Recommendations for three weeks in the Middle East

[jhpeterson]

5D3

A Sealed 24-70 2.8.
A Sealed 70-200 2.8.
A Sealed 50mm Prime.
Two Sealed Flashes.

Fortunately, all my lenses (16-35, 24-105, 70-200 and 300) have the weather seals, as well as the fact I'll be shooting on 1DS and 1DX bodies.

I took
1Dmk2, 17-40, 24-70, 28-135(cheapo), 70-200, 50ml 1.4, 100-400(hardly used), 1.4extender(didn't use), 580exii flash(used in shuks...markets), tripod (must have for those awesome night shots of old buildings..Gitzo 2451 carbon, spare battery, lots of cards, laptop, external drive.

If you go to the markets, take filters and/or lens cleaning kit.

I went to "shuk hacarmel" in Tel-Aviv with a friend to shoot a video, and there were 2-3 people in the market who didn't want to be shoot and just pushed (assertively, not brutally) the lens away with their hands, leaving finger prints on the front element.

I'm also bring along a few extra filters along for just such situations.
But, pushed "assertively"?  While I try being very conscious about not shooting where I'm unwanted, I've also done a few stints as a news photojournalist, so I've learned to make my way through crowds and don't get pushed around easily.

[jhpeterson]

No problem. Hope I helped a bit.
Have a nice trip...and share photos of course!
Shalom.

Roman, I'm staying right on the Mediterranean this evening, off to Caesarea and Megiddo in the morning. Here for another week, though probably won't get to Haifa. But, if you insist on that photo lesson....
And, yes, I'm actually still walking around with just about all the gear I had planned to take. In fact, the other morning before dawn I hiked up Mt. Sinai with the full pack (two bodies and the four lenses, about 35 pounds) to catch the sunrise. Got a little more than what I bargained for when I ran into light snow about halfway up. Fortunately, no real accumulation and it made for some awesome photos when the clouds cleared out at first light.

[jhpeterson]

Wanted to say I made it back last week from three great weeks traveling through the Middle East. Thanks, everyone, for all your suggestions.
I wound up taking nearly 9000 photos, and, yes, I really carried my full pack with me almost all the time. About the only time I didn't was in the tight confines of tunnels under some of the pyramids, though even there I carried two bodies with zooms, one wide and one long.
I'll admit, a few times I ached at the end of the day, but I'm not sure I would have done it any differently. I wound up using just about every piece of gear I'd brought along, the only exception being the 7D I'd carried as backup in case one my bodies failed.
By the way, that 1DX totally rocks; it's just amazing the quality of images I was able to get in almost no light.

I'm still recovering from jet lag, but I'll post pictures in the coming days.

[sootzzs]

Wanted to say I made it back last week from three great weeks traveling through the Middle East. Thanks, everyone, for all your suggestions.
I wound up taking nearly 9000 photos, and, yes, I really carried my full pack with me almost all the time. About the only time I didn't was in the tight confines of tunnels under some of the pyramids, though even there I carried two bodies with zooms, one wide and one long.
I'll admit, a few times I ached at the end of the day, but I'm not sure I would have done it any differently. I wound up using just about every piece of gear I'd brought along, the only exception being the 7D I'd carried as backup in case one my bodies failed.
By the way, that 1DX totally rocks; it's just amazing the quality of images I was able to get in almost no light.

I'm still recovering from jet lag, but I'll post pictures in the coming days.

Good to hear you've had fun and listened to yourself eventually. I've sent you a PM. Would be glad to hear from you.