2011 English Loweprofessionals Brochure by Lowepro

Bernard Brault Chee Yong Chow Julie Dermansky Mirjam Evers Brett Florens Serkan G没nes Andreas Kieling Todd Korol Alessandra Meniconzi Cristina Mittermeier Mateusz Moskalik Carol Stevenson Ami Vitale Jianjun Wang Geoff Waugh 2011 Professional Photographer Showcase

“ Make something extraordinary out of the ordinary. It’s then that the world sits up and takes notice.” Brett Florens

The Trusted Original. That’s who we are. We’re Trusted, because since 1967, professional photographers have counted on us to protect their gear. They know we understand how they work — and that we pay attention to every last detail. So wherever they go, whatever situations they encounter, they trust that we’re behind them every step of the way. We’re the Original because we invented the very first professional-grade bags — and our designs set the standards that have shaped this industry for decades. We’re the leading brand in protective cases for camera and video gear. Photographers all over the world rely on us — on all their adventures, all their assignments. That’s why Lowepro is The Trusted Original.

Bernard Brault

Chee Yong Chow

Julie Dermansky

Mirjam Evers

Brett Florens

12 Weddings in Fashion

14 Intimate Nature

Andreas Kieling

Todd Korol

Alessandra Meniconzi

Cristina Mittermeier

Mateusz Moskalik

Carol Stevenson

Ami Vitale

Jianjun Wang

Geoff Waugh

Product Design

Product Gallery

Contact Information

4 O, Canada

16 The Green Line

28 Ebb and Flow of Life

6 If Dreams Were Real

18 Something Old, Something New

30 Within Nature’s Greatness

8 Tragedy in Slow Motion

20 Hidden China

32 Behind the Scenes

10 Kenya Smiling

22 Kayapó: Protectors of the Amazon

34 Carrying Invention Since 1967

24 Addicted to the Cold

35 Lowepro 2011 Product Series

Serkan Gûnes

26 The Elephant Photographer

50 Corporate Addresses

This Loweprofessionals brochure is a celebration of photography — and photographers — everywhere. Whether snapping pictures of the family vacation or on assignment for National Geographic, you are our inspiration. And what we love most are the fantastic stories behind your images. Stories of adventure, travel, danger and love — they all give us a glimpse into the world as you see it. The challenges you face are what keeps our design team on their toes. They work hard to invent better ways to carry, access and protect your gear. And they are deeply committed to making your lives just a little bit easier. We are honored to count some of the most celebrated photographers in the world as friends and partners, but we truly appreciate hearing from all of you. Whether it’s offering feedback about how to improve our products or simply sharing your stories, your comments are what motivate us. In this 2011 edition, we’re delighted to share the stories behind some of the amazing images we’ve found and showcase just a few of the hard-working photographers who open up the world for all of us to enjoy. Whether you’re a pro, enthusiast or amateur, this edition of our Loweprofessionals brochure is dedicated to you.

Enjoy!

Bernard Brault O, Canada The 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver were Bernard Brault’s 9th Olympic adventure. He knows the ropes, and he knows just where to be to get the best photo opportunities. And he always takes his Lowepro pack along.

Bernard Brault is a staff photographer for La Presse in Montreal, one of the largest French language dailies. His assignments include sports, politics, current events, food and even fashion. And through it all, he focuses on conveying the ingredients that make his images memorable: humor and emotion. In his 33-year career, Brault has covered nine different Olympics, from the Lillehammer Games in 1994 to the most recent 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, where he found some favorite memories as well as challenging conditions. In the 2010 Games in Vancouver, it rained almost constantly during the mountain events he covered, making just getting into position tough. Fortunately, his past Olympic experiences had given him keen insight as to where the best photo opportunities would be, an advantage he had over some of the less experienced photographers.

Being a staff photographer for a daily publication brought its own set of challenges. With Montreal three hours ahead of Vancouver time, and many of the events lasting until late into the night, it took some fast maneuvering to make the next day’s edition. In all, Brault shot over 24,000 pictures. While his job required him to remain objective, his images are filled with emotion — like the one of Jasey Jay Anderson, gold medalist in the Men’s Snowboard Parallel Slalom, during the touching medal ceremony. The day’s competition had been fraught with adversity — severe cold, rain, even hail — plus it was Anderson’s last competition of his career. But after getting his medal, Anderson reached down and gathered his two daughters in his arms. He closed his eyes and beamed with joy. It was a moment — one that Brault captured for the world. And then there was the Men’s Hockey final. Spoken like a true Canadian, “That was the cherry on the sundae for us,” says Brault. And even though he missed seeing Canada’s last-minute winning goal, he was down on the ice for the presentation of the medals to document the elation of this home-turf win. Perhaps the most touching moment was when Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette stole our hearts — and the bronze medal — with a highly emotional performance just days after losing her mother. Brault again showed his mastery, finding the right moment, the perfect angle and capturing an image that speaks volumes. So many great Olympic moments have been preserved in Brault’s images — the excitement, the courage, the color and the emotion. From the opening ceremonies at Lillehammer, to the first Canadian gold medal won on Canadian soil by mogul skier Alexandre Bilodeau, all the way through the closing ceremonies in Vancouver; he is now almost as much a part of Olympic history as those he has photographed.

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“ What I like in photography, it’s to make the reader react. My pictures are very graphic — so they reflect the moment of joy or pain.” Bernard Brault

The Ultimate Win: The Canadian Men’s Hockey team takes gold in 2010 (far left) Flying High: A snowboarder makes a grand entrance during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games (above left) Jasey Jay Anderson savors his last Olympic moment (below left) Joannie Rochette captures the hearts of the world with her touching performance (opposite page)

Biography For over 33 years, Bernard Brault has captured both motion and emotion in his pictures. Specializing in sports, he worked for news agencies UPC (United Press Canada) and Reuters prior to becoming a staff photographer for one of the largest French language dailies in America, La Presse, where he also writes for the travel section and covers news, fashion and the arts. He is a regular contributor to Golf Canada and Fusions with clients including Gesca, the RCGA, Ski-Presse, and Tennis Canada. His picture of the Montreal St. Joseph Oratory is featured on a stamp published by Canada Post in 2004. Since 1981 Brault has received more than 200 awards from four different continents including first prize in France’s International Best Sports photo contest and NPAC’s Canadian Photographer of the Year. He is a regular presenter at conferences across Canada and has published a collection of Olympic Games photographs in the book Les Québécois à Lillehammer, published by Éditions de l’Homme.

bernardbrault.com

Support of Mau: Nature ultimately supports all that man decides to build upon (far right above) Okutama River: A secret opening lasts only a moment, appearing while you are not looking (far right below)

Man from Down Under: A silent swimmer passes through time, defying physical space (right)

“ When I first saw the paintings of Salvador, I wondered if the same feel of surrealism could be done in the medium of photography.” Chee Yong Chow

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Chee Yong Chow If Dreams Were Real Chee Yong Chow was on a course to become an engineer when his intense love for photography led him to make a life-altering decision. His creativity and passion are mirrored in our own designers who develop the gear he uses.

Chee Yong Chow’s story is one of finding the courage to overcome the odds and cynicism he faced in his native Singapore. As a young man he was an engineering major, following the course chosen by most of his peers. But surrounded by a circle of photography enthusiasts, he soon found himself drawn in a new direction, one that brought strong opposition from his professors. When one of his teachers gave him a particularly stern lecture about the ‘negative future’ he would find with photography, he determined to follow his heart and pursue the career that was calling him — no matter what the odds. However, his path to success was not an easy one. In the early days, he had difficulty finding training because many artists in his community guarded their secrets carefully and would not share their knowledge with him. Still determined, he ultimately taught himself; reading books and fine tuning his eye by studying visual communications. Chow brings his own personal world of dreams and fantasy to life through his manipulation of photographic prints. When you look at his images, you can’t help but wonder what muse led him to envision his work — or how he actually builds these prints. At first glance, they look like normal photographs. Then you begin to notice that a concrete pillar has grown tree roots, or that it’s a hallway the man is swimming through. “I normally

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brainstorm for ideas by looking at many things: paintings, drawings, architecture and nature,” writes Chow. “From there, I usually sketch the various ideas. Of course, not all of these work.”

Biography Fine art photographer Chee Yong Chow deals mainly in the realm of surrealism. In the words of art curator Lindy Poh, Chow’s works explore the “expressive power of surrealistic practices that tap into the un- or sub-conscious”.

Chow’s vision started with a visit to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida back in the early 1990s. It was his first encounter with great artists, and Dali’s work compelled him to explore something totally unknown. He challenged himself to try and create similar, surrealistic images using the medium of photography.

Chow studied Graphic Design and Photography at Western Michigan University, graduating with Honors in 1994. In 1998, he received the JCCI Art Scholarship, which brought him to Tokyo where he received his Masters Degree in Photography from Musashino Art University. He has participated in over 30 solo and group exhibitions in galleries and museums in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the U.S. His original prints are part of the Permanent Art Collection of Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts and the National Museum of Singapore. Chow’s works have been featured in Passages North in the U.S., Asahi and Nippon Camera in Japan, and IMF Photography, a book published in Singapore. His own book, 30th Feb, was launched in conjunction with his sixth solo exhibition in February 2008.

Chow devised a way to accomplish the effect he was looking for using multiple enlargers and built the images in the darkroom using multiple negatives. Each finished print is its own work of art. And along the way, he also realized many of his own personal dreams. His original prints can be found in museums and galleries and have been published internationally as well as in his native Singapore. Today, he gives back what he has learned. Chow dedicates much of his time to lecturing and teaching younger generations about the wonderful world of photography. But it’s not all about technique, he says. “My approach requires one to imagine, or even dream, different solutions.”

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Julie Dermansky

“I felt as though I was trapped in a science fiction movie,” Julie Dermansky said in low voice when thinking about how she felt as the oil first reached the Louisiana coastline. “I was photographing a tragedy in slow motion.” As a photojournalist living in New Orleans, the Gulf oil disaster of 2010 hit really close to home, affecting Dermansky on many levels. She had already studied the fragility of Louisiana’s wetlands before the tragedy. After the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon, though, she knew that an already serious situation was about to get worse. “The impact of oil on the environment is like a Greek tragedy: slow moving and inevitable.”

But covering a big story requires special commitment. Dermansky’s biggest challenge while working in the Gulf was finding enough hours in the day to get her work done. “As a one-person operation, I shoot, edit, and get the images out, often in the same day, Dermansky says. “I have to stay up on all the latest developments and arrange all of the logistics for the next day’s shoot. Getting sleep can be difficult. One thing I really need is to be really organized during these hectic assignments. The night before every shoot, I need to go through my gear to make sure everything is ready and right where I can to get it easily when things get crazy.” One of the keys to Dermansky’s success is perseverance. “Much of my best work is the result of my obsession to keep shooting, even after I’m dead tired,” says Dermansky. “So often my best shot of the day appears when I push myself to go to one more location before calling it a wrap.” And is it worth it? Witnessing tragedy firsthand, working in extreme conditions, dealing with fatigue? For Dermansky, when she gets that impact shot, it’s all worth it. “The feeling of being in the right place at the right time to get a story: nothing beats that.”

Oil Settles on the once-blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico — a visual reminder of the destruction (above left) Oil from Barrataria Bay leaves a thick coat of muck, devastating fish, and wildlife as well (above right) The Gulf Oil Spill: Flames shoot out over the Gulf waters as teams work to control the leak (opposite page)

Biography Julie Dermansky is a multimedia artist currently based in New Orleans. She is an affiliate scholar at Rutgers University’s Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, a recipient of an NEA award and is a Thomas J. Watson Fellow. She received a BFA from Sophie Newcomb (part of Tulane University) and has completed major public art projects for NYC’s Percent for the Art’s program. Dermansky’s photo assignments have taken her to Rwanda, Rhodesia, Cambodia, Laos and the war-torn regions of Eastern Europe and Iraq. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, The Washington Post, The Times of London, The Guardian, Essence Magazine, Der Spiegel, Vogue and Mother Jones. Dermansky’s photo series Dark Tourism, focusing on genocide memorials and sites of historic blight, was recently shown at the Chicago Field Museum and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum.

juliedermansky.blogspot.com

Dermansky’s passion for photographing man’s impact on the environment has been a cornerstone of her work. She’s been working on a series of images showing the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, but with an anthropological slant. Louisiana is home to America’s most fertile wetlands, and they were already in peril before the oil spill. In her view, saving this area is one of the most pressing environmental issues for the U.S., a topic Dermansky has been passionate about since 2006.

Tragedy in Slow Motion Julie Dermansky has not chosen an easy life. She’s documented Haiti during the aftershocks of major earthquakes, been embedded with the military in war-torn Iraq and sifted through wreckage after Hurricane Katrina. Her recent journey was to photograph the effects of the Gulf oil disaster. Through it all, she’s needed bags as durable and resilient as she is.

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“ As a photojournalist based in New Orleans, covering the BP oil disaster was a given. The more restrictions made by both the government and BP, the more determined I was to tell the story.” Julie Dermansky

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Mirjam Evers

Described by Mark Edward Harris in PC PHOTO magazine as “able to transcend cultural and language barriers with an intangible spirit that comes through in every portrait,” Dutch photographer Mirjam Evers is noted for her use of off-camera flash to achieve an almost 3D effect making her subjects literally ‘pop’ out of the backgrounds. A founding partner of Photo Quest Adventures (PQA), Evers leads small groups to far-off lands, photographing remote cultures in every corner of the world. A recent excursion to Kenya resulted in an unforgettable variety of photo opportunities. Evers is at her best when interacting with her subjects. Outgoing and friendly, her personality elicits a sense of trust and curiosity. Her approach is simple. She engages her subjects with genuine interest; then simply smiles, points to her camera and indicates she would like to take their photograph.

Describing Kenya as “the most magical place in the world”, Evers photographed exotic wildlife and some of the most amazing skies she’s ever seen. But a trip to a local Masai village resulted in the classic Evers portraits. Women were selling jewelry, which Evers purchased in exchange for being able to take their photographs. She also gave the village much needed school supplies. “When PQA travels, we always take clothing and school supplies. We try to not just give money, but to offer tangible and useful things to help the people in their everyday lives.” The surprisingly magical gift, of all things, was a Frisbee®. The wonder and amazement of children who had never seen this simple toy before soon gave way to hilarity in trying to teach them how to use it. “They kept wanting to hang on to it and wouldn’t let it go,” she remembers. “It took a while to convince them, so we could show them how to toss it.” They got the idea, and she found a place in their hearts. Evers knows she will eventually return to this magnificent land, but for now, her incredible images give us a glimpse into the faces of Kenya through her lens.

She always shows her ‘models’ the picture she has taken. And while sometimes hesitant, the laughs and giggles take over once they see their portraits, putting even the most wary at ease. That’s when Evers begins to get her best shots. With a camera in one hand and a flash in the other, her images look like they’ve been taken in a studio. “It’s highly stylized, and some people don’t like the look,” she notes, “but it’s my style and I love it.”

Young Masai Women in traditional dress poses for Evers as she uses her signature off-camera flash technique (above left) Two Sisters welcome buyers with huge smiles as they display their hand-crafted jewelry (below left) Masai Tribesman stands tall against the dramatic backdrop of African skies (opposite page)

Kenya Smiling Mirjam Evers’ gentle nature puts people at ease. She travels to remote parts of the world taking portraits and making friends. Her unique style captures the drama and beauty in each and every face — and her trusty Fastpack 250 is her faithful travel companion.

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“I try to make people look beautiful — because there is an inherent beauty inside everyone.” Mirjam Evers Biography Mirjam Evers is a New York-based Dutch freelance photographer specializing in environmental portraits, travel, documentary, and adventure photography. During her career, she has traveled to more than 65 countries capturing the diversity of people and cultures in the most exotic places in the world. She specializes in shooting intimate portraits using off-camera flash, unusual angles, and interesting lens choices. Her photographs have been published in The New York Times, AARP/The Magazine, Outdoor Photographer, Photo District News (PDN), American Photo, Popular Photography, and Digital Photo. Her corporate clients include Nikon®, Lowepro, Lensbaby®, Epson®, and Visa®. Evers is one of the founding members and of Photo Quest Adventures, a company dedicated to making a difference in the world through photography (www.photoquestadventures.com).

mirjamevers.com

12 Lowepro

Brett Florens

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“ Once you get your money shots, the part you have to play it safe with, then you’re liberated to start playing — with light, with poses, with structure.” Brett Florens

Weddings in Fashion According to Brett Florens, a good wedding photographer combines photojournalism, portraits, fashion and food, all into a single shoot. He needs his gear to be as flexible and multi-faceted as he is if he’s going to get the shots his clients are counting on.

White Knight: Stepping in just the night before the wedding, Florens’ dramatic image won international acclaim as well as the bride’s eternal gratitude (above) Love Story: Capturing the passion and the fashion is Florens’ specialty, a style that appeals to his upscale clients looking for something more than the standard wedding album (opposite page)

Biography Internationally acclaimed South African photographer Brett Florens launched his career while fulfilling national service obligations. With no previous photographic experience, he learned to document the politically motivated crimes and violence that are an important slice of South Africa’s history. His work has been published around the globe. Since then, he has moved from photojournalism to a highly successful career in wedding, commercial, and fashion photography. With longstanding clients like Wonderbra®, Playtex®, Quiksilver® and Roxy®; Florens has accumulated numerous accolades including the distinction as a Nikon® Wedding Photographer, one of 12 photographers chosen as the best in their field at the Photokina Exhibition in Germany. Florens has worked with some of South Africa’s most famous personalities, including Bishop Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk, Trevor Manuel, and Lance Klusener, photographing them for a coffee table book Perfect Weekend. His next publication is a wedding manual, The Brett Florens Guide to Photographing Weddings, published and internationally distributed by Amherst Media USA.

brettflorens.com

Internationally acclaimed photographer Brett Florens has gone from documenting the worst day in a person’s life to photographing their best. The fact that he’s a photographer at all is something of a surprise. The result of political upheaval in his native South Africa, Florens’ career in photography came quite unexpectedly. Fulfilling his national service obligation, Florens was given a camera, six weeks of training and charged with documenting violent and politically motivated crimes — many of them murders. While the subject matter was appalling, he found he had a gift for creating images. Then, some of his fellow officers asked him to photograph their weddings. And the rest, as they say, is history. Florens loved the creativity he found in wedding photography but wasn’t inspired by what he saw other wedding photographers doing. What appealed to him was the style and use of light he found in fashion photography. So he studied Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar. He followed fashion trends

from the runways in Paris and Milan. And he applied it to his work, creating a unique style, and images that could easily appear in the pages of the magazines he read. Admittedly, his style isn’t for everyone. But it appeals to the kind of clients he’s looking for: upscale, fashion-conscious and willing go beyond the traditional. The Brett Florens style of wedding photography requires confidence, not only from the photographer, but from his clients as well. And the grooms are as enthusiastic as the brides. Not surprising according to Florens. “These are new age men, the ones who cleanse, tone and moisturize. They’re the ones who wear Prada and Armani and invest in a tailored suit for their big day instead of a rental.” Florens’ style has attracted more than just perspective brides. When the leading lingerie company in South Africa approached him to become their official photographer, it was because of his experience as a wedding photographer. “With weddings, you can’t miss the shot because there’s no second chance,” he says. “And that’s what they wanted — someone who wouldn’t miss the shot.” Other commercial work has come from his weddings. His clients include CEOs and business leaders, opening opportunities he never would have found otherwise. “They’ve seen me work and gotten a taste of who I am and what I stand for,” he says, “which I would never get in an interview situation.” But don’t think he’s all business. This is a man of integrity who believes in karma. This is a man who, the night before leaving on a family vacation, received a call from a distraught bride who’d had a falling out with her photographer — and was getting married the next day. Could he please shoot her wedding? He could, and he did, and one of the images won him global recognition. Talk about good karma…

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“ Whatever I shoot brings both challenges and excitement. I get this feeling all the time when I am in nature; whether I’m in the Norwegian mountains, Africa’s great savannah or even my own backyard in Stockholm.” Serkan Gûnes

Frozen Forest Lake taken on a cold January day in Södermanland, Sweden (right) Morning Light on Meadow captured in summer in Skåne, Sweden (far right)

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Serkan Gûnes

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Young, talented and highly acclaimed, Swedish photographer Serkan Gûnes was born in Istanbul before moving to Sweden, which he now calls home. When his wife, Azize, gave him his first camera on his 22nd birthday, it was the catalyst for his current career — one that moved him to trade in his beloved guitar for life as a nature photographer. Gûnes’ early treks into the woodlands near his home soon evolved into major photo excursions to the mountains of Norway and the vast expanses of Africa as well as the archipelagos off the Swedish coast. It was there that he discovered the Nordic light and the key ingredient to the intimate portraits of nature for which he is known.

Gûnes uses medium format (MF) for all his landscape and nature photography. He feels it provides an unsurpassed level of quality with the ability to capture outstanding detail and color. But it is his attention to the use of light that really sets his images apart. “I have always been moved by the variety of light throughout the seasons,” he says. “How light and nature interact, the drama of weather and its effect on nature and wildlife intrigue me.” While many nature photographers prefer using faster, DSLR cameras, Gûnes feels there is a distinct advantage in his MF system. “The 3D feeling and sharpness is just stunning,” he says. “You don’t have to take 10 frames per second to capture a great moment. One right picture taken at just the right second is all you need.”

Intimate Nature Serkan Gûnes is still waiting to take his ‘favorite shot’. He strives for perfection, to capture the ideal combination

of light and emotion. This drive is something we understand well as we work to design the perfect bags to carry his gear.

Another aspect of Gûnes’ work is that he shuns the shots other photographers could get, focusing on more intimate images that better reflect what he sees and the impact that has on him. “Sometimes you can almost see the tripod marks on the ground from other photographers who take the same grand landscape photos over and over again,” he says. “As soon as you get your object close, you can create a personal

image. And I don’t mean macro shoots. You can find intimacy in grand landscapes as well if you are close enough to your motives. This way I create my own photos instead of copying others.” Each shoot is memorable for Gûnes as he strives to capture images that are not only technically perfect, but also convey what he feels at that moment. “My goal is allow others to experience the same emotions I did when they see my images,” he says. This young photographer’s career is just beginning, despite the quality and recognition he has already achieved. We feel certain we will be seeing a lot from him in the future.

Biography Serkan Gûnes has been widely published in Scandinavia, Turkey, England, France, Germany, Holland and Japan. He lectures and leads workshops in nature photography at Stockholm’s Fotografiska Academy and in East Africa. Gûnes explains how his H3DII-39 enhances his “poetic, unique image style and keen sense for light,” as one client aptly observed. It was this perspective — and dedication — that led to Gûnes being the very first Swedish photographer to ever receive the coveted Eric Hosking Award for best portfolio taken by a young photographer. This competition is organized by BBC Wildlife Magazine and the Natural History Museum in London, and is recognized as the most prestigious wildlife photography award in the world today. In 2009, Gûnes was named Nature Photographer of the Year by The Environmental Protection Agency of Sweden. He has published his first book, Stockholm: Forest, Lake and Archipelago, and will be exhibiting at the Natural History Museum in Stockholm in April 2011.

serkangunes.com

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Andreas Kieling

Andreas Kieling grew up in East Germany, confined as much by politics as by the very real boundaries heavily guarded by the military. He longed for a life of adventure like those written by his favorite authors: Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson and Mark Twain. When just 16 years old, he decided to escape. Under cover of darkness, he ventured into the forbidden zone, climbing the barbed wire fence and picking his way through land mines as he made for the river and freedom. But Kieling hit a contact wire, alerting the guards. Flares lit up the sky and shots rang out. With his legs almost numb from a bullet lodged near his spine, he somehow swam to the other side — and survived by crawling to the nearest village for help. Thus began the life of Andreas Kieling — adventure and wildlife photographer — on what he calls his second birthday. He soon took to the sea, sailing cargo ships and rediscovering his childhood hobby, photography. “When you are 16, you think you can do anything,” says Kieling, “and I’ve always been hungry for life.”

Returning to Germany he trained as a forestry engineer, and discovered his second great passion: wildlife. Combining his love of nature with his need for adventure, Kieling found his true calling as a wildlife photographer/filmmaker. He is best known for his work in Alaska, spending 3-4 months at a time immersing himself into the native Inuit culture and capturing amazing images of grizzly bears, polar bears and other northern wildlife.

“Maybe it’s partly a question of maturity — give a young man the option of a safari or taking this hike and what would he choose? But for me, this was something ordinary I did that was the most incredible journey in my life.” Andreas Kieling

Biography German photographer Andreas Kieling’s adventurous life has included time as a seaman on commercial vessels, as a forestry officer, a photographer and filmmaker. He specializes in photographing northern Canada and Alaska, having also spent considerable time in East Africa. He filmed a 5-part television mini series for ZDF (German television) called Wonderful World, and has created documentaries for ARD, National Geographic, BBS and The Discovery Channel.

It was that work that brought him to the attention of ZDF, a public broadcasting company in Germany. With a proposal for a 5-part television series, they asked him to hike the former forbidden zone, approximately 1400 km from the Czech border to the Baltic Sea. Now called the “Green Line” and a protected preserve, it still keeps civilization at bay and has created a home for many rare species.

Kieling has twice climbed Mount McKinley to the summit with all his movie equipment in tow and has survived attacks by wild boar and abundant frostbite. For the past 12 years, he has lived among the grizzly bears of North America for months at a time, to the extent the animals recognize him by scent and voice each time he returns. He was the first photographer in the world to dive underwater in close proximity to photograph grizzly bears.

And so Kieling took on one of the most surprising, and emotional, adventures of his life. Accompanied by his dog, Cleo, he found breathtaking beauty, and remote villages whose inhabitants welcomed him warmly; he also found healing. Kieling and Cleo encountered abundant wildlife thriving in this vast wilderness. They were sheltered by its inhabitants who shared stories of the past that were as haunting and emotional as his own. As the trip wore on, such a strong bond was forged between he and his dog there was no need for words. “We were in synch; we could communicate with just a look.” Kieling has taken on “huge” adventures all his life, but this one was the most memorable. Today he can appreciate the positive things that came from the past — the incredible preservation of nature in what has now become the Green Line.

andreas-kieling.de

The Green Line Andreas Kieling’s biography reads like an adventure novel. He’s packed a lot of miles — and gear — into his Lowepro bag. But one of his most memorable projects took place right in his own backyard . . .

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A Constant Companion: Kieling shared what he calls the greatest adventure of his life with his dog, Cleo (left) The Green Line: This rich, pristine environment is a wildlife refuge few Germans have even explored (opposite page)

Todd Korol Something Old, Something New All of our pro photographer partners are talented, and many have their own special style. But probably few are as diverse, and yet at the same time, as unique as Todd Korol — just one reason his closet is full of Lowepro bags.

It’s unusual for an acclaimed photojournalist to also be an accomplished fine arts photographer — and even rarer is a fine arts photographer who shoots with a camera he made himself. Todd Korol is exactly that photographer. In his ‘day job’ Korol covers news, politics and sports. But his other love is, and always has been, design. He is especially intrigued by architecture — the lines, angles and the light reflections that change continually as morning shifts to afternoon and the afternoon fades into night. With his fine arts series Cities: The Carbon Prints, he has put together an impressive portfolio that draws from all the elements of design he loves most. Korol’s inspiration came first out of frustration. He felt the standard camera formats weren’t interesting enough. So in order to put his own take things, he

started experimenting. It wasn’t until he found a box of old scrap lenses that he was able to get exactly what he wanted. Combining his old Hasselblad (film) camera with a leather bellows and one of these old lenses, he discovered a look that was original, unique and absolutely impossible to duplicate. Korol views a city with a different perspective than most, “looking at it almost like a hunter — looking for the nuances”. He’ll spend hours walking into, out of and around a building. As he does, the light changes and the building takes on a whole new look. When not on assignment, he finds himself wandering for hours. “It’s wonderful when you can go to a city and get lost in it. You just turn the corner and discover something fantastic!” The technical aspects of using this handmade camera mean that there are no two images alike. The bellows is manipulated by hand to bring things in and out of focus and produce subtle variations to each and every shot. “This is unique,” he says. “Lighting changes, the way you hold the camera and hand-adjust the lens by tilting and shifting the bellows — these are all original prints.” And there is a story behind each and every one: A chance encounter in a side alley in Piccadilly Circus with just moments to click a couple images before being engulfed in a sea of people. A solitary pair of figures on a cold, January morning where overcast skies create a sense of intrigue and suspense. An unexpected breeze catching a man’s coattails to perfectly match the curve of the building in front of him. “These are just moments when all the elements come together — light, shadow and content — and they create something special.” Moments, maybe. But with a dash of serendipity and a whole lot of talent thrown in as well.

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Biography With camera in hand, Todd Korol has traveled extensively for the world’s top magazines. Over the past 20 years, assignments have taken him to Scotland, London, Paris, Africa, the Middle East, Japan, South America, Central America, throughout the United States and far north to the Arctic Circle. He currently shoots for Reuters, Time, Sports Illustrated, Canadian Geographic, Reader’s Digest, Stern, The New York Times, The Globe & Mail, and the National Post. His blue chip clients include Apple®, Milk®, Visa®, Rolex®, Suncor®, EnCana® and Statoil®. Korol has been a photographer in the Day In The Life series as well as having his photographs published in over 200 books. His own book, Harvest, is a look into the life of a Saskatchewan farm family. Korol’s fine art work is represented by the Paul Kuhn Gallery in Calgary; his stock is with Aurora Photos. He is a member of Aurora Select in New York City. He lives with his wife and two boys in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

toddkorol.com

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The Disney Center in Los Angeles provides a backdrop of architectural curves, mimicked when a chance breeze lifts this man’s coattails (above left) Spy vs. Spy: On a cold, cloudy January morning, the National Mall in Washington, D.C. creates an atmosphere of intrigue reminiscent of the cold war era (above right) The Bowler: A chance meeting down an alley in Piccadilly Circus led to this enigmatic image of a man in a bowler hat (opposite page)

“ My camera has been a passport into a lot of people’s lives — to a lot of places I wouldn’t have been able to go.” Todd Korol

Swiss photographer Alessandra Meniconzi likes to take the path less traveled. She journeys to and through some of the most remote parts of China, avoiding the more populated — and popular — destinations. She goes to these extremes because she wants to capture the heart and soul of this big country that is home to many different peoples. “I am fascinated by the wonderful landscape where interesting and little known cultures live,” she says. “I want to let people around the world know that China is not formed only by a few big, polluted cities.” “When I visit famous places like The Great Wall, I avoid where all tourists go and search for a remote location,” Meniconzi says. “Even for popular subjects, I try to find an unusual way to photograph them.”

Her journeys have led Meniconzi to magical provinces such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sinchuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. “The ethnic blends that I meet in these parts of Asia are astounding.” When it’s time to photograph these people, Meniconzi is very respectful of her subjects. “There are no secret techniques to make subjects feel comfortable in front of a professional camera,” she says. “I try to spend time with them and learn about their social customs and traditions. We need to discover one other.” “If you respect and understand people of different cultures, it’s more easy to capture their essence,” she continues. “I will never insist on taking a picture of someone who doesn’t give me the permission. I am a guest in their land, so respect is my first priority.”

After many years working in Asia, she has traveled to Iceland and become interested in the Arctic. Her work has been published in Animan and Terra magazines as well as in cards and calendars. She is the sole photographer for the books Hidden China (2008), Mystic Iceland (2007), and The Silk Road (2004), and she is currently working on a new book about Tibet/Himalaya and the Arctic.

Meniconzi sets up the shot before she brings the subject in front of the camera, often using a tripod. That way she can study the composition. But she’s always aware that the final photograph is a blending of herself and the people she meets. “Photography is another way to express your personality,” writes Meniconzi. “Pressing the shutter release of the camera materializes your feelings, your sensibilities, your character, and the way you see the world. The camera is not the issue; the true factor is who’s behind it.” And so with great passion and determination, Alessandra Meniconzi continues to explore the lesser-know cultures of China. “Often, minority people are not rich, their life is full of sacrifices, and yet they are usually hospitable and warm with strangers. This is something that impresses me a lot.” In fact, the Chinese even have a saying for this: ‘Less money in the purse, more big heart to other people’.’’

“ I have learned to be sensitive to peoples’ reactions as I photograph them and try to understand how it feels for them to be in front of my camera.” Alessandra Meniconzi Biography Alessandra Meniconzi is a Swiss photographer fascinated by the lives and traditions of indigenous people in remote regions of the world. Her work focuses on the ancient heritage, customs, spirituality, and daily life of native people who are strongly connected to the land and whose traditional cultures are vanishing due to pressure from the modern world. Her images also express her love of wilderness.

alessandrameniconzi.com

Hidden China For the past 20 years, Alessandra Meniconzi has traveled through the remotest parts of China, photographing people and places from the Xinjiang province to the Gobi desert. She needs to pack light and finds our gear fits the bill perfectly.

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Alessandra Meniconzi

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The Women of Long Horn Miao learn to make their clothes around age seven as a part of their marital training (above left) A Young Miao Girl dressed in her finest clothes and silver jewelry at Langde, Guizhou province, China (below left) This Elaborate Headpiece is worn during special occasions. Wool and ancestral hair are wrapped around the horns, affixed to the real hair, and secured with a white ribbon (opposite page)

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Cristina Mittermeier

Photography has a history of helping people understand the world outside their reach. This particular story is set in the rainforests of the Amazon, but is important well beyond those boundaries. Deep within the Brazilian rainforest persists a tribe of indigenous peoples known as the Kayapó. For decades they have served as protectors of this expanse of vegetation that helps regulate the air we breathe worldwide. If the Kayapó were displaced, and the forest turned over to slash and burn agriculture, millions of tons of carbon dioxide would be released into the atmosphere.

Cristina Mittermeier first met these people in 1991, even before she was a professional photographer. “We were there as part of a conservation initiative to help the Kayapó develop economic alternatives to logging. As a young scientist who had never traveled outside of North America, I was mesmerized by how traditional and isolated the Kayapó were, yet they were so self-reliant,” Mittermeier remembers. “In the 20 years since, I have visited them many times, first as a budding photographer shooting for conservation organizations, then more as part of their own campaign to protect their lands from outside development. Not many photographers are allowed into their territory, so I have been extremely lucky to have access to their world.” Telling the Kayapó story is Mittermeier’s longest running personal project. The connection is deeper than the ecological story itself. She has become personally connected to these people and cares about them as friends, even family. Mittermeier sees that they are struggling with the same anxieties and concerns that anyone would if their security and livelihood were threatened. “I shoot because I can put myself in their shoes (although many don’t wear any) and imagine what they feel like,” Mittermeier says. This leads to her biggest challenge with this project. Even though working in remote locations is logistically difficult, and sometimes even dangerous, it’s the emotional aspect that presents the biggest battle. “For me, the hardest part is the emotional attachment that I develop with people who often see me as someone who can help them bring a voice to the outside world,” she says. “I feel a huge responsibility to keep the promise I’ve made to help in any way I can.” Mittermeier is working to rally support for a culture that is fighting for their very survival, and for the health of our planet. She began the project as a scientist, but continues as both a photographer and friend.

Kayapó: Protectors of the Amazon As a scientist turned professional photographer, Cristina Mittermeier uses her photography to offer a visual voice for the conservation projects she covers. Working in challenging conditions, her bags need to provide protection, comfort and the ability to carry everything she’ll need in remote areas — and that’s a challenge we work hard to meet.

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Biography Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier is a Mexican-born photographer and conservationist. Working out of Washington, D.C., she has co-edited 16 award-winning books dealing with conservation of biodiversity and done in partnership with international conservation organizations like Conservation International (www.conservation.org) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. As a photographer, her work focuses on the intersection between humans and nature and it aims to explain the complex issues surrounding conservation and human needs. Mittermeier is also the founder and president of the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers, a consortium of some of the best photographers on the planet who are actively working for conservation.

cristinamittermeier.com

A Kayapó Mother bathes her baby in the Xingú River; a tributary of the Amazon River that is scheduled to be dammed in the coming years (above) Iriri River: An aerial image of the Iriri River, a tributary of the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon (opposite page)

“ Photography helps bring awareness to the real cost that people pay for unbridled development.” Cristina Mittermeier

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Mateusz Moskalik

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“ You can fall in love with the Arctic, or you can hate it; but you cannot stand emotionless.” Mateusz Moskalik and exhibitions as a way to alter the perception that the Arctic was “a land where only penguins live.”

Moskalik has also spent time on research projects on the Hornshund Fjord where the Polish Polar Station Stanislaw Siedecki is located. He has been surrounded by sea gulls, “in between the ice chunks that were chopped and crushed by ships. The gulls were jumping and quarrelling and looked like dancers on a crowded street,” he says.

Glaucous Gulls land amid the chunks of ice formed by passing ships creating a dance upon the sea (above and opposite page) Kittiwakes sit atop the glaciers waiting for them to calve. The falling ice stuns the fish below making them easy prey (above right)

And he’s watched as the black-legged Kittiwakes cavort on the glaciers, sitting on the huge ice mountains waiting for the glaciers to calve and the falling ice to stun the small fish in the water below.

Addicted to the Cold Pushing himself — and his gear — to the limit, Mateusz Moskalik has found a home in the harsh, arctic climates of the north. He thrives where others won’t tread, and his bags have to be as tough as he is.

largest island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Moskalik specializes in documenting animal behavior in arctic environments. He claims that his passion for photography was born there, as well. In this frigid climate, he discovered an intensity of color and rich, abundant wildlife. “How do you explain this to someone who believes there is only empty ice in this snow-covered land?” he asks. How indeed? With pictures of stunning beauty, a clarity of color and incredible interplay between light and shadow.

He is very patient, spending hours in bitter cold and blending into his surroundings so the local wildlife doesn’t feel threatened and allows him to come close. No, he doesn’t speak to animals — at least not yet. But he understands them perfectly and can predict their movements. He’s in his element, and his fabulous images prove it.

Almost every spring and summer, you’ll find Moskalik in Spitsbergen where he combines his academic work with his true passions: photography, ornithology and exploring glacier caves. An experienced polar researcher, he has undertaken numerous expeditions. Along the way, he discovered considerable interest from adventure travelers, other photographers and sponsors. Moskalik saw this as a natural synergy between his career and his passion. He began using his photographs as the basis for a series of seminars

He is Polish photographer Mateusz Moskalik and his favorite place on earth is Spitsbergen, the

“There are only a few spots on earth,” he says, “that are both mysterious and beautiful; where people feel a special tingling sensation standing in front of nature’s power.”

Moskalik is often asked why he doesn’t “just enjoy my trips” but instead has a persistent need to teach. His answer is simple. “I need to share what I see because I want to encourage people to open their minds and share my passion. It is as much for all future generations as for me. Who knows how long this beauty will last?” Anyone who has seen his images can readily understand this. Biography An experienced polar researcher, geophysicist and photographer, Mateusz Moskalik was a doctoral student at the Department of Polar and Marine Research, Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences. Founder of the Foto-Arktyka Project, which focuses on collecting photographic and educational documentation about the Svalbard archipelago, he has also received numerous nature and travel photography awards including Photographer of the Year from the Polish Nature Photographer Association, and European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. His work has been shown in numerous international exhibitions. Moskalik’s photos and articles have been published in Wiedza i žycie, Ptaki Polski, Woliera, National Geographic Traveler, Extremium, Magazyn Turystyki Górskiej, Górski Magazyn Sportowy, Globtroter, Zew Północy, Foto, Fotografia & Aparaty Cyfrowe, Foto-Kurier, EuroSTYL, and Nasze MORZE. He was the organizer of the first Polish Polar Festival as well as various other photo exhibitions presenting polar nature.

wild-arctic.eu

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Carol Stevenson The Elephant Photographer Carol Stevenson is on a mission — one born of her passion to bring the Asian elephant back from the brink of extinction and safeguard

“ African elephants get so much more attention — people really aren’t aware of the Asian elephant’s story.” Carol Stevenson

an ancient culture whose fate is intertwined. We salute her dedication, celebrate her achievements and delight in the fact that her Lowepro gear is along for the ride.

Sometimes it’s the simplest, most innocent things that have the strongest impact on the course of our lives. For Carol Stevenson, it was a casual invitation to “come photograph our elephants” that changed her life. It launched her on a 5-year project devoted to raising awareness about the dwindling numbers of not only a species, but an entire culture. Stevenson’s past work includes landscapes, portraits and documentaries. But when invited to photograph the conservation work of Thailand’s Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) — a program working on behalf of both endangered Asian elephants and their Mahout keepers, whose way of life is also nearing extinction — she discovered her life’s passion. There is a special relationship between the Mahout and their elephants. It is said that they actually “speak elephant”. Their lives are devoted to caring for their elephants — a tradition that is disappearing as fast as the numbers of Asian elephants are declining.

In Thailand, transportation and logging were once the primary occupations for Mahouts and their elephants. When bans were issued on logging in 1989, many were forced to forage in the city streets.

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One of several sanctuaries across Thailand, GTAEF created a refuge not only for the Mahouts, but for their families and their elephants as well. Dedicated to rescuing and caring for elephants who have been abandoned, abused or are just not able to fend for themselves, the foundation offers an alternative solution providing food and vet care for the elephants, work for the Mahout and education for their families.

In the first year of her project, Stevenson created a visual record of the elephants with her photographs. Used to document growth and record new arrivals, she also created a series of fine art prints. Proceeds from the sale of these prints help support bringing even more elephants in off the streets. During that first year, she also created a series of portraits of the Mahouts and their elephants. Working in the intense heat and humidity, “it’s difficult not to become sentimental,” Stevenson notes. “I need to remain objective and let my photography document the story if I’m ultimately to help the species.” When she returns, it will be to photograph the last five remaining elephant spirit men, the “blessers” of the elephants, before this part of the Mahout culture is gone forever. As the entire Mahout community shrinks, it may very well be a last look into this dying culture. With the future of both the Asian elephants and their caretakers uncertain, Stevenson is working hard to raise awareness about their plight. “There’s an increase in the conservation activities and every new birth is a celebration,” she says. “But their numbers are diminishing significantly.” How sad to think that images like Stevenson’s might some day be one of the few visible traces of the Asian elephants and their Mahouts. Biography Carol Stevenson is a British-born photographer specializing in landscape, wildlife and documentary photography. She is driven by a passion to show the world’s fast-disappearing cultures, animals and places. She has lived and worked in Singapore, India and Australia, which led her to photograph in some of the more remote areas of the world, from villages in the Himalayas to the deserts of India.

Tawan’s Trunk: The unique power and beauty of the elephant’s trunk belies the importance of this appendage. The trunk is used to smell, measure distance, eat and drink — and is key to social interactions (far left and left)

Stevenson is best known for her evocative color photography and distinctive style. Her conservation work centers on a five-year project documenting the vanishing Asian elephant and the unique Mahout (keeper) community in Northern Thailand. Nikon® features her work as part of their Learn and Explore Mentor series and her awards include Best of 2008 by the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). She lives in the San Francisco Bay area.

Teang Moo and Pumpui: Social interaction is the foundation of elephant society as shown by these two young elephants (opposite page)

elephantphotographer.com

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Ami Vitale Ebb and Flow of Life Climate change is felt around the world — sometimes as drought, sometimes as flooding. Ami Vitale has documented both extremes and is dedicated to raising awareness about their impact on the people who suffer most — women and children. We salute her courage and dedication to a cause we believe in as well.

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When waters rise beyond their boundaries, they often punish those who are already struggling to survive. Ami Vitale is documenting how climate change is affecting entire communities. “I met a family who had not eaten for days because their rice fields and food stocks had been submerged,” said Vitale. “They were sleeping inside homes on top of beds on stilts. Outside the water was up to their chests. And when they had food, they would cook it on the roofs or on top of their beds. It is the ultimate struggle to stay alive.” The odd thing about a shifting climate is that while one region floods, another goes into drought. Suddenly, entire populations have to migrate in order to survive. Often, the ones who must meet these challenges head-on are women. “Most people in the western world are unaware that women in developing countries suffer far more than men as a result of global warming,” says Vitale. “In drought, for example, they often must walk for hours to find water for their families, or wood for cooking.

In nearly all situations, women are the ones who feed the children and the elderly, carry the young when they are forced to migrate, and nurse them when they are sick from waterborne diseases or malnutrition. Unfortunately, as critical decisions are being made about designating climate change dollars, the specific needs of women are often overlooked.”

Vitale’s images are being shown to political leaders at climate change meetings at the highest levels — including the United Nations. She is working on a film that will be online through the Knight Center for International Media. Through RippleEffectImages.org, her images are available to non-governmental organizations to help raise awareness.

This awareness has inspired action for Vitale. On one trip she traveled to Bangladesh where every year more than a half a million people are forced to migrate because of this coastal country’s vulnerability to increasingly erratic weather patterns. For such a densely populated country, the effects of rising sea levels and floods from the Himalayas are disastrous.

What keeps Ami Vitale going when she faces the physical and emotional hardships of her job? “It’s the people I meet,” she says. “The inspiring characters who do so much to change the world around them. It’s really energizing meeting them, and I want others to be able to hear and see their stories.”

“After covering many different kinds of issues and conflicts for years, it has become obvious that the issue of climate change is perhaps one of biggest challenges ahead,” Vitale says. “It is also deeply connected to so many other problems like poverty, dwindling resources, and conflicts across the planet.”

“ Unfortunately, as critical decisions are being made about designating climate change dollars, the specific needs of women are often overlooked. I think these stories are under-reported and need to be told, now more than ever.” Ami Vitale

amivitale.com

Burkina Faso: Children carry water for their teacher in a remote part of the desert region near the Malian border (right) Tanzania: A woman holds her grandchild inside her hut in the Ngorogoro region (far right) Usuru: Women collect water at sunset near their village in Tanzania — one of the two most dangerous times of day to be outside because of lion attacks (opposite page)

Vitale has received the Photographer of the Year International award, multiple awards from World Press Photos, the Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Journalism, Lucie awards, the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting, and the Magazine Photographer of the Year award. Photo District News recognized her as one of 30 image makers of the future. Her stories have earned grants including the first-ever Inge Morath grant from the prestigious Magnum Photos, the Canon® Female Photojournalist award for her work in Kashmir, and the Alexia Foundation for World Peace.

Biography Ami Vitale’s journey has taken her to more than 75 countries where she has witnessed civil unrest, poverty and unspeakable violence. But she has also experienced surreal beauty and the enduring power of the human spirit. Her photographs have been exhibited around the world by the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, the Open Society Institute, and The Nature Conservancy.

“ There really isn’t anything that could 100 percent satisfy me because I believe that the pictures we take can always be improved. To me, the greatest satisfaction should be my true feeling towards Mother Nature rather than just a photograph.” Jianjun Wang

Ancestor of Thousands of Mountains: Along the border of China and Nepal, a golden sunset shines upon the snowy peak of the magnificent Mount Qomolangma (right) A Photographer’s Paradise: Natural backlighting outlines the contours of this Xinduqiao hillside, imparting an almost musical vitality as smoke rises from the chimneys (opposite page)

Biography Jianjun Wang, a member of the Chinese Photographers Association, started his photographic career in 1986 and is famous for his contemporary landscape photography. In 1992, he was nominated for the Golden Award at the Second Photographic Art Festival sponsored by the Chinese Photographers Association and praised as one of the first 10 Excellent Young Photographers. In 1998 he won the Toshinobu Takeuchi Award, the highest award for landscape photographers at the Fifth Chinese and Japanese Cultural Exchange Forum. And in 2003 he was honored as a Hasselblad® photographic master. For the past few years, he has devoted his efforts to photographing landscapes and depicting humanity, geography and the history of western China. Wang has developed his own distinctive photographic style and has participated in lecture tours in his native China and abroad with Hasselblad®, Canon®, Kodak® and Fuji®.

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Jianjun Wang

When you first look at the imagery of Jianjun Wang, you immediately notice it feels different from other landscape photography. Perhaps it’s because of the impressively high quality of his shots, or possibly because of the sheer vibrancy of the images. Then it hits you: Jianjun Wang has the ability to expose nature’s very soul. A contemporary landscape photographer from China, Wang has developed his own distinctive style. There is an intensity to his work that captures the supreme beauty found in some of nature’s grandest creations. “What I want to express is a kind of artistic conception or state of thought,” he writes, “which can really show the close relationship between sky and earth, nature and man, and the spirit of them becoming one entity.” Wang is able to accomplish this because of his almost spiritual regard for Mother Earth, combined with his never-ending love of photography.

Looking at his images, you might notice that people, when incorporated into the composition, tend to be a small part of the overall picture. “When photographing the landscape and humanity of western China,” Wang notes, “I often sense the triviality and fragility of humans. I render people inconspicuous in my works in order to convey the grandeur of nature, the relationship between man and nature and the vastness of western China.” One thing that troubles him, though, is the disappearance of some his cherished landscapes. Some of his images now serve as reminders of what no longer exists in reality due to construction and development. This is something he finds difficult to accept. “I don’t understand why human constructions always conflict with nature,” he says. “It is a question worthy of our introspection.” Wang uses large and medium format equipment to achieve the high quality photographs for which he is known. But in the end, it’s a combination of patience and respect that leads him to create great images. “Waiting is necessary for shooting an outstanding picture,” he writes. “In other words, you need to be persevering. But I consider ‘persevering’ and ‘waiting’ as essentially the same. Nowadays, it’s very easy to ‘repeat’ a good-looking photograph, as long as you have instruments, cars, enough money, and opportunity. However, I do not want to make ‘just a good picture’.” Ultimately that sense of wanting more than ‘just a good picture’ is what you feel when you look at the stunning images created by Jianjun Wang. You experience a glimpse of nature’s greatness, captured through his perseverance and respect. © Jianjun Wang.

Within Nature’s Greatness For Jianjun Wang, capturing stunning landscapes is a journey that begins deep inside, stemming from his intense love of nature. It’s a path he’s traveled often and well. Something we have in common is a belief that we can always improve, and so we celebrate our journey together.

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Geoff Waugh

Geoff Waugh was commissioned to shoot the European rounds of the MTB World Cup for the Trek World Racing team. In the world of cycling, this is a high-profile assignment indeed. And during these long days, he sometimes found himself in the pits chewing the fat with the team mechanics. Watching them work gave him the idea to trawl the pits and shoot a photo story about the unsung heroes behind the scenes. This was the genesis of the World Cup Mechanics project. “These men work very long hours,” said Waugh, “and not only have to build perfect machines, but also pamper the riders’ personal whims and moods. They drive thousands of miles, put up the pits, spanner the

The mechanics are on the road from spring until the World Championships in September. They build a special relationship with the riders, since each needs the other to succeed. And when it all comes together, the result is a win for the entire team. Waugh is always on the hunt for projects such as World Cup Mechanics. He feels this type of work elevates his game too. “I stay inspired by capturing images that are far removed from what is considered the norm,” he said. “I am trying not to stand still and shoot the same thing every week. Making the shoot fun is a good approach to keeping it fresh.” Under these demanding conditions, you’d think that Waugh’s biggest challenge would be endurance. But the real issue when working in the pits is staying out of the way! “During a race weekend that involves all three World Cup disciplines (Downhill, Cross Country and Four Cross), there are a lot of bikes in workstands and tools everywhere,” Waugh says. “I have to keep my head down and work fast whilst not tripping over a compressor hose or knocking over some brake oil. The upside is that the guys have their heads down too, so they don’t really care about me taking shots.” Waugh uses a combination of film and digital when he shoots these events. He doesn’t want to have to rely on PhotoShop® to achieve the look he’s after. He also feels this combination gives him the flexibility to ‘direct the viewers’ eye to the key element in the composition. By using fast lenses, he is able to isolate anything he feels is relevant to the piece. So just like the teamwork of riders and mechanics necessary to win races, Waugh’s drive to produce fresh work is a combination of talent, discipline, and gear.

bikes, pack down, and repeat the process many times over the season. They are the backbone of this circuit.” © Geoff Waugh. waughphotos.com

Behind the Scenes Cycling is all about selection — the right bike, the right gear, the right route. British photographer Geoff Waugh knows all about selection and is a master at making the right choices for each assignment — the right cameras, lenses and angles. One thing we’re glad he doesn’t have to worry about is having the right bag.

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Biography Geoff Waugh is an action, lifestyle shooter with 20 years experience and has won the Sports Photographer of the Year competition five times. This award is the UK’s highest profile competition and traditionally dominated by newspaper and agency photographers. He’s also been acknowledged as the BPPA Sports Photographer of the Year and BPPA News Photographer of the Year. Waugh primarily shoots alternative sports mountain biking and motorcycles in particular, although he is known to undertake the odd corporate portrait and commercial commission. He has taken commissions for Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Loaded, FHM, BMW owner’s magazine, Mountain Bike Rider, Angler’s Mail and Ice Hockey News Review. A Nikon® Image winner and a BPPA multiple merit winner, Waugh has a comprehensive library of cycling and dirt biking images and is represented by Buzz Pictures and Red Bull® Fotofiles.

waughphotos.com

“ I have been shooting for money for roughly 20 years and during that time, my work has telescoped into what I really enjoy which, it turns out, is cycling.” Geoff Waugh

A Spannerman’s Gloves sit ready on a pair of spare wheels. Cuts and abrasions are standard fare in the hustle and bustle of pitlane and protection is advised (above left) Richard Nieuwhuis of the Dugast Tyre Company scrapes glue residue from a wheel rim in preparation for a new tyre. Layers of the glue are built up and left to dry to achieve the perfect bond between the ‘tub’ and the rim. Richard has it down to a fine art (above right) It’s a Packhorse Life: Gear is ferried to one of the tech zones to be ready for the race start: bikes for getting around the relevant parts of the course; spare wheels and tyres in their bag; and a bag of tools and bottles (opposite page)

Designed for Photographers We are inventors, designers, photographers, videographers and lovers of the natural world who take our reputation as The Trusted Original™ to heart. Our purpose-built designs come from a passion to invent. We begin each new product with an appreciation of the challenges professional photographers face: changing weather, remote locations, bustling cities and

international travel. Our products provide the protection, accessibility, comfort and durability photographers need to follow their pursuits. And do so with the confidence that their valuable gear is safe. Lowepro products are constructed of professional-grade materials that resist abrasion, impact, moisture, and in many cases, extreme weather. From the most technical backpack to the smallest pouch, we pay attention to every detail.

Product Gallery 35 Backpacks 38 Sling Bags 39 Rollers 40 Modular 41 Lens Cases 42 Toploaders 43 Beltpacks 44 Shoulder Bags 47 Video 48 Fitted Cases, Pouches & Accessories “ I love the spacious layout and large opening of the Pro Trekker AW backpack. It allows me quick and easy access to my equipment. I’ve used my Pro Trekker AW in some of the most extreme environments on the planet—from the Sahara Desert to the Alaskan Arctic to the humid jungles of Borneo! On each trek, I’ve felt confident that my gear is well protected from the elements and the harsh realities of travel photography. The backpack allows me to carry a large kit of cameras, in fact, all I need on an intrepid travel shoot. When I choose to carry less, it’s still very well balanced and comfortable. In fact, I would say it’s exceptionally comfortable and lightweight, yet with no sacrifice to durability or protection. I love the inclusion of the hydration reservoir compartment, too.” Chris McLennan Travel, adventure and tourism photographer

Backpacks

Pro Trekker™ AW

Vertex™ AW

Dryzone™ AW

Rover™ AW II

Trek to remote and challenging locations (durable performance and technical fabrics). Carry along a big lens for that elusive creature (300-600mm lens). Be prepared for a rain storm (All Weather AW Cover™). Download the day’s images (removable laptop sleeve). Take a sip of water (hydration pocket with seam-sealed pouch). Our Pro Trekker AW series is the ultimate trekking companion for outdoor and adventure photographers. Yes, it may look like a traditional backpack, but it offers purpose-built, premium features—including a 10-point adjustable harness system—that pros will truly appreciate.

Sports photojournalists and nature shooters rely on agility and protection to get their gear to that just-right location. The Vertex AW backpack series serves them well. Its compact, yet rugged construction belies the fact that it can carry pro-sized camera gear, up to a 300mm lens, laptop and accessories. Its silent zipper pulls offer quiet access around wildlife and film crews. And its weather-protective features—from waterresistant YKK™ zippers to a patented All Weather AW Cover™—safeguard equipment even in the most harsh conditions.

If you typically get to assignments by canoe or sailboat, dogsled or snowmobile, you’ll appreciate the waterproof DryZone. It features an inner drypod with a totally waterproof TIZIP™ zipper that provides watertight protection for pro-sized gear and multiple lenses. Attach a tripod to the outside. Add extra pouches or cases via SlipLock™ attachment loops. You can even bring along something to keep you refreshed with the DryZone Rover™ model—it comes with a HydraPak™ personal hydration system.

Adventure photographers who spend their days hiking to a spectacular vista or waiting patiently for the subject to emerge will appreciate these multi-compartment backpacks. They’re designed to fit pro-sized gear in the fully padded and adjustable lower compartment and creature comforts in the roomy upper compartment. Weather-protective covers, fold-down tripod holders, bungee cord webbing and SlipLock™ attachment loops expand the options to carry extra gear. The CompuRover™ AW includes padded space for a laptop—so you can download images right on the spot.

Backpacks

Lens Trekker™ 600 AW II

Flipside™ 400 AW

Flipside™

Versapack™ 200 AW

What’s a challenge for nature and sports photographers? Getting that jaw-dropping shot from a long distance. And carrying a big, big, big lens to the desired location. Our solution: Lens Trekker 600 AW II. It’s purpose built to fit and protect a pro-sized DSLR with attached 600mm lens, or unattached 800mm lens. It features a padded, adjustable-torso harness system to provide a custom and comfortable fit. And it includes an All Weather AW Cover™ so valuable gear is safeguarded from the elements.

Our Flipside 400 AW high-performance backpack is designed for the traveling or adventure photographer who needs to keep valuable gear safely tucked away, yet within easy reach when the gotta-have-it shot presents itself. Its unique, back-entry compartment keeps equipment close and extra secure. The roomy main compartment secures a pro DSLR with up to a 300mm attached zoom lens, an extra body and multiple lenses and accessories. The All Weather AW Cover™, Hideaway Tripod Mount™ system and padded harness offer protection, flexibility and comfort.

Our scaled-down packs feature the same back-entry compartment design as the 400 AW, with a slimmer profile. Whichever you choose, your camera investment stays close to you and away from roving hands while you’re on the move. The larger fits a pro-sized DSLR, the smaller, a standard model. To access gear, quickly rotate it to the front. Rest the Flipside on a raised knee to create a stable work platform for changing a lens or setting up a shot. A removable accessory pouch and outside storage panels keep personal items within reach.

Here’s an appealing dual-compartment, DSLR backpack: lightweight, flexible—and like its name— incredibly versatile. Its inventive design offers many ways to pack and get to equipment and personal items. Its dual side-entry openings provide fast access to camera gear; just rotate to the left or right. Its lightweight and durable performance fabrics and clever construction keep you nimble while on the move. Photo enthusiasts and travelers will appreciate the compact design. Simply take out the dividers, fold up, and place in luggage for an easy, packable solution.

Pro Runner™ AW

Fastpack™

CompuDay Photo™ 250

Orion DayPack™ 200

Photojournalists, pro photographers and enthusiasts who carry their gear through crowded airports and busy city streets will like this compact, streamlined and urban-inspired solution. Airline carry-on compatible, The Pro Runner AW is feature-filled and weatherprotective, fitting up to a pro-sized camera (450 AW), tripod and accessories—plus a few personal items— in a highly organized design. The two larger models include space for laptops, so you can edit images and speed workflow as you travel.

Hassle-free is an apt description of our Fastpack series. When it comes to protecting, accessing and traveling with gear, these backpacks serve photographers well. A fully padded, adjustable main compartment safeguards a standard DSLR up to a pro-sized kit (plus a laptop in the 350 and 250 models). Side-entry compartments provide fast access to a camera or extra lenses, even while the pack is worn. The streamlined shape moves easily with the body in a crowded location and fits under most airline seats and in overhead compartments.

It holds your laptop. And your camera. Plus life’s essentials: cell phone, MP3 player, portable hard drive, USB, keys, wallet, snacks, jacket, tickets, pens… any convenient item you want for the day. As you move through the world with your lean and lightweight CompuDay Photo 250 backpack, it’s ready for every inspiration point. Plentiful and practical features include: laptop pocket; adjust-to-fit camera chamber with fast-access side pocket; multiple pockets; removable accessory pouch; mesh-covered trolley sleeve; easy-grip zippers; quick-grab handle; and durable and water-resistant outer fabrics.

New DSLR owners and photo hobbyists will appreciate the roomy and lightweight Orion DayPack 200, a sporty backpack built for a day out with gear. It features a dual-compartment design that offers ample and protective spaces for a camera kit and personal items. The fully padded lower compartment is built with thick, foam walls and adjustable dividers. The upper compartment provides space for a light jacket, lunch and other accessories. A mesh-covered and padded backpack and shoulder straps offer long-wearing comfort.

Sling Bags

“I always have my SlingShot AW ready to go with essential items like extra lenses, a lens cleaner, pens and paper. Then l just select the cameras I need for the day, pack them in my bag and go. On a recent video shoot, I used my SlingShot AW to carry my gear. It was the perfect solution as this production was a small one and I needed to be light and mobile. I had my camera and lens in one compartment, and other necessities such as the model release, make-up and some touch-up tools in the other. It seems like a lot of gear, but it all fits in one of these sling bags. Since I am a conceptual photographer, most of my ideas come from daily life and events. For this reason, I often work on location and need ways to have my shoots go as smoothly as possible. The SlingShot AW is a great way to simplify things and ensure an efficient workflow.” Maki Kawakita Conceptual photographer

Classified™ Sling AW

Passport Sling™

SlingShot™ AW

These hardworking slings are designed for the hardworking photojournalists who carry them. They conceal gear (and the mission) while protecting it with artful style. The nimble, fast-access sling features a slim profile, contoured to easily move with the body and help the professional navigate a busy street or crowded subway. Quickly rotate to the front and work out of the side-entry main compartment with full access to gear. The 220 AW includes a laptop compartment; the 180 AW, a padded netbook compartment.

Freedom for your every move. Protection for your DSLR. Lots of space for personal gear. Our Passport Sling is an unexpected kind of camera bag—unique in form and inventive in function. The shoulder strap features a cam lock buckle that easily adjusts for an ideal fit. The front unzips to reveal an expansion compartment that adds about 30% more space. A fully padded camera box protects a DSLR; remove and collapse it when you want to pack the sling in a larger bag for travel.

The new, fast-access SlingShot AW series builds on the inventive design of the original and incorporates what many photojournalists and photo enthusiasts are looking for: faster access, extra space for personal items, improved organization, and the ability to add a tripod. The new SlingShot AW offers more volume in the upper compartment for extra accessories or additional items. The same inventive design—letting you quickly rotate to the front to access gear—remains a tried-and-true feature of this pro favorite.

Rollers

Behind The Design Our Pro Roller™ x-Series functions like a hardworking mobile studio, with a few inventive surprises built into its modern design. Airport-friendly and super-secure, each of the four models takes flexibility to the extreme. Case in point: a smooth-working handle that doubles as a camera or lighting mount. If you see a shot you just have to have while you’re on the move, use the retractable TelePod™ Handle as an impromptu platform. A threaded accessory mount is built right in. Second case in point: the ability to downsize in a moment. If you need to lighten the load or change from rolling to carrying mode, unzip to reveal a Reserve Pack (x100, x200 and x300 models) or the Reserve Shoulder Bag (Attaché x50) with your complete kit intact. That’s flexible.

Pro Roller™ x-Series

Pro Runner™ AW

The Pro Roller x-Series is our modular and travel-friendly solution for photographers who take their gear everywhere. Thoughtful details include: a smooth-operating TelePod™ Handle; premium, replaceable wheels and sturdy, locking YKK zippers. The series includes three vertical rollers with inventive surprises. Like the Reserve Pack—a camera backpack that zips out of the hard case when a photographer needs to downsize. The new attaché-inspired roller is a compact, two-bags-in-one design. Use it as a rolling attaché. Remove the interior Reserve Shoulder Bag and carry your gear messenger style. Or turn the exterior roller into an overnight bag.

Two sleek rolling backpacks. The largest sized to fit pro-sized gear. Both equipped for maximum flexibility as photographers work and travel. Our Pro Runner x450 AW and x350 AW are purpose built to provide superior protection (rain-flap lids and built-in All Weather AW Cover™), maximum flexibility (easy-to-convert backpack harness system), and smooth-operating efficiency (spring-loaded trolley handle and premium, stable wheels). Each includes a removable, checkpoint-friendly laptop sleeve. Extra features include: a thickly padded mesh backpad; adjustable and padded shoulder straps; and a padded waistbelt to support the lumbar.

Modular

S&F Series™ Freedom of movement. Fast access. Flexibility. In 1998, we launched the first Street and Field™ system for professional photographers. It offered a revolutionary way to think about carrying equipment—totally unlike a conventional shoulder bag or backpack. Photographers configured a system to suit their shooting styles, adding as much or as little gear as needed. And since it is part of our heritage to commit to the needs of the

hardworking professional photographer, we designed this system to be completely modular, flexible and comfortable. Today, in the fast-paced, media-gathering environment, photographers require increased versatility and instant access to their gear. They need a fully integrated and modular carrying system for virtually any shooting and recording scenario. That’s what Lowepro’s new S&F™ Series is all about. It begins with

an attachment system—like a belt, vest or harness— and builds with a full range of compatible components (using our SlipLock™ attachment tabs and loops) that carry, protect and allow easy access to the exact gear needed. Purpose-built features, professional-grade materials and Lowepro’s legendary protection are inherent in each design.

Lens Cases

Belt sold separately.

Lens Case Collection You invest hundreds (even thousands) of dollars in lenses. Carry or store them in cases from Lowepro, specially designed to protect those investments. Each is purpose built using thick, one-piece foam padding to provide superior protection for fragile glass and mounts and an OverLap Zipper™ to safeguard from dust and moisture. The largest four include: quick-grab handles, adjustable shoulder straps, plus a compression strap to attach to a loop or daisy chain on a backpack. The collection is available in seven sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the lens each fits.

Behind The Design

“ Lowepro truly kept photographers in mind with this update to their original S&F Series, including they way we move and operate equipment—from the smallest memory wallet to the duffle backpack that conveniently fits all the S&F pieces and makes it simple to transport. The words that come to my mind are: ease of use, accessibility and versatility. Whether I’m working solo or with an assistant, the pieces let me easily change lenses, memory cards, answer my cell, and even have a kneeling pad for packing or unpacking gear. It’s this seemingly endless combination of options that makes me realize Lowepro gets what photographers need with this series. My favorite S&F item probably would be the Lens Exchange Case 200 AW—it allows me to switch out a lens with one hand.” Ian Spanier Environmental, portrait and travel photographer

A dictionary definition of modular is: flexible arrangements. Our S&F Series™ is the ultimate example. We originated it in 1998. We revolutionized it in 2010. Since no two shoots are ever alike, each component in the S&F system is designed for maximum flexibility. You add—or subtract—as needed for your particular workflow. It begins with the core. A belt with the vest. Or a belt with the harness. Each lightweight yet durable combo disperses the weight of a heavy load while adding comfort as you shoot and record. Secure your choice of S&F bags, backpacks, pouches or cases to your core via Lowepro’s sturdy SlipLock™ attachment system of loops and tabs. Build your S&F system to suit the location, assignment, weather, whatever the scenario calls for. It’s that simple. It’s that flexible. And it’s purpose built to increase a photographer’s versatility, access and speed.

Toploaders

“ The Toploader Pro AW series gives me incredible access to my gear, versatility like few other camera bags offer, plus amazing protection. Over the last couple of years I have taken the Toploader Pro 75 AW on countless assignments, torturing it in some of the roughest conditions on earth. The design of the bag allows me to access my camera in seconds, plus it holds a substantial amount of gear in a compact space. The Toploader Pro AW also allows me to choose how I carry my bag. Wearing it on a chest harness is great as shooting certain adventure sports requires me to place the camera on my chest. Other scenarios work better with a bag at my waist. It has quickly become one of my all-time favorite camera bags.” Michael Clark Outdoor and adventure sports photographer

Toploader Pro™ AW

Toploader Zoom™ AW

Adventura™ TLZ & Rezo™ TLZ

Built for outdoor and sports pros who require fast access, agility and flexibility, the asymmetrical shape of this bag follows the line of a pro DSLR for a snug, protective fit. The side opening offers easy-grip access to your camera. The 360° working All Weather AW Cover™ gives you full access to the main compartment while protecting gear. The bag can be worn three ways to fit many shooting scenarios: holster-style, attached to a S&F™ Series, or with our Topload Chest Harness (latter two sold separately).

Photographers and enthusiasts who are passionate about their pursuits will appreciate this weather-protective, streamlined and easy-access toploader. It’s made for a day of outdoor activities, travel or sports. The patented All Weather AW Cover™ protects gear from the elements. The compact design moves with the body and slips into a larger bag for travel. The customizable and fully padded interior includes a horizontal divider (50 AW and 55 AW only) to separate an extra lens. The 50 AW and 55 AW work with the Topload Chest Harness (sold separately).

For photo enthusiasts who prefer to topload their cameras, we offer compact, protective and easy-access carrying solutions. Adventura TLZ 25 and TLZ 15 are built with cushioned support on all sides, plus brushed tricot lining to protect the LCD screen and lens. A zippered front pocket keeps spare memory close at hand. Rezo TLZ 20 and TLZ 10 are packed with details that provide ease and protect gear. Photographers will like getting right to their cameras via the reverse-open lid—it includes a built-in memory card pouch.

Beltpacks

Inverse™ AW

Outback™

Photo Runner™ 100 AW

Each thoughtfully designed feature of our Inverse AW beltpack is right at hand—or actually—right at waist. From its quick-access top that opens right into the main compartment, to the contoured mesh lumbar belt that distributes weight evenly and offers cushioned support, the Inverse AW delivers speed and comfort. Our patented All Weather AW Cover™ provides protection from the elements and tucks away when not needed. Ideal for an outdoor pro or photo enthusiast who wants to move through his or her shoot with ease.

For photographers who carry their gear to the limits—on foot, bike, hike or on assignment—Outback modular beltpacks provide protection and freedom of movement. Unzip the fast-access lid and immediately work out of your pack, plus grab memory cards from the built-in pockets. Each model comes with two interchangeable lens/accessory cases attached by SlipLock™ loops and secured with sturdy, yet lightweight compression straps. Gear up multiple ways by adding or subtracting cases. Outback 200 includes removable shoulder straps and front accessory pockets.

No matter who or what you’re shooting, wedding, sports and nature photographers need agility and speed to capture those most-wanted images. A slim profile offers freedom of movement. The tuck-away waistbelt keeps the weight of gear on the hips and helps minimize movement when the Photo Runner 100 is worn as a beltpack. A removable, adjustable shoulder strap with non-slip pad turns it into a comfortable shoulder bag solution.

“ I wear my Inverse 100 AW beltpack for every single shoot. The beltpack provides easy access to my gear, so I don’t have to lug around an unwieldy bag that I’m forever taking off, unpacking, and putting back on. The beltpack’s slim profile is especially attractive– no unnecessary girth–and it’s incredibly well-padded, without being bulky. On wedding projects, the bag’s deep profile ensures that when I only have a matter of seconds to switch lenses, my equipment isn’t tumbling out. My editorial work often takes me into extreme environments, from Burning Man to the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia, and the beltpack’s weather-resistant features give me the freedom to take my art into high-intensity conditions.” Catherine Hall Fine-art portraiture and lifestyle photographer

Shoulder Bags

Magnum™ AW

Classified™ AW

Stealth Reporter™ D AW

Nova™ AW

You shoot in the studio and out on location, so you need an easy-to-transport, “working” bag that gives you fast access to gear. You like the freedom to “move the set” when the occasion arises. You’re a commercial photographer so you deserve the pro’s essential toolbox: Magnum AW. From its premium, water-resistant base that provides stability, to its Vertebral Tech™ Shoulder Strap that offers longwearing comfort; the Magnum AW is designed to fit, carry and protect pro-sized gear (and a laptop in the largest model) with ease.

Hardworking bags specifically designed for the hardworking photojournalists who carry them. These nimble, fast-access bags have a modern, off-hours appeal. A slimmer profile, contoured to move easily with the body, helps you navigate a busy street or crowded subway. Soft edges, leather details, and an embossed logo create a discreet aesthetic. The collection includes four DSLR shoulder bags with All Weather AW Covers™ (the largest with padded space for a laptop) and a pouch (Classified 30).

A favorite among photojournalists and sports photographers, the Stealth Reporter D AW series is designed for fast and easy access. Six models are sized to fit a variety of gear—and offer all-weather protection when working in the field. A unique, quick-access top with water-resistant zipper opens right into the bag—so you can reach in and grab your camera or lens for a quick shot or equipment change. The D650 AW and D550 AW include laptop compartments for pros who need to manage workflow while on assignment.

No need to let the weather stop you from shooting, the Nova AW series includes 360º working All Weather AW Covers™ that let you access your gear even when they’re on. The 360° cover wraps around the bag and over the top, providing complete access to the interior…and giving maximum protection to your camera and lenses from rain, dust and wind while you prepare for the next shot. Six models range in size to carry the most popular DSLRs, lenses, memory cards and accessories.

Behind The Design Nature is not always kind to delicate camera equipment. The question of how to protect your kit from the elements is solved by our patented, built-in All Weather AW Cover™. Included with more than 70 of our designs, it’s like a raincoat for your gear that also protects against sand and dust. In 2008, we invented the 360° working All Weather AW Cover™ to provide complete access to the main compartment while still protecting camera gear—so it’s easy (and safe) to make a quick lens change as raindrops fall.

Rezo™ AW

Apex™ AW

Exchange Messenger™

Protective? Yes. But lightweight, too. Our Rezo AW shoulder bags are understated in looks, but packed with details that provide ease and protect your camera. Padded interiors, brushed tricot lining and built-in microfiber cloths safeguard gear from bumps, scratches and dust. Photo enthusiasts and aspiring pros will like getting right to their gear via the reverse-open lid—it includes a built-in memory card pouch to keep accessories organized and right at hand. The patented All Weather AW Cover™ protects contents from the elements when needed.

Lightweight, rugged and weather-protective, the Apex AW series is ideal for adventure photographers and weekend enthusiasts who carry their DLSR, pro compact, compact ILC or ultra-zoom cameras to peaks, valleys and every place in between. The single-compartment interior is fully padded, adjustable and provides protective spaces for extra memory and accessories. A reversed zipper opening includes silent pulls to offer quiet access around wildlife (or shy subjects). A rubber molded bumper adds protection at the base. And our patented All Weather AW Cover™ safeguards gear from the elements.

Combine a classic bike courier profile with Lowepro’s practical design sense and you get the Exchange Messenger—a well-priced DSLR shoulder bag that offers soft-sided protection with modern appeal. This bag was made for the shooter who wants to carry his or her camera (placed horizontally), a couple of accessories and plenty of non-camera essentials in a bag that’s stylish and discreet. Three deep storage pockets and an adjustable, padded interior contain everything you need for a photo walk or city trek.

Shoulder Bags

Adventura™

Stockholm

ILC Classic™

CompuDay Photo™ 150

These bags are ideal for the DSLR or compact system camera enthusiast who wants a protective and lightweight carrying solution. The zippered main compartment includes a quick-release buckle and rain-flap lid, offering fast access to gear when open and extra protection when fully closed. The padded interior is lined with tricot in high-visibility orange. Also includes: removable shoulder strap; front pocket; memory card pocket; side pockets; and a padded grab handle. The 170 and 160 include two belt loops; the 140, 120 and 100 models include a slip pocket in the back.

Here is a modern and minimalist approach for photo and video enthusiasts—in the form of Stockholm shoulder bags and pouches. You can carry and protect everything from camcorders, DSLRs and ultra-zoom cameras to ultra-compact point & shoots and cell phones. A streamlined shape with a nailhead nylon cover creates a distinctive look. The shoulder bags feature padded and adjustable main compartments to customize gear. The pouches sport a wrap-around design with elasticized side gussets to provide a snug fit, plus a belt loop for an added carrying option.

This series is purpose built to fit the new breed of powerful compact cameras, such as: ILC (interchangeable lens), micro four-thirds, or mirrorless models. Each bag is padded from top to bottom to protect your valuable gear and includes a removable shoulder strap. The ILC Classic™ 100 is sized to fit a camera with an attached lens up to 18-55mm, plus an extra lens and accessory; the ILC Classic™ 50 is scaled down to accommodate the camera with its attached kit lens up to 18-55 mm.

It holds your laptop. And your camera. Plus life’s essentials: cell phone, MP3 player, portable hard drive, USB, keys, wallet, snacks, jacket, tickets, pens… any convenient item you want for the day. As you move through the world with your lean and lightweight CompuDay Photo 150 messenger bag, it’s ready for every inspiration point. Plentiful and practical features include: laptop pocket; adjust-to-fit camera chamber with fast-access side pocket; multiple pockets; removable accessory pouch; mesh-covered trolley sleeve; easy-grip zippers; quick-grab handle; and durable and water-resistant outer fabrics.

Video

Magnum™ DV AW

Edit™

Digital Video Case 30

Shooting in a studio one day. ‘Running and gunning’ at a rally the next. Transporting a whole kit of gear on a flight to a country half way around the globe. Today’s pro videographer needs flexibility and the Magnum DV AW series delivers. It’s super-accessible, specially configured for video, ultra-portable and protective. From its thoughtfully constructed interior to its durable and rugged exterior, these bags are purpose built to serve the particular needs of pro video shooters.

For those of you who like to catch life in motion, our video bags offer lightweight and easy-to-access carrying solutions. Edit bags protect a wide range of lightweight camcorders and include a fully padded and adjustable interior so you can customize your video kit. Soft tricot lining helps protect the LCD screen and lens from dust and scratches. And Edit bags are built with plenty of storage pockets for essential accessories such as AC adaptors, USB cables and CF cards.

This case protects compact, high-definition camcorders—including models with extended life batteries. Flexible construction allows you to carry it multiple ways. Use the hand strap to grab the case like a camcorder. Detach the hook/loop closure on the hand strap to reveal a wrist strap. Create a belt loop out of the strap. Thick padding with brushed tricot lining safeguards the lens and LCD screen. Two interior pockets store extra memory. An elastic keeper strap secures the camcorder as the case is unzipped.

“ Technology changes quickly and when I bought my first video camera, I spent weeks researching all of my options and made my decision based on one question: ‘Is this investment going to last me a long time?’ It was a similar case with my bag. My answer was Lowepro’s Magnum DV 6500 AW because I could see that it was a smart investment for my gear and my everyday shooting needs. I have traveled with this bag many times, taking it through the snow-filled mountains of Colorado, the crowded subways of New York, and compact spaces traveling aboard many planes. All of my gear is organized, secure, and is designed by people who are shooters, like me, so there are features in this bag that only come with years of experience.” Michael Coleman Videographer and producer

Fitted Cases, Pouches & Accessories

Quick Case

Pouches

Accessories

Classic styling. Streamlined protection. Instant access to your camera. The Quick Case 100 and 120 cover cameras in a tough, impact-resistant shell that opens smoothly and quickly. A magnetic closure self-adjusts to fit a variety of cameras. A discreet, zippered accessory pocket provides storage for spare memory and batteries. The Quick Case 100 fits an ultra-zoom camera with a fixed lens attached, interchangeable lens (ILC), micro four-thirds or mirrorless camera; Quick Case 120 fits a DSLR with a standard kit lens.

We always look for new ways to build a better camera or video pouch. And our designers love the challenge of surprising customers with flexible, modern and protective solutions. Lowepro offers a wide range of material choices such as: durable nylon, cushioned neoprene, molded EVA and luxurious leather. Each pouch design starts with Lowepro’s trusted protective qualities and is constructed to safeguard your camera or video camera’s LCD screen and lens—plus spare memory cards and batteries—from abrasion, dust and moisture.

You never know when you’ll need a little something extra on an assignment, a vacation or out for a walk with your camera. Our thoughtfully designed camera straps, memory card holders, media cases and filter pockets each serve a specific purpose—and do so with Lowepro’s trustworthy construction and materials. Whether you’re carrying a heavy load from location to location or safeguarding a month’s worth of images for an editor’s review, you can rely on our accessories to protect your efforts.

Product Series Index Backpacks

35 ProTrekker™ AW 35 Vertex™ AW 35 DryZone™ AW 35 Rover™ AW II 36 Lens Trekker™ 600 AW II 36 Flipside™ 400 AW 36 Flipside™ 36 Versapack™ 200 AW 37 Pro Runner™ AW 37 Fastpack™ 37 CompuDay Photo™ 250 37 Orion DayPack™ 200

Sling Bags

38 Classified™ Sling AW 38 Passport Sling™ 38 SlingShot™ AW

Rollers

39 Pro Roller™ x-Series 39 Pro Runner™ AW Roller/Backpacks

Modular

40 S&F Series™

Lens Cases 41 Lens Cases

Toploaders

42 Toploader Pro™ AW 42 Toploader Zoom™ AW 42 Adventura™ TLZ

& Rezo™ TLZ

Beltpacks

43 Inverse™ AW 43 Outback™ 43 Photo Runner™ 100 AW

Shoulder Bags

44 Magnum™ AW 44 Classified™ AW 44 Stealth Reporter™ D AW 44 Nova™ AW 45 Rezo™ AW 45 Apex™ AW 45 Exchange Messenger™ 46 Adventura™ 46 Stockholm 46 ILC Classic™ 46 CompuDay Photo™ 150

Video

47 Magnum™ DV AW 47 Edit™ 47 Digital Video Case 30

Fitted Cases, Pouches & Accessories 48 Quick Case

Pouches 48 Geneva 30 48 Classified™ 30 48 Volta™ 30 48 Apex™ 30 AW Accessories 48 Filter Pocket 48 Vertebral Tech™ Shoulder Strap 48 Compact Media Case 20 This brochure suggests the camera equipment you can expect to carry in a bag. However, equipment and bag sizes can vary, and we recommend testing your own system in a bag before you buy.

Contact Information Corporate Addresses Australia Unit 6, 11-21 Underwood Road Homebush, NSW 2140, Australia Phone: 61.2.8756.6400

Canada 55 Valleywood Drive, Markham, ON, Canada L3R 5L9 Phone: 1.905.944.9400

Germany Mollsfeld 2, D-40670 Meerbusch-Osterath Germany Phone: 49.2159.69610

Poland Ostra 8 02-949 Warsaw Phone: 48.22.3792290

Switzerland Kirchgasse 24 CH-8001, Zurich, Switzerland Phone: 41.44.500.5353

United Kingdom Merryhills Enterprise Park Park Lane, Wolverhampton WV10 9TJ U.K. Phone: 44.1902.864646

United States 1435 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite 200 Petaluma, CA 94954 USA Phone: 1.707.827.4000 All trademarks in this brochure are the property of their respective holders. We hope you enjoy, and keep, this photography annual. Should you need to dispose of it, please recycle. Thank you. ÂŠ 2011 DayMen Canada Acquisition ULC.

Let’s Stay Connected We’re here to share information with you—including details about products, distributors, events, adventures, news and profiles of the photographers who rely on our gear. Visit our web site at lowepro.com Read and add your comments to our blog at blog.lowepro.com Be a Facebook friend at facebook.com/LoweproBags Follow our Twitter messages at twitter.com/lowepro