Harry Fisch is a photographer and organizer of photographic expeditions of which we have spoken in these pages. The following article gives advice to properly prepare to go to a remote location.
1 Do your homework
International travel to an exotic place, especially if you're going solo, it is usually a great investment.
If you decide to go it alone or join a group you need to know where you are going and what you can find. When to go. What festivals are there in different seasons, monsoons, heat, problems with roads by rain, etc?
Sometimes it takes me over a year to schedule a trip properly. The reality is that any itinerary and destination has been brewing longer. Many of them require permits. Also I usually collect information from other travelers and photographers and, in many cases, in which correspondence exchanged experiences on the destination. This means that when you're in the place you can refine your aim and dedicate your time to be with people or place instead of losing your destination looking.
2 Select your companion, guide or organization
The choice of the person or organization that will take the issue is perhaps the most important trip; do you have experience with photographers? What moves people? And with the authorities, police, military? Can you solve the contingency that may occur? Do you know really know what it says?
3 Schedule in advance what you intend - Travel
I remember on one of the trips with Nomad Photographic Expeditions in the desert of Kutch did a story on workers in the salt mines and... I forgot to photograph the final product: the salt!
I had to return the next day only to take a picture of a working salt holding in your hands... I lost a whole morning for a single photo.
Is a personal story? Want to have a variety of professional photographs for possible use? Ideally previous record what you aim for in each of the locations to which you go. Remember to take vertical and horizontal photos, close-ups and general. Something that allows tells the story. The emotion of the moment blurred vision and you find many times that the dream did not take. Only after you realize in your country, when things cannot be helped.
4 Write down what you've done and save addresses and phone
Better with a picture that allows you to recall the situation and the person. If you plan to use the photos with people, not hurt to have mini-contracts (in the native language better than English universal). Big media as National Geographic, do not accept photos if they do not contribute the written individual named in the same release.

5 Get Organized
Do not spend all your time frantically looking for things in the bag.
There is nothing more stressful than being in a connection in an Indian airport, no time to take the next plane and meet a Customs wants you to take out all the material then you have to relocate, hastily into place. It is the best way to lose the charger or cable charger, a disaster.
Organize the bag so that everything has its place and all at the same site again. I usually put the cables and small accessories in clear plastic bags, which allows me to see what I have and also in customs without can see everything.
6 backup is the most valuable part of your trip
Go to the end of the world, spend time road heat, up, down, poor sleep... All made compensates when the dream pictures. The real disaster is to find the middle or end of the trip with your memory card (that had never been broken) does not work or who knows how to change cards, you left one in a roadside bar.
I always carry a memory card wallet on my belt where I have that I have not used and used. Daily (at least once a day) I make backups either on a "back-up" laptop as on a laptop. The original card used the keep. Thus I have two copies of everything. One of them took me and the other is the ground give my driver, guide or companion.
7 Tea is essential
Learn from your surroundings to reach an unknown destination take a tea. Its value is incalculable for a photographer.
In Kadar, near the border with Pakistan, I found in a dump with local little given to get along with a stranger. In fact, I clearly said "No Photo". After thirty minutes three teas we became friends. Photo opportunity arose.
If taken alone, makes people see you and be near you, out of curiosity. If you are accompanied, allows you to learn more about your partner and integrate into the environment.
There is nothing more absurd than to lose a car or bus, put the camera in burst mode and start taking pictures of everything that moves... When you reach the site, if you can, take some time to look around, breathe room, make eye contact. If you're brave, leave the camera in your bag. Observed. Wait for the right light, do not you insist on taking pictures at 12 noon with a blazing sun.

Harry Fisch
Harry Fisch is a lawyer by training, director of Nomad Expeditions Photography and photographer for many years. It is also something that has helped polyglot when you organize and photography trips to over 27 countries. His specialty is Asia and has focused his work and route design in the area of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal and India.
Selected in 2010 by Photo espania in its "Discovery", his work has been published in "La letter de la photography" nominated for Best Blog of 2011 by the prestigious magazine LIFE.
Founder of Nomad Expeditions Photography, designs expeditions studying locations, cultural events and realities of human and photographic interest of each destination. Passionate about short lenses used to bind to its proximity to the subject, the close contact.