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Custom Photo Transportation
When our publisher, Steve Werner, directed us to outfit a vehicle that would demonstrate how one could use a four-wheel-drive SUV specifically for photography, it sounded intriguing, but what could we get together that would work in the field? And could we do it all-digital to reflect the keen interest our readers have in digital?
As you’ve seen in the past few months, we indeed created an Outdoor Photographer photo vehicle that would accomplish these things. We’ve now driven this small SUV (originally chosen for better gas mileage and, luckily, Nissan became our first sponsor with the Xterra) all over California and other parts of the West. We’ve taken it onto rough roads that only a 4WD vehicle with high clearance could navigate, getting into backcountry for photo ops not otherwise readily accessible.
The real advantage that a vehicle like the Xterra offers us isn’t in the ability to bomb around, spraying mud and turf. Rather, the 4WD system enables us to reach remote places, often via fire roads or other poorly maintained thoroughfares. An ordinary car wouldn’t stand a chance on some of the rutted, muddy, rock-strewn traverses we drove. Then once we reached “The Place,” we had other special modifications to help us get some unique angles and process the digital images in real time.
The photos on these pages show the vehicle in many of the locations we visited. It was fun to have an SUV that was outfitted specifically for photography, including a shooting platform on the roof, à la Ansel Adams. We drew a bit of attention with all of the sponsor logos on the sides, of course, but then those sponsors made this project possible.
Here are some things we learned that might help you in outfitting your own photo vehicle:
If you’ve been inspired by the OP Photo Vehicle to modify and customize your SUV for photography, send us a note and a photograph of what you did. We’d like to see it and maybe share your ideas with our readers.
(800) MY-APPLE
www.apple.com
Canon
(800) OK-CANON
www.usa.canon.com
Coleman
(800) 835-3278
www.coleman.com
(800) 800-1020
www.garmin.com
Gitzo, Manfrotto and The Pod
(Bogen Imaging)
(201) 818-9500
www.bogenimaging.us
Nissan
(800) Nissan-1
www.nissanusa.com
(800) 719-0595
www.olixir.com
SanDisk
(800) 977-5427
www.sandisk.com
Tamrac
(800) 662-0717
www.tamrac.com