Finding the right camera bag is a pain – some of us don’t want to spend $100-150 on a simple backpack to carry our stuff.  If you spend too little, it seems that the thing cheaply falls apart in a short period of time (been there, broke that).

The problem with most camera backpacks is they either give away to the world that it’s a camera backpack, either due to the logo on the outside like TAMRAC or LOWEPRO or even CANON (hmm, I wonder what that dude’s got in that bag? Maybe 5 grand worth of camera gear – let’s go mug him) or the FUGLINESS factor.

I recognized the name Dakine because I have a winter snowboarding hat made by them that I bought at Eastern Mountain Sports.  I was interested in the Dakine Camera Block due to the fact that you can shove it in any other bag, as long as it is the right dimensions.  That way it’s kind of like getting a custom setup for your DSLR, glass, and photo gear.  I’ve seen it online as low as $30 USD. What’s the main thing we need in a camera bag, anyway?  Isn’t it the stupid little velcro-rigged, padded dividers that keep our lenses and camera bodies separately safely and securely?  That, and obviously comfort, durability, and water resistance while outdoors.

There is also the Dakine Mission, which is a lot nicer looking than most bags. This bag is sold along with the Dakine Camera Block as an optional accessory.  It comes in a variety of cool colors and textures, from plaid to other print designs.  I haven’t picked one up just yet, but it’s next on my list.  If anyone has any experience with the Dakine Mission or Dakine Camera Block, feel free to add your comments below.  Another Dakine bag available is the Sequence, which looks to be a little bit deeper (which is always useful if you shoot with a 1D series or gripped body, like myself).  The Sequence has a weatherproof rain cover that pops out in case you get caught in a storm.

This last fall my wife and I ventured up to Vermont to peep some colorful fall foliage.  We aren’t huge travelers, but everyone needs to break away from the same old same old every once in a while just to get away and to break up the monotony of life in general.  We didn’t even have an exact plan where we were going, but we had the trusty little TomTom GPS, a full tank of gas, and our cameras ready for action. The day was a little bit overcast, but sometimes that can be a good thing when it comes to creating softer shadows that aren’t as harsh.  Skies can always be replaced easier afterwards, in Photoshop, anyway (tutorial here). Here are some of the stock images we captured that day.

Scenes like these are everywhere in Vermont.  Gorgeous and untouched mountains, rivers, countryside and forests.

We stumbled upon Hogback Mountain and I captured these panoramic shots.

One more thing you can expect to find in VT is incredible beer!  There are tons of microbrewers including Magic Hat, Long Trail, Otter Creek, Harpoon, and McNeill’s.  Be sure to stock up on the brands not available in your area, before you head back home.

These portraits of us were taken at the river just underneath the Dummerston covered bridge.

I just found out that Mount Snow, Vermont is using this shot of the historic Dummerston covered bridge on their postcard to suggest things to do and see in the area during the “off season” for skiing.

Check out MountSnow.com for all sorts of affordable activities and local area attractions.  They are so much more than just skiing!