Samsung Imagelogger AND Thirteen Photos from San Francisco

At a Starbucks in North San Antonio I get an email that Samsung is looking for 25 people to be Imageloggers, people who are interested in shooting with their new smart camera, the NX300, for a few months. Who would say no?

A few weeks later, my shiny NX300 arrives. The camera came out of the gates with great reviews. I have an appreciation for large sensors in small bodies. Samsung’s latest has an APS-C sensor, similar to a Canon Rebel or a Nikon D3100 with a crossfit physique – it’s lighter and compact, but equally powerful. Your full suite of PSAM settings are there, too. The wifi feature on the camera lets you pair it with your iPhone or Android, then use the app to offload the photos wirelessly. You can also use the app on your phone to fire the shutter remotely. They’ll be your finest looking selfies EVAR! Ladies, refrain from using this in the car with your seatbelt on. Duckface? Also a no-no. If you prefer, use the apps on the camera to send photos directly to Facebook or Picasa.

In a month, I shot photos of the San Antonio Magazine White Party, the Kopecky Family Band concert, Cayucas concert and Pearl Brewery as well as our 4th Annual Beer Ice Cream meetup at Freetail Brewing. Again, an invitation arrived. Would I be interested in joining a small team of global photographers in San Francisco to shoot the sights in the city and the surrounding area. I screamed. Not like a girl. Not like when I’m being attacked by birds, but a real scream. A good one. Very manly. LOOK, I DON’T NEED TO EXPLAIN MY SCREAMS TO YOU, OK?

In San Francisco we saw some of the most breathtaking and fun shots. The planning of the event was spectacular. The accomplished photographers came from California, NYC, Italy and Korea. Samsung cruised us around all day. I mean ALL DAY. We photographed Union Square, the Ferry Building, Bay Bridge, cable cars, took a bay tour around Golden Gate and Alcatraz. I got the bejeebus scared out of me by the crazy bushman at Fisherman’s Wharf…while I was looking for him. *shakes head in shame* Were we done? Heck no! We went to the marina for America’s Cup, Lombard Street and Russian Hill, I had a chai latte as big as my oversized skull, celebrated our late 80’s excitement at the Painted Ladies made famous by the Tanner family on Full House – HAVE MERCY! Done? NOPE. *takes a deep breath* Golden Gate Bridge, Portrero Skate Park, Castro where ROY G. BIV lives, got psychedelic at Haight-Ashbury, the beach, Fort Funston for freaky flying fun with hang gliding fanatics, MOAR Golden Gate, a crazy Korean dinner with soju where I was told “I’m going to make you an atomic drink.” Is it time to rest? No way, bro. Let’s go to see Fine Arts, visit Sonoma and the raceway, stroll in Sausalito and wrap it up with a baseball game at AT&T Park with an urban UFO bubbleboat, to boot.

This team knows two speeds – sleep and turbo. It was amazing and an absolute joy to spend time with such talented, smart, funny, sharing and kind people. A gigantic thank you to the team at Samsung (proper and extended), the photographers that came from near and far who changed me for the better and the staff that put up with my goofing off. Enjoy the photos below from the adventure. If you’re interested in seeing more, look for the following hashtags on social media – #samsungnx300 #nx300 #imagelogger The other photographers are world class shooters and humans.

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung Imagelogger SF | July 2013

Samsung provided the NX300 camera and travel, Joby provided the GorillaPod, 3 Way Camera Strap and UltraFit Sling Strap for Men.

What’s In Your Bag 2012 – World Edition

What's In Your Bag - World Edition

One against seven is never a fair fight. The body blows from seven time zones are iced when I tote my Passport. I darken tight doorways with a purposefully packed backpack and carryon.

My MacBook Air is ready to glamorize photos of abbeys. The microfiber cloth makes the glass sparkle. Splenda gives the perfect sweetness to the corner bistro’s cappuccino. A pounding headache and the aftermath of eating a few closed mussels from Brussels can be fixed with the white container. Be smart – if cooked shellfish didn’t open during cooking, don’t eat it.

Adventures are more fun when reading adventures first on a Kindle. My photos are 48% less boring when I hang the magnetic Joby Gorillapod from a street sign. Until the future arrives, gear will not charge itself. Thankfully, Tumi Tech’s universal plug rocks plugs for the UK, Europe, Asia and it bonuses with a USB port. The sunrise over the centuries old plaza is captured magically through the f/1.8 lens of the Sony RX100. Waking for the sunrise shoot is soothed by hits through the X-Mini travel speaker. What good are the photos of the worn streets if you can’t share? Sprint’s International Hot Spot with an unlocked SIM slot will do the trick for my four closest companions and me. Dead batteries are for suckers, so the ibattz with two removal batteries should do the trick.

But, if the ibattz isn’t enough, the MyCharge 5000 will finish the day out. Untested unlocked devices are never a sure bet. A Nokia Lumia 800 is Plan C if the iPhone and International Hot Spot are a bust. With the tiny MacBook Air minimizing outlets, the Apple USB to Ethernet dongle provides wired connectivity in hotels stuck in 1999. International travel requires forms when you’re drowsy and your seat mates are asleep, so I bring my own pen. USB charging is simple with the Western Europe dongle. Escaping airplane dry mouth is easiest with gum and keeps you in the good graces of your seat mate.

Time for my soles hit the cobblestone.