Japan 2014: Photo Teaser

We've been in Japan almost two weeks now, and I'm enjoying it to the fullest. I've been trying to write daily blog posts just like during the trip in 2009, but I can't finish each day's entry in time to post them daily. That's why I'm writing them "offline" whenever I have free time. I'll finish writing and start uploading them once I get back home.

In the meantime, I wanted to upload a "little" teaser picture. It was taken from Odaiba right after sunset, and features the Rainbow Bridge that connects the island of Odaiba with the mainland. If you look closely, you'll also see the Tokyo Tower right next to one of the pillars of the bridge in the middle of the picture, and the Tokyo Skytree between two large buildings on the right.

Blogger doesn't allow me to upload high resolution pictures, so the maximum width of 2560px will have to do. Also, sorry about the low quality, blogger doesn't seem to handle downscaling from over 20 megapixels too well...

PS: Make sure you check out my grilfriend's blog at http://kawaiitraveling.wordpress.com/Unlike me, she's managing to upload (almost) daily posts about our trip.

Tutorial: DIY Quick-Release Camera Safety Leash

For my upcoming trip to Japan, I'm planning on doing a little vlogging, which means I'm going to be turning my camera around for self-shots. When taking photos regularly, the hand strap already gives my some sense of safety. For self-shots, I need to grab the camera by the lens, losing the safety of the hand strap.

I decided to make a little add-on for the inexpensive quick-release I built for my neck-strap. The idea is really simple: A loop around my wrist, attached to one of the quick-release hooks, should hold my camera if it falls. It doesn't need to be too comfortable, since it won't hold the camera's weight regularly, only if/when it falls. Most of the time, the loop will just be wrapped loosely around my wrist.

Here's what you need to build it:

• A nylon strap like the ones on backpacks
• A hook matching the coupling on the camera (see my quick-release tutorial)
• Needle and thread, or a sewing machine if you happen to own one
• Scissors
• A lighter or anything that can melt the ends of the strap

You should be able to get all of this at any hardware store (except needle and thread, maybe). Total cost: uhhm... about 2€?

Building it is really simple. Make a small loop on one end of the band by twisting it back and sewing it. Make sure that the hook fits through!


Now pass the other end of the strap through that loop (making a bigger loop), wrap that around your wrist and pull it until it isn't loose.

Get your camera and find the right length for the strap depending on what you want to do with it. For me, that's the distance between my wrist and the right quick-release hook while grabbing the camera from the lens. Add a few centimeters/an inch or two to that and cut the strap. Remeber that a slightly too long strap can still be used, one that's too short can not.
Gently heat the cut end to melt it. You can use a lighter for that, but make sure to move it around quickly. Do not let it on the same spot too long or you'll burn the strap.

Now you only need to pass the end of the strap through the hook and sew it. Don't make it too tight to allow the hook to move a little.

Since it's supposed to be a safety measure, it makes sense to run a test after building it. I'll probably get enough chances to test it over hard concrete (not that I want to...), so for a planned and controlled test, I dropped my camera over my bed. Despite it's simplicity, the leash worked perfectly, and it's quite comfortable to wear.

I hope this tutorial was helpful. Let me know in the comments below if you liked it, and also if you would add or change anything.