Since being unveiled in April 2010, the iPad has been reviewed by travel enthusiast and green advocates alike with praise. In fact, many people have gone so far as to claim it might save the print industry by allowing eBooks, eMagazines, and eNewspapers to flourish.

As a freelance photographer, I’m ecstatic that the end of the print recession may be approaching, but my anti-consumer mentality demands an answer to an important question: Are iPad’s actually green?

The simple and widely accepted answer is yes. It features a great eBook reader, Zinio magazine application and newspapers are not far behind. It will save an abundance of paper. It is also a great travel-sized computer that will do the basic web-based necessities, like email, basic photo editing, and blogging, while away from a home computer or laptop. New applications are launched daily that perform nearly any imaginable function.

Unfortunately, it replaces nothing. Statistics prove they are a convenience that will undoubtedly raise the average carbon footprint.

iPad User Statistics

Since the release of the iPod, Mac products have developed a cult-like loyalty and the iPad is no exception. Statistics show that 90 per cent of owners also own a Mac computer, while 85 per cent own an iPhone. PC owners make up another 40 per cent of its ownership.

Sticking with the magazine example, the Zinio magazine application that has received such high praise from iPad users is available on any home computer and iPhone. As statistics show, at least 85 per cent of iPad owners could read their digital magazines on two separate devices, excluding their new iPad.

Most applications are also available on the iPhone, proving that the 85 per cent who own both could perform similar tasks on either device, albeit with a different screen size.

iPad Carbon Emissions versus Print Magazines

Apple estimates the carbon footprint of each of its products. The iPad produces approximately 130 kg CO₂ during a four-year life span. If the 10-hour battery life remains consistent over the four-year span and it gets recycled at the end of its useful life, it is responsible for at least 2.7kg CO₂ per month.

Discovery Magazine took a long look in the mirror in 2008 and found that each edition of each copy of their magazine was responsible for 0.95 kg CO₂. If more magazines worked to equal Discovery’s emission levels, iPad users would need to read three magazines per month to equal the emissions caused by their newest electronic toy.

While reading three magazines per month isn’t unrealistic, keep in mind that there is still a large carbon footprint involved in producing the digital version. Also, print magazines often end up being passed on to more than one reader, while some copies remain in libraries for years. An iPad magazine purchased from Zinio cannot be transferred to another device, so its readership is limited.

Understanding the iPad’s Green Result

It’s hard for any non-essential consumer item to be considered green.  While the average carbon footprint of each device can be measured, a simple number cannot tell the entire story.

When used to replace an older device or limit other purchases, the iPad may lower the overall global carbon footprint; however, if it is used along side both a personal computer and iPhone, as statistics prove is common, its green value immediately disappears.

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As many people know, I spent a couple months this year cycling patagonia. My wife, Romina, and I wanted a memorable honeymoon and we managed to pedal from Puerto Natales, Chile, to San Rafael, Mendoza, in about two months. It was incredible, but we were shocked at the amount of garbage visible along the roadsides. As fans of Leave No Trace, we were upset that people could spend so much time exploring this environment, yet show so little effort in leaving it pristine for the next group to enjoy.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do too much clean up, as there was simply too much garbage to carry on our bikes. We could have filled more than one dump truck every day. Instead, I decided to begin shooting the garbage as part of its landscape, hoping to show people the importance of leaving nature alone. This project remains a work in progress, but here is a brief glance at my first environmental photo essay:

Related posts:

1. 5 Accessories Travel Photographers Should Carry

Review: The Magic of Black & White Images Part III, The Short Version:

What: The Magic of Black & White Images Part III

Who: Andrew S. Gibson authors Craft & Vision’s latest title.

Where: Click here to visit Craft & Vision.

When: Use promo code WHITE4 between August 19 and 22 to receive either a 20% discount on the new eBook, 20% off any purchase of 5 or more books, or 20% all 16 titles.

Why: Craft & Vision is committed to helping photographers improve their craft with well-written, inexpensive eBooks. This is their 16^th title and it promises to continue the brands success formed from its popular titles, TEN, The Inspired Eye, Vision Is Better, and The Magic of Black & White series.

The Magic of Black & White Images Part III is my sixth eBook from Craft & Vision and I can honestly say it continues to strengthen my opinion of their products. All their books offer exceptional value; their books are easy to read, provide excellent tutorials or inspiration, which have worked together to show an instant improvement in my photography and, perhaps more importantly, my photographic confidence.

Take a moment to consider the fact that their books cost the same as a specialty coffee and then make the wise investment to help your photography grow.

Review: The Magic of Black & White Images Part III, The Long Version:

On Thursday, August 19^th, 2010, Craft & Vision will launch their latest title, The Magic of Black & White Images Part III. This eBook takes a close look at nine post-processing techniques that can be performed in Photoshop to bring out the emotion created by stunning black and white images. Adobe Photoshop Element users aren’t left out either, as five of the techniques can be performed in Elements as well.

Author Andrew S. Gibson continues his three-part series by guiding photographers through the techno-geek side of toning, split toning, exposure blending, textures, and creating both Diptyches and Triptychs without losing sight of the artistic creativity required to capture the original image. Example images and Photoshop screen shots accompany each technique to help ease the learning curve for these advanced techniques.

The great folks at Craft & Vision wired me an early copy of the book for review and I can honestly say that I am impressed. I do not shoot many black and white images and the few black and white images that I do produce are normally of the post-realization rather than pre-visualization variety.  Thankfully, this book is straightforward and has already inspired my to shoot more black and white images with the knowledge that I will be able to transform them into the emotion filled pictures I’d love to make.

Keeping their slogan, “Craft & Vision provides exceptional photography education at irresistible prices” in mind, they are offering a 20% discount on their already affordable books. Anyone who purchases the new eBook between August 19 and 22 can use the discount code WHITE4 to receive a 20% discount. But wait, the savings are not limited to the one title. Take advantage of the sales to purchase 5 or more eBooks and receive the same 20% discount on each one.

Better yet, take advantage of the permanent 20% discount on the BUY ALL feature and walk away with 16 new eBooks from authors like David duChemin, Eli Reinholdtsen, Dave Delnea, and Gavin Gough, among others.

The Link:

Click here to visit Craft & Vision.

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While crew trucks now supersede horses as a preferred work vehicle, it’s still the type of place where you can walk through town with a camera and tripod without attracting unwanted attention of theft. In fact, if the mountain bikes, left unlocked outside nearly every business and home, are any indication, there is likely no crime at all.

In other words, Malargüe is my kind of town, so I decided to head out and explore this piece of Mendoza after dark:

Related posts:

1. Project 365: Portraits of Mendoza Week
2. World Cup Madness in Mendoza
3. Project 365: Mi Barrio de Mendoza Week

Well, another two weeks have past, so I should be posting 16 more environmental portraits to round out my Project 365: Environmental Portrait Month theme. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any more. Even more unfortunate, I didn’t take any images to speak of during the past two weeks. On that note, I’d like to share some good and some bad news with everyone following the project. In keeping with tradition, I’ll begin with the latter.

The Bad News:

My 365 project is dead. I’m sorry to anyone who has been following it throughout the year. Sadly, I neither have the time nor effort to complete the project to my standards. The images have slipped lately because I haven’t been inspired. I’ve been rushed. I’d see the clock at 5:00 PM and run out to take a picture. I wasn’t making images; I was snapping shots.

If anyone can think back to January, I had some very inspired images with the unfortunate exception of Day 2/365: January 2, 2010. The momentum continued through the end of February. March was busy but I made some images I am truly proud to show. The same can be said for April. The slip started in May and continued through June and July. The images were hit or miss. The My Grey Hoody week was a lot of fun, but by August, I was truly running empty. By mid August, I was done.

The original plan was to take a week or two away from the project, but the two weeks have been such a relief, that I’ve decided to call it an attempt gone bad.

The Good News:

Rest assured that my work will continue. In fact, I bet it will be more interesting for everyone starting now. Just don’t expect a daily update.

My 365 project was actually holding back my creativity and effort. While some people have excelled on this style of project, many others have seen their creativity crushed by the daily demand. I’m in the second category. Now that I’ve called it off, I feel so relieved that I know my next images will be much stronger.

I’ve done a lot of creative soul searching in the past two weeks. While I’ll spare you the bulk of the story, it might be useful to check out my new About section to see some of the changes are on there way. I’ve started a number of mini-projects that I am confident will spark my energy again and I’ll be sharing as much as possible on both flickr and my blog.

To close of the year, I’d like to hold a mini-contest with my own images. I’ve selected my 10 favorite images and I’d like some opinions on which was my best image thus far in 2010.  Check out these images and leave a comment with your top three picks:

Ignore that last image. WordPress makes it impossible to exclude an image from the gallery if it is included in the post. Please vote using the corresponding image numbers. Imaging the first images are numbered 1 through 10; odd numbers are on the left column, even numbers on the right. I look forward to the results.

Related posts:

1. Project 365: Environmental Portraits Month 1/2
2. Project 365: Only in Argentina Weeks
3. Project 365: My Grey Hoody Week

Camera gear is heavy. The moment a packing list includes a dSLR camera, several lenses, flash, tripod, and related accessories like a laptop, external hard drives, and audio recorder, the luggage tends to weigh too much. Most photographers can deal with this, as they are usually traveling between shoots in a car, but that has never really been my style. In fact, I haven’t owned a car since I’ve become a photographer. Apart from the obvious correlation between my photography earnings and high car prices, the decision is actually a personal preference that I’ve been able to manage quite nicely.

In the past 2 years, I’ve logged thousands of kilometers on my bike and I’ve carried my photography gear the entire time. I shot sporting events and newspaper assignments in Victoria, British Columbia, pleased commercial clients in Vineyards near Mendoza, Argentina, and completed a two-month cycle tour through Patagonia. Check out my Cycling Patagonia photo essay on Matador Trips.

Thankfully, a little creative design, determination, and good luck have made my cycling photography career possible. Here’s a quick guide to transform your bikes into a photographer’s best friend.

Selecting And Modifying a Bike for a Photographer:

While nearly any bike will work, some are undoubtedly better than others. Forget performance for strength and durability. An aluminum road bike is great, but a steel-frame touring bike would be better. A mountain bike is a good middle ground. No matter the ride, a few modifications will need to be made.

A rear rack is a definite necessity. Without one, you’ll be forced to carry the weight in either a backpack or waist pack. No matter the situation, camera gear must be kept clean and dry. On a bicycle, vibration is also an important consideration. Modern digital equipment is fabulous, but it’s also much more technologically fragile than the manual film cameras of yesteryear. Any of these three methods work great for their intended use:

• For daily city use, purchase both the Ortlieb Rack Adaptor and Ortlieb Basket Adaptor to attach a lightweight wire basket to the top of the rear rack. Drop your camera bag in the basket while you ride. Once at your destination, lock the bike up and grab your equipment just like any other photographer.
• For mid-range trips, buy a pair of waterproof panniers. Stack your gear safely in one bag and balance the bike by stacking some camera equipment and clothing on the other side. Make sure that the camera gear is padded; vibration reducing foam works great, but t-shirts or socks work in a pinch. Depending on the additional equipment, you might need a front rack and two more panniers to manage all the extra travel equipment.
• For long tours, use the same Ortlieb Bracket but replace the basket with a modified Pelican Box. They can withstand any weather situation and the foam provides great protection against rattles, vibrations, and crashes. Unfortunately, it isn’t very convenient when off the bike, but that is secondary to protection during long trips.

Over the past few years, I’ve bounced back and forth between these three different packing methods on my Surly Long Haul Trucker. Each works great for their intended use and I would recommend them to anyone. If using the wire basket, it is very important to use a good brand of camera bag because it is providing the only protection to your equipment. Personally, I love Lowe-Pro bags because they come with lots of padding and most have a built-in rain cover. There are other great brands, but don’t sacrifice protection to save a few dollars.

There are no right and wrong answers for what to carry and what to leave at home, but if you’re carrying too much camera gear on a bike it will quickly become a burden. It’s important to take a few moments to really confirm what you need and what you merely want to carry. For a recent cycle touring trip through Patagonia, I carried the following gear:

• Nikon D300 camera body, with battery grip
• 3 lenses: Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8, Nikon 50mm f/1.8, and Nikon 70-200 f/2.8
• Nikon SB-800 Speed light
• ZOOM H2 Digital recorder
• Manfrotto Tripod
• 5 other accessories travel photographers should carry

Anyone who is familiar with my usual camera bag contents will realize I didn’t leave much behind. In hindsight, I could have left the 50mm prime, Zoom H2 recorder, SB-800 speed light, and the battery grip at home. That is a major weight savings, but I didn’t take the time to plan things properly. Follow this three-step list to avoid making the same mistake:

• Layout all of the available photography gear at home
• Make a detailed shots list of intended cycle-based photography subjects. The more detailed the list, the easier it is to prepare and pack.Avoid listing subjects that might be found and really concentrate on the intended photographic goals of the trip.
• Using the list as reference, ruthlessly remove any unneeded gear and keep a keen eye out for redundancies. Every piece of equipment adds weight, no matter its size.

Related posts:

1. Gear: What’s In My Camera Bag?
2. From the Archives: Jose Lazaro
3. Hey Mom, Here’s My Wish List

Although they hosted and won the original World Championship back in 1950, Argentina will look to build off their recent international success. Beginning with their 2004 Olympic gold medal, Argentina finished second and forth, respectively, in the past two World Championships. Unfortunately, they will be playing without their two best players, as Manu Ginobli has opted out to rest some lingering injuries, while Luis Scola is simply staying home.

Team captain Roman Gonzalez brings his massive 2.08-meter (6’ 9”) inside presence to the returning lineup, but his once explosive step seems slower now that he’s a 32-yearold veteran. No matter who ends up in the final lineup, Coach Nicolas Casalanguida should have his team ready to play its team-first style by August.

On the Chileno side, coach Juan Manuel Cordoba is not surrounded by the same amount of talent. Despite having four players who top 2 m (6’ 5”), including the 2.12 m (7”) Patricio Briones, the team lacks an aggressive inside presence required to compete at the international level. Briones has the potential to play tough, but uses his soft hands for perimeter shooting. Chile hasn’t won anything at the World Championship since taking home a pair of bronze medals in the 1950’s. The size and play of the current team leaves little reason to believe that outcome will change this year.

• As a photographer, I normally focus on travel photography but I’ve always had a passion for sports. While my two staple sports, hockey and NFL football are not available in Argentina; I’ve grown into a football (soccer) and basketball fan. When I heard about the international matches in Mendoza, I immediately remembered how much I enjoyed shooting the Peninsula Panthers hockey team. I decided inquire about a press pass. A few phone calls lead me to Mendoza’s Secretaria de Deportes press contact, Ricardo Fernandez. He understood my desire to shoot the game and bent over backwards to make sure I had everything I needed at the games despite my late inquiry. Gracias Ricardo!

Related posts:

1. World Cup Madness in Mendoza
2. Project 365: Only in Argentina Weeks
3. Landscapes of Ruta Internacional 7

The Beginning – Markets to help new photographers/writers break in:

Contests – While contests offer nothing in terms of guaranteed income, they provide a great source of exposure and the possibility of prizes and cash. Make sure to read the entry requirements in detail and follow all instructions. You’d be surprised at how many people are disqualified for overlooking simple suggestions like file naming and image theme.

• Online Photo Contests Database
• How To Win a Photography Contest

Matador Network – The Matador Network features 11 content-specific blogs and it publishes more than 12 articles every day. While the pay isn’t too high, it is an excellent starting point in terms of exposure (721 890 Monthly Visitors) and flexibility (choose from assigned articles on the Bounty Board or pitch your own idea). Matador also provides a permanent link to your own site, which will increase expose your work.

• Matador Editors
• Submissions Email Addresses
• Submission Guidelines

The Building Process – Markets to help build a stronger portfolio:

Adventure Cyclist – Published 9-times each year, Adventure Cyclist welcomes writing and photography content to for its US-based touring, international touring, and profiles sections. Its submission guidelines also clearly state the need for stunning cover images.

• Editor: Mike Deme
• Submission email: mdeme@adventurecycling.org
• Submission Guidelines

Americas – A bi-monthly magazine published in Spanish and English for the Organization of American States. Americas accepts contributions that advance mutual understanding among the people of the western hemisphere. Articles in each issue cover a wide variety of topics including culture, history, literature, visual arts, performing arts, architecture, science, the environment, politics and economics, so would-be contributors have plenty to choose from. The editors encourage potential writers and photographers to query first.

• Editor: Amparo Trujillo
• Submission Email: Americasmagazine@oas.org
• Submission Guidelines

E- The Environmental Magazine – Focusing on the question “What can I do?” E magazine is a bi-monthly magazine for people concerned about the environment. Once again, the magazine welcomes submissions that combine both writing and photography. Travel writers/photographers are likely most interested in the magazine’s features or Going Green travel section.

• Editor: Brita Belli
• Submission Email: brita@emagazine.com
• Writing Guidelines, Photography Guidelines

Outpost Magazine – Canada’s only adventure travel magazine, Outpost avoids the cozy content covered by most travel magazines by featuring a more adventurous and realistic look at the world. The editors welcome submissions targeted at a specific magazine department and encourage potential submissions to include both writing and photography.

• Editor: Liza Finlay
• Submission Email: editor@outpostmagazine.com
• Submission Guidelines

Revista Nuestra Mirada – A new online magazine that publishes photojournalism work from Latin America, produced by local storytellers. Although only two editions old, the magazines strong relationship with the Knight Center for International Media and its quality imagery should help make the magazine an ongoing success. Query first.

• Editor: Pablo Corral Vega
• Submission Email: revista@nuestramirada.org
• Guidelines: Not Available.

Verge magazine – Verge focuses on travel with a purpose, which it defines as working, volunteering, or studying abroad. First time submissions should combine travel writing with photography and target the magazine’s numerous departments. Work your way into longer feature articles by building a relationship with the editors.

• Editor: Julia Steinecke
• Submission email: contributing@vergemagazine.ca
• Guidelines: Magazine Guidelines

The Dream – Markets to aspire to and how to get involved now:

National Geographic – The yellow rectangle is the pinnacle of culture and travel for most travel photographers. The competition is fierce, the imagery flawless, and the experience both valuable and priceless. Photographers normally approach the magazine with a solid portfolio that contains at least 5 years of photojournalism experience. Those interested in applying early should try National Geographic’s Your Shot category and see if their photo makes it into the Daily Dozen.

• Your Shot Editor: Susan Welchman
• Your Shot Submission Form
• Photography Guidelines

The New York Times – The iconic New York publisher is a world leader in photojournalism and is currently leading the charge to online content. Its new Lens blog features the best visual and multimedia reporting from around the globe. While assigned work may be a few years away, Lens runs the occasional event and welcomes submissions from all photographers.

• Submission Advice: Subscribe to Lens and watch for events/special promotions similar to it’s A Moment in Time, which ran on May 2, 2010.

Related posts:

1. Where to Submit, Sell and Market Travel Photography
2. Travel Photography Basics
3. Five Photojournalists that Inspire

Biggest Lesson of the Two Weeks: Environmental portraits are fun to shoot. While I still have a slight hesitation every time I ask to take somebody’s portrait, I’m always amazed at how few people refuse. Not all of this month’s images are true keepers, but its amazing to see how much a face can make an ordinary photo extraordinary. People photography is the best part of travel photography. Lesson learned.

The Monthly Project: 365 Awards:

Most Popular Image: Day 189/365: July 8, 2010

My Favorite Image: Day 190/365: July 9, 2010

Best Flickr Comment of the Week: “Whew! I thought this was the newest episode of the Sopranos. Great shot.” by .avina. on my Day 193/365: July 12, 2010 image.

The Project: 365 Year To Date:

Most popular: Day 4/365: January 4, 2010

Best image: Day 35/365: February 04, 2010

Worst Image: Day 2/365: January 2, 2010

Thanks for checking out my work. Other Project 365 Themes for the upcoming posts, including:

Environmental Portraits 2/2

Can’t get enough of my work? Check out my new Travel Photography and Travel Writing categories and make sure to leave a comment.

Related posts:

1. Project 365: Strangers Month
2. Project 365: Patagonia Month
3. Project 365: Portraits of Mendoza Week

Biggest Lesson of the Week: This Project: 365 is hard. The end of June marks the halfway point of the year and the milestone is a reminder about how difficult these projects become over time. As a travel photographer, making an image takes both time and energy that is hard to muster every single day. I’m surprised at my consistency over the past six months but feel that I am slipping a little in my creativity/motivation. I’m setting a month long theme in July and I’ll try my best to make a better image each and every day.

The Weekly Project: 365 Awards:

Most Popular Image: Day 176/365: June 25, 2010

My Favorite Image: Day 171/365: June 20, 2010

Best Flickr Comment of the Week: “The desicated viscera clinging to the tooth… gcckghgh. This photo doesn’t pull any punches. If you were looking to afflict your audience with the strain of that crimson experience, you’ve succeeded. Very effective work. ” by BuffaloBilious on my Day 176/365: June 25, 2010 image.

The Project: 365 Year To Date:

Most popular: Day 4/365: January 4, 2010

Best image: Day 35/365: February 04, 2010

Worst Image: Day 2/365: January 2, 2010

Thanks for checking out my work. Other Project 365 Themes for the upcoming posts, including:

Environmental Portraits

Can’t get enough of my work? Jump over to my new Travel Photography category and read my recent Travel Photography posts.

Related posts:

1. Project 365: My Grey Hoody Week
2. Project 365: Color Week
3. Project 365: A Random Couple of Weeks