With the Internet, you can get lots of info in advance, but a local person who knows how to work the system is invaluable.

It is so much better to get the right exposure than to have to mess around later with Photoshop.

I've heard Braggadocio about excess baggage charges, multiple unused hotel rooms, and rental cars held unused for long periods of time, which makes me lose respect for certain photographers. Sometimes it's worth it to spend money on a good idea, but wasting money makes me ill.

Digital makes it so much easier. No bricks of film, no worrying about airport X-rays, etc.

Everyone thinks it would be great to work for National Geographic. So did I.

I sold all my medium format equipment in 2005 after Canon came out with the 12 megapixel EOS 1Ds.

Before digital, I spent thirty years shooting color transparencies, which are very unforgiving of exposure. A half stop can make or break a good photo on slide film.