Product Testing

[Photo-John]

On Friday, Little Cottonwood Canyon above Salt Lake City, had 19 inches of snow in the morning. I had no choice but go take care of some much needed product testing at the Alta testing facility. Gheen Hillman from Clik Elite showed up at my house in the morning and I drove us, along with two test camera backpacks, the new Casio G-Shock point-and-shoot and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, up the canyon. I was testing the Casio, the F Stop Tilopa camera pack and the new 1D. Gene was testing the Clik Elite Contrejour pack, which they're still developing. It's currently the only camera pack designed specifically for backcountry ski photographers. And, Gene also tested the snow. With his face.

[Photo-John]

Even though Gheen kept trying to eat more snow, I did get to take some real photos. The snow was a little heavy (for our refined Utah tastest, anyway), visibility was terrible and it got tracked up super fast. But we still managed to find little stashes of soft snow for photos.

These three photos and the one of Gheen lying in the snow were taken with the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and 70-200 f/4L IS lens. Everything else in this post was taken with the Casio Exilim G1 waterproof and shockproof point-and-shoot.

[Photo-John]

Here are two more from the Casio. I have taken a whole bunch with it in all kinds of foul conditions now. It's turning out to be a pretty solid little camera. Keep your eyes open for more from the Casio G1.

Here's to lots more powder "testing" days! Endless winter!

[Photo-John]

Here are some links for the stuff we were playing with on Friday.

Clik Elite Contrjour Ski Camera Pack >>
Casio Exilim EX-G1 Digital Camera >>
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV >>
F-Stop Tilopa Camera Pack >>

Watch for more articles and / or reviews on all of the above.

[Gheen]

Hot dang. Looks great!

[Photo-John]

Hot dang. Looks great!

It was a good day and it wouldn't have happened without a co-conspiritor. Thanks

[Photo Dad]

You shouldn't post pictures like this. People might get the wrong idea about how you spend your days. Don't you have any pictures of you in your dim basement studio with your sleeves rolled up, your eyelids drooping, and your monitor flickering monotonously in front of you?

[Photo-John]

You shouldn't post pictures like this. People might get the wrong idea about how you spend your days. Don't you have any pictures of you in your dim basement studio with your sleeves rolled up, your eyelids drooping, and your monitor flickering monotonously in front of you?

You're right about that. I know people have the impression that all I do is play. But you can't only play and write as much as I do and process as many photos and videos. Most of the time I work 10-12 hour days Monday through Thursday in order to leave time for play. And last week, I worked a bunch on Saturday to make up for Friday. But I *do* manage to have a good time