Egypt visit

[haris]

Hello,

I am visiting Egypt, and wondering if something like this: http://www.apug.org/forums/forum49/5...ns-turkey.html or simillar is issue in Egypt.

Any other info about photographing in Egypt is welcome.

Thank you.

[haris]

Oh, yes:

I am concerned as I plan to carry 2 SLR-s (Canon EOS3 and EOS 500n, one for b/w and one for colour, 2 lenses (28-135mm and 50mm), tripod (Slik 500DX pro), and maybe flash (420EX). I plan to carry about 20 rolls of film (10 or 15 rolls of b/w, rest colour)

[sbelyaev]

I returned from Egypt about 2 months ago.
Based on my experience I could recommend the following:
You will not need a tripod (no time). A good zoom and a good 35-50mm lens (?35/1.4 or 50/1.2 depending on your preferences) should be enough.
You can bring as much film as you want, but avoid putting the film through ubiquitous in Egypt x-ray machines. You will be asked to scan your bags everywhere: airport, hotel entrance, boat entrance. By the end of the trip your bags/film might be scanned 20-30 times. Egyptians are very strict when it comes to security. The x-ray machines are as old as the pyramids, so I'm not sure whether they are safe for film or not. I made my guide translate to the security officers that the film should be hand inspected. Every time my requests for hand inspection were accepted.
Probably, you will not need a fast film. In some dark places like tombs/temples they don't allow to take any pictures. That is another reason why you won't need a flash.
I took some fuji velvia, kodak 100vs and kodak e200and 1 roll of e100g
E200 could be pushed 1 stop (EI320). I think you will not need a faster film.
I didn't like colors of velvia. It is very nice for green colors, but predominant Egyptian colors are yellow, red and brown. Velvia could not handle them. e100g was not good.
Kodak slides were MUCH nicer.
If you visit Luxor you must take a hot air balloon ride over valley of kings. That ride alone worth visiting Egypt.
Contact Vikingair (?vikingair.com) to arrange the ride. Choose the earliest flight.
Good luck!

[sbelyaev]

some pictures I've taken in Egypt:
http://flickr.com/photos/90094587@N0...7604249313466/

[haris]

Thank you sbelyaev.

Enjoy life

[Mike Kennedy]

Met a chap who had gone to Egypt for a months vacation.He shot many rolls of color print film and most of it turned out quite nicely except the images that included people.He hadn't used fill flash and all of the facial features were rendered unrecognizable.
Bright sunny days demand fill flash to accentuate the details.

[haris]

Thanks, Mike.

Regards