I just got back from Montana Monday evening after nine days of train photography in all kinds of weather, including snow, temperatures in the teens, etc.
Many of us like the convenience of a photographer's vest when out in the field, but in severe weather conditions the Domke vest and others like it provide little comfort from the cold. When I throw on a down vest and parka, I always miss the pockets, storage capability and convenience of the photo vest. On this trip, I left the down vest at home and tried something called the Cabela's Travel Fleece Jacket. It looks like a photographer's vest with sleeves and an extended collar, plus TEN pockets, including three zippered ones (great for storage of exposed and unexposed film, extra batteries, etc.) and a zippered inside security pocket. It was mighty convenient, very warm and seems to be the answer for cold-weather railfan jaunts. When it really got windy last Saturday, I threw a Gore-Tex parka shell over the jacket and felt fine. Best part: the jacket (item HH-92-0210) sells for just $39.95 from the Cabela's catalog, almost half of the price of a new photographer's vest at the local camera store. You might want to consider this as the cold weather season starts. --David R. Busse --> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects
