor converts light into an electric charge. This charge is converted by electronic circuits
in the camera to a digital file for viewing on the camera monitor, that little LCD screen on the back
of the camera. With higher pixel ratings you get sharper images
and images that can be zoomed for greater detail.
A pixel can be thought of as an atom of data, the smallest individual part of an image. Each
electronic image as recorded by a digital camera consists of
thousands or millions of pixels sitting side by side. They are like tiles in a mosaic.
Each tile has a single color. Because the tiles are microscopic the human eye sees them as
a contiguous image. If an image is zoomed in enough the individual pixels can be seen as small
squares.
A megapixel is a million pixels.
Pixel is an area measurement and a linear measurement. Thus, an image that is
3,872 pixels wide and 2,592 pixels high has 10,036,224 pixels in it. This is normally
abbreviated to 10 megapixel or 10 MP. That is the maximum that my digital SLR can do, but
I don't use it to the max. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. My camera can
also shoot at two lower image quality settings. I use the "normal" setting which is 2,896
wide and 1,944 high, resulting in a 5.6 MP image. That is more than enough for my purpose,
publishing on the internet. It gives me some slack to crop and straighten pictures. Then I reduce
the size to fit on screen.
It is not hard to take photos these days that use 10
megabytes of chip and disk space. Ask yourself why you need such a detailed photo and if
you want to spend all that chip and disk space. If the camera shakes or is out of
focus no amount of pixels will help.
Here is the menu board for the Halfway House in Glasgow, Scotland. If you read Scottish you'll
know what this stuff is. But if you want to order it you better know how to speak Scottish.
[30080]
Memory
Digital memory is what saves the image in a digital camera.
Some but not all digital cameras have built in memory. This is usually a small capacity memory.
Virtually all cameras have a slot for a memory chip. You should probably
have an extra memory chip with you. Before you use the memory chip you must format the
chip. It's easy. See your user's manual.
Different brands and models of cameras require different types of memory chips.
Many cameras use the SD chip but there are several other standard types. Some cameras use a
proprietary chip. Check your camera specifications before buying a memory chip. Or, bring
your camera to K-Mart and show the clerk what you have.
It stands to reason that the more pixels you have in your image the more memory capacity
you need to hold all those pixels. For example, the 5.6 MP image mentioned above
requires 1.44 MB of memory. A 2 gigabyte, 2GB or 2 gig, chip would hold about 1,300 photos
of 5.6 MP. At 100 photos per day that chip would last about 2 weeks.
Some people edit their photos every night. They throw away the losers and open up chip space.
Some people use photo or computer stores to burn a CD disk with their pictures and
then wipe the chip. If you are bringing a laptop you can transfer the photos to your
hard drive or a flash drive. And some people upload pictures to their email server or another
service and then wipe their chip. Before wiping your chip make sure that the images
were actually transferred. I don't want to slow down when I travel so I buy another chip when mine
is getting full. There are a number of possibilities.
Whatever you do, set up a file system so you can go back and find what you want later. Stay organized.
Cameras have a mind of their own when it comes to naming files. For example my SLR only puts 999
images in a directory on a chip. When the number of images reaches 1,000 it starts a new directory.
New image file names begin again at 001. So my 4 GB chip ended up with three directories and the
same file name for different images in each directory. This is a nuisance to get sorted out.
These girls are embarking on a hen's party in York, England. Hen's parties celebrating the last weeks
of a girl's single life are very popular in UK bars. In one bar
someone threw a cloth over my head and someone else took a picture. I asked what was on my head. The
queen of the group said "That was my knickers." Knickers are panties in British English. She was a wild one.
[30496]
Viewing, Editing, and Printing Photos
Software and a USB cable are included with digital cameras. These allow you to transfer the photos to a computer.
From there you can edit them with software like
Adobe Photoshop Elements®.
Editing a digital photo allows the color of individual pixels to be modified. Cropping is something you
will probably always want to do. Rotating the picture is another feature that comes in handy for travel photos.
You can't always hold the camera perfectly even. Photoshop allows far more than that to help you enhance your pictures.
It is an excelent program for enhancing, cropping, and resizing your digital images.
You can download Google's software for viewing and organizing your harvest. Picassa includes limited editing
features but has a very nice slideshow function. Get it for free at
Picassa.
You can burn a CD of your photos. It is much more convenient to transfer them to a flash drive.
You don't need the software that came with the camera to transfer images to a flash drive.
Use any file manager utility because the camera chip shows up as another
drive on your computer. If your computer has an SD chip slot and that is the type of memory chip
that your camera uses, transfer the chip and start transferring photos.
Just drag and drop into the folder where you want to keep the photos. Drag and
drop whole directories to save time. If you are using the USB cable and have two USB ports
on your computer you can drag and drop directly to a a USB flash drive.
I carry my Asus EEE netbook for this and other purposes. Unfortunately I can't recommend
Asus any more. They have discontinued the model I bought and have abandoned Linux in favor of
Macroshaft. MS is an insecure system especially on public WiFi. Here is a review of an alternate, the
Starling NetBook.
The USB cable can also be used to connect the camera to some printers. The printer must have a USB
port and be capable of printing directly from a camera. Some printers get around this by having
slots for chip memories. What will they think of next — popcorn?
The camera package probably also includes a video cable. This can be used to connect your camera to
a television for viewing the pictures in big scale. European TVs operate differently. The USA uses a TV
broadcasting system named NTSC. In Europe the primary systems in use are PAL and SECAM. You must set
your camera video mode to the correct system for your TV, if it can be changed. For more
details on European televisions see chapter 22,
Moving to Europe. Read your
TV operating manual to learn how to connect the video cable.
These Paris students are on strike. Now that's a good way to get an education. Viva la France!
Notice the scarves. Everybody wears a scarf in France.
[800659]
Image Size
Before using a digital camera determine what you plan to do with the images.
These little cameras are capable of taking pictures that are much wider than most computer
screens. And the images have file sizes way up in the mega bytes range. Just because you can
shoot an image with 20 mega pixels doesn't mean you should. For me, 5 mega pixels is over the top.
If you are using the highest quality image settings on your camera it would be a good idea to
use a photo editing program like Adobe Photoshop to reduce the pixel width and the file size. This
makes it easier to email the photos and for your friends to view them on
screen. Or you can set the image size to 640 x 480 pixels to begin with. This will allow
you to get many more images on a memory chip.
Release Mode
Cameras have a function that allows a time dalay of maybe 10 seconds before the shutter releases.
This allows you to jump into the picture. My Nikon also has a remote shutter release that allows
me to stand in the picture and trigger the camera when I am ready, and the scene is clear of
distractions.
Time and Date
A nice feature of digital cameras is that each shot has the time and date imbedded with the image.
When you upload your images to your computer you can flip through them and re-experience your
trip. Use the slide show feature of Picassa.
Make sure that you set the camera date and time for your new surroundings in Europe. Time in Europe is
five to ten time zones ahead of your home in the USA. See chapter 28, "Time and Dates in Europe"
for details on time zones or Maps and Time Zones
on this site for links. If you cross time zones in Europe, e.g. Portugal to Spain, reset the time
again. On your return flight reset the time and date for your home town.
Continuous Mode
A nice feature of digital SLR cameras is the continous shooting mode. With my SLR I can get
three shots per second by holding down the shutter release button. This is handy for objects in motion.
Throw away the bad ones.
Real life manikins in Madrid, Spain hope for a coin in their box. One of them blinked in the next picture.
[Photo by Stephanie. 0468]
ACCESSORIES
Filters
The most important camera accessory is a lens filter.
The primary purpose of a filter is to keep some
unwanted light out of the camera. This is light that you can't see but the camera
can see it. The 1A or UV filters are the most common and practical for outdoor
photography. A polarizing filter can give you strikingly
improved shots in many situations. It is my favorite. The polarizing filter reduces
most reflections producing more saturated colors, and it blues up
the sky when aimed at right angles to the sun. If you wear polarized sun glasses you
know the effect. Rotate the polarizing filter to get the results you want.
Another critical purpose of a lens filter is that it protects your lens
from dirt and damage. Would you rather spend $50 replacing a filter or $500
to replace a lens? On the third drop from a chair in Paris my filter
was ruined but my lens survived well enough. I bought a new filter and I was on my way.
Lens Hood
A lens hood reduces the amount of
stray light that lands on your lens or filter. This stray light
tends to fog your pictures. If direct sunlight hits your lens,
you'll have a series of distracting hexagons in your picture. The
flexible rubber style that screws into the filter mounting threads
is convenient. My Nikon has a clever reversible bayonet mount so it fits over the lens
when I am not using it. On the downside, they are all bulky and tend to get in your way.
LCD Monitor Protection
I used to throw my PS camera in my day bag not realizing how fragile it is. Sure enough,
I broke the LCD monitor eventually. It still takes pictures but the image is not available
until I transfer it to a computer. I bought a camera case for my second PS to protect
it against its brutal owner.
Monitor covers are available for some SLR cameras.
Flash Unit
Even though flash units are built in to virtually all digital cameras they
are not especially well-suited to travel photography. Most are useless at over 40 feet. For
Eiffel Tower pictures at night, you can't use one to reach even the
first landing. No museum, public monument, or national cathedral allows
the use of flash inside. Many do not allow photography period. Make sure you turn off your
flash before shooting in those places which prohibit flash photography.
But for pictures of yourself feasting
on the Noix de Veau Riviera a flash unit is handy. I like to take pictures of
the food I am about to eat. I also like to take pictures inside bars and cafes. Locals
love to pose and ham it up. You need to give the flash unit enough time to recharge after each shot.
This puppet master had a skeleton dancing like crazy to the American rock n' roll from his boom box in Barcelona, Spain.
I wasn't the only one there taking pictures. I threw a coin in his upturned hat.
[p1060286.jpg]
Tripod
Leave your standard tripod at
home. These are verboten in virtually every museum and they are
bulky. For long exposures, press your camera against a wall, or
balance it on a chair, window ledge, or
parking meter with the aid of a handkerchief or small bean-bag.
Then use the automatic self-timer to trip the shutter so you don't
move the camera at the critical moment.
An alternative is a miniature tripod
which is about the size of a jumbo felt tip marker. One end screws
off revealing the legs which you fold out. Then screw the end back
in for a 6" high camera stand. A great device I first found in a Swiss
camera shop is a camera mount attached to a miniature tripod and 2"
C-clamp. The C-clamp holds your camera steady on railings and parking
meters. There is a similar item in my Amazon.com adverts in the left column.
FILM CAMERAS
There are still millions of film cameras in the hands of people everywhere. There may be
times when you want to use your trusty old film camera, or you may find a great bargain
on a used camera. Film has a few advantages, especially if you want to archive your photos.
The image quality is much greater than with any digital camera because film operates
on the molecular level, much smaller than any pixel. But they just aren't making many of them any more.
Kodak, a name synomous with cameras and film, stopped production of film cameras in 2004.
Other makers have also turned to digital cameras.
Film
There are three basic types of film —
black and white negative, color negative, and color slide. Prints
can be made from each type of film, though prints from slides are
not up to the quality of prints from negatives. Slide film, also called transparency film, is meant
to be projected. The best 35 mm slide film, Kodachrome,
was discontinued by Kodak in mid-2009.
Speed
Each type of film is
available in several different "speeds," ranging from ASA 25 to ASA
1000 for some films, and even higher. Film with higher ASA ratings
(termed "faster") requires less light, but the picture quality is
normally better from film having a lower ASA rating. See the section "ISO" above
for more information.
My room with a view
of the Austrian Alps is in a cloister in Hall-in-Tyrol, a
picturesque village just east of Innsbruck. I was on another visit
here to see distant relatives on my maternal grandmother's side of
the family.
[1204]
Quality
Film is made and marketed by
several companies in this country, and several more overseas. Kodak
is the world leader, and probably the best. Ilford, GAF, and Agfa
are also of excellent quality. Noticeably second rate in my opinion are the cheap
films, including Fuji which is everywhere. Think about the total
cost of your travels and the relative cost of film and let your conscience be your guide.
Expiration Date
When buying any film, check
the expiration date on the package. Don't buy out of date film, or
even film within one year of the date, if you can help it. Faded or
dusty boxes in the souvenir shops should warn you that the film is
old and has been improperly stored. Do not buy it.
Prices
In general, film is most
expensive in souvenir shops, then camera stores, and the least
expensive in major department stores. There are some specialty
retail chains in central Europe which also offer good prices on
film. In Holland go to Capi-Lux; in Germany try Photo Porst; in
France shop FNAC. In many stores you'll get a nice discount if you
buy in quantity which can be as little as three rolls. Negotiate.
It doesn't cost you anything and you'll usually end up a
winner.
Stock Up
Check your film
supply on Friday morning to make sure there's enough to get you
through the weekend. On Sunday the only places where you can buy
film are the souvenir shops and maybe the train station. Also,
stock up before holidays and before trekking through the
countryside.
In many countries you'll have
trouble finding an English speaking person at the department store
film counter. Even in Holland, where almost everybody speaks better
English than most Americans, I have been met with blank stares at
film counters. Keep the end flap of a film box taped to the back of
your camera. When buying film, simply point to the flap to indicate
what you want, and poke up some fingers to tell the clerk how many
rolls.
It is getting more and more difficult to buy film in Europe. In the old
days every department store had a photo department selling almost every
type of film. The department stores still have their photo departments but now
they are selling almost every type and size of digital camera chip. Film is
going, going, and almost gone from retail stores.
Processing
Processing costs vary from cheaper
to more expensive than in the United States. Color film often comes
with a store coupon for free processing, but not free prints, if
you return it to the same store.
One-hour processing shops are found throughout Europe.
Otherwise, normal processing time can be
as short as one day at some camera shops and department stores, but
can take weeks if mailed to a laboratory.
I came upon this movie shoot on the Champs-Élysées
in Paris so I decided to do a shoot of my
own. Patrons at Fouquet's got more than a busker that day. Busker
is the British word for street entertainer. There are plenty of
them in Europe.
[1203]
X-RAYS
Security
Since the dawn of aircraft
hijackings, professional and amateur photographers have been
concerned about the effects of airport security system X-rays on
film. The X-ray machines do not affect digital cameras.
Do It All Over There
If you are
concerned, a sure-fire way to avoid having your film harmed by
X-rays is to avoid carrying unprocessed film through airports. On
arrival in Europe, buy your film and have it developed before you
return home. X-rays have no effect on processed slides or
negatives.
Lead Lined Bags
Another way is to use the
lead lined film carrying bags which block X-rays and prevent damage
to film. I used the Sima brand "Film Shield Pouch" when I carried
undeveloped film. This comes with a warning notice, though, that
there is "no protection available against high-dose airport X-ray
units."
Your Need for Speed
The ASA
1000 speed films are a special case. Some airport security gates
are posted to the effect that high speed film is harmed by X-rays,
and the standard lead lined film bags do not protect it. You must
have this film hand inspected.
You would have a hard time out-running these cops on roller blades in Paris, France.
I guess that the officer with two bands on his legs is the commander.
[a12060102]
PICTURE TIPS
Read
A book that will boost just about anybody up the photography know-how curve is
The Complete
Photographer by Andreas Feininger. He is formerly a Life
magazine photographer. This is an excellent presentation on all
aspects of film photography.
To get up to speed on digital photography get a copy of
Digital Travel Photography, Digital Field Guide
by David D. Busch. David is a professional photographer with 25 years of
experience in the field.
While you are over there shooting away, filling chips and using up film, you
might want to think about selling some of your pictures. Heck, this can help
support your traveling habit. For a starter have a look at
Travel Photography: A Complete Guide to How to Shoot and Sell by Susan McCartney.
Have fun and make money — that's a deal.
Open Up
Taking pictures is a very personal
subject. Most likely if you are traveling with another person, you
will be taking pictures of each other posed in front of the
cathedral, arch, painting, etc. Good enough. If you are traveling
alone ask a stranger to take your picture with
your camera. You'll have no trouble getting someone to do this, and
you may open the door to an interesting conversation or
experience.
Turn Around
Don't forget to turn around.
Fifty percent of the scenery is behind you.
Up Close and In the Dark
Many people take pictures of
their friends who are standing in shadows or wearing a brimmed hat
to shield their eyes from the sun. Automatic exposure cameras use
all the light coming in to adjust the aperture. Consequently, the shaded
faces of your friends will be rather underexposed. Take the hat off or get them out in
the light. You can compensate with your backlight feature or use fill flash.
Also have them take off those
ridiculous sun glasses. If the light is too bright, find a
completely shaded place so that the camera's automatic exposure
will not be fooled by bright backgrounds. The absolute worst thing is to shoot
into the sun, unless you are trying to make a silhouette.
Another common photo mistake is to take a picture of your friend standing in
front of a famous monument or scene — while your friend is 40 feet away
from you! What are you going to see in your picture? Position your travel
companions up close so you can see the whites of their eyes, with the famous
scenery over their shoulder.
Time exposures at night make interesting
pictures. Place your automatic camera on a secure place, set the
shutter delay release timer, and stand back. This is the Volunteer Fire
Department in Faro, Portugal.
[1205]
Time Exposure
Shooting in available low
light will give you some of your best pictures. Try time exposures
inside restaurants, stores, taverns, and hotels. Early dawn and just after
sundown offer exceptional opportunities for striking time exposures outdoors.
In the cities the street lights put out enough light for time exposures
all night long. This is especially easy to do with an automatic camera
which allows exposures of ten seconds or more.
Off Color
Light conditions affect your photos. In sunshine you get the natural white
light of the sun. Normal indoor incandescent light bulbs give off
an orangish color light. Pictures taken inside buildings with fluorescent lighting will
have a green tinge.
Digital cameras have a "white balance" feature to counteract the light conditions.
This can be set on auto so the camera does the adjusting, or you can use a manual setting.
Film cameras depend on the film for color correctness. For indoor pictures
with incandescent lighting, use tungsten balanced color film.
Otherwise everything will look orange and warm. Conversely,
pictures taken outdoors with tungsten film will be steel
blue.
This view of the De Adriaan windmill and the Grote Kerk welcomes you to Haarlem, The Netherlands
when you take the train from Amsterdam.
[p1230440]
Postcards
Don't count on your own camera for
all your photos of Europe. When buying postcards, buy a few extras
for yourself. The aerial views make especially good keepers. Gather
up free tourist pamphlets and literature whenever you're in a
tourist office. Even if you can't read Greek, some of it is worth
framing.
I.D. Your Camera
Put your name on your camera. This can be as simple as printing a small
label with your name and phone number and taping it on the underside. I have also had a trophy shop
engrave a small sliver of aluminum and I attach that with super glue.
You can also make your first photo a snap of your business card. Make this
a "keeper" so it can't be erased with the delete button. If someone
finds your camera this would let them know where to return it. Of course
a thief could reformat the chip and destroy the evidence.
It has
happened only a few times that my film was lost by a lab. One way
to reduce the chance of having film lost is to make the first frame
on each roll a shot of your name and phone number. Print in heavy block
letters: "This film is the property of . . ." on a piece of paper or a
handkerchief. Fold it up and carry it with your camera.
You might also write on your
I.D. card the date and the name of the place where you are. If you
take one of those tours whisking you through 10 countries in 15
days you won't have time for processing on the road, and
you'll be in such a fog that you won't know where you were by the
time your pictures come back. Digital cameras imbed the date and time
with the image so you can always figure out where the picture was taken
by cross referencing with your travel record book. Make sure to reset your
camera's clock to the local time in Europe when you arrive, and reset it again when
you come home.
Verboten
Cameras are prohibited inside casinos, most museums, and other places where
you see the camera sketch with a line across it. A guard in a Barcelona Metro stop prevented me from
taking pictures inside the station. The bus depot in Cambridge also prevented me from
shooting inside the depot, but escorted me to the door and said I could shoot from there.
If you want to take a picture inside a store or
building, you might want to ask permission first. Otherwise do it discreetly
so you are not seen. I usually use the discreet method. Outdoors I
usually shoot at anything I want, but one time the owner of a
German gas station came out to prevent me from taking a picture of
his station. My German companion was as surprised as I was.
On a recent trip to Europe I decided to try McDonalds in a train station.
While waiting in line I raised my little digital camera and snapped a picture
of the menu board above the counter. Just as I did so a store clerk waved her
hand and shouted "No picture!" It was already done. This was so ridiculous that
I took my business to another restaurant in the station. That would have been my
first Big Mac in decades.
Stephanie can't hold it in but
the mannequin must if he wants any coins in his upturned hat. You
see men and women all over Europe performing in the
street for donations. This photo was taken as we drove aross France in 1998.
[1210]
SECURITY
A lot of cameras get stolen in Europe every year. Tourists holding a camera pointing at a famous
monument must be on guard. People are watching you. Some of those people are
certified baddies. You should look around to make sure there are no suspicious characters lurking
nearby. I've had a number of run-ins with gypsies. They are easy to spot because it is the women who
do most of the dirty work and they come dressed in gaudy colorful dresses and scarves. The children
are also clever thieves, trained to do it for a living. You
are most vulnerable when you are distracted, like when you are making a shot. The thief might have a
hard time getting the camera out of your hand but will have little resistance while lifting your wallet
as you concentrate on the picture. Pickpockets are clever. A friend had his watch removed from his wrist
in a famous Paris museum, the Louvre.
Clever thieves follow their targets. If one of them sees you shortly before lunch the scumbag may
follow you into a restaurant. It's not easy to eat while you have a three pound camera
hanging around your neck. When you take it off and put it on an adjacent chair, loop the strap through
a convenient part of the chair. That will slow him or her down, but will not guarantee security. If you go to the
toilet bring your camera with you. Gents, use a stall.
It you put your camera on your table during dinner be on alert for distractions which
give thieves an opportunity. A theft takes a split second. Remember that most thieves work in gangs. One makes
a distraction, one makes the pick, a third takes the hand-off, and disappears.
Thieves also follow their targets into other stores for opportunities. I've read several stories lately
about theft of wallets, passports, and cameras inside retail stores. Heck, you trusting Americans
leave everything laying out wherever you go. I could have stolen half a dozen purses
from shopping carts in my grocery store last week. Hang onto your stuff in Europe.
Many people carry their camera in their day bag. This makes it much easier to steal than if it is on a
strap around your neck. Keep it on the strap around your neck and keep one hand on it at all times.
You want to be ready to shoot, don't you? If gypsies approach take their picture. It is amazing how
fast they vacate when I start taking their picture. If you're not holding your camera it will be swinging in
the wind and smacking you in the belly with every step. Ouch!
Also put your cameras on your home or apartment insurance policy. This paid off for me years ago
when my Olympus OM-2 fell off the camera strap while I was getting off a train in France. The camera
was dead but was repairable when I got home, and fully paid by my insurance.
Which reminds me that you should definitely send in the warranty card as soon
as you buy your camera.
A TRAVELING CAMERA KIT
The List
This is a list of the photography gear I travel
with:
- SLR digital camera
- Zoom lens, 18 to 200 mm
- Polarizing filter on the lens
- Point and Shoot 3X or better digital camera
- Point and Shoot digital camera carrying case
- Extra digital memory chip for each camera
- Lens microfiber cleaning cloth
- C-clamp tripod
- Spare batteries and/or 100-240 volt charger brick
- Power strip (200+ volt) or plug adapters
- USB cable
- Camera User's Manual for each camera
User's Manual Redux
Are you one of those people who start
using gadgets before you read the instructions? Part of every
manufacturer's job is to make things "idiot proof" to protect you
against yourself. Every camera comes with a couple of little
booklets, one of which is the user's manual. The other is
promotion for more cameras and lenses. You probably threw both of
them in a drawer someplace and couldn't find them in two hours. Now
is a good time to dig out the manual and stuff it in a corner of
your carry-on bag. Thumb through it first and brush up on basic
operations if you don't use it often. Also, your camera will go bad
at one time or another. I guarantee it. It might be a simple thing,
but you won't know if you don't have the operator's manual
handy.
Out on the beach a pair of Grolsch bier flags
wave the sun to its daily rest in Zandvoort, The Netherlands.
[1202]
NOTE TO READERS
I welcome questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to
Europe that have not been covered well enough in this chapter do not hesitate to write and ask.
My email address is
johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.
When you write please include as much detail as possible. There are about 50 countries in Europe.
It will help me answer if you mention the countries and/or cities you plan to visit.
I will reply in a day or two.
Don't forget to scroll through the Table of Contents below. The other 29 chapters of
HOW TO EUROPE
are also available, free to read on line. In addition, the Google search box below can locate specific subjects
in any chapter or page on site.
For a check-off punchlist of everything go to The Finale,
Packing List and Last Call What You
Need to Travel in Europe, All in One Place.
If you know of someone else who would appreciate reading this web page please send
the URL link to him or her. To easily do that, click your "File" tab in the tool bar and scroll down to
"Send" or "Send Link." Your friend will thank you, and I thank you.
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