Vacation Photography Backup Solution

Over the years I have found or used various methods for backing up my photos while on the road.  I continually look for new solutions because travel scenarios, weight limitations, image file size increases, technical advances, etc., have made this a dynamic arena.

With my professional camera, I have a dual card capability that provides a quick solution.  I shoot RAW files which record to a large Compact Flash card, and simultaneously record the same image in the significantly smaller JPG format to an SD card.  Since the JPGs are my backup, I usually use the second level of compression so that a single 128Gb card can be left in the camera for an entire vacation.  The JPGs also come in handy when you want to share images before you return home.

With my semi-pro camera and its single SD card, the need to backup is even more critical for precious vacation images.  Backing up images on a daily basis is essential.  In the past this meant using a laptop, card reader and portable hard drive.  When traveling by car or on short domestic flights, this is not a bad solution.

For longer flights and international travel I sought out, and have hopefully found, a simple light weight collection of gear.  This $136 solution eliminates the laptop and substitutes the smartphone that is already in the mix for most travelers.  In addition to your smartphone, you will need a RAV Power File Hub Plus ($40), a powered USB 3 hub ($26), and a portable bus-powered hard drive.

USB 3 Hub with 4 ports and 1 Charge Port

RAV Power Network Hub, SD Card Reader, Backup Power, and WiFi

For this last item I already have my Seagate 2TB portable hard drive ($70) but plan to supplement/replace it with a faster Samsung 1TB SSD ($350).  For most people the Seagate is the better solution as it is a larger capacity mechanical drive and totally competent.  My desire to upgrade to the Samsung SSD (no moving parts) is my need for greater speed for the individual 30 to 70 Mb RAW image files that I shoot.

Seagate 2TB (shown in red) Hard Drive

Samsung 1TB SSD

Note that the RAV Power part of this solution provides, in addition to an SD card reader, a WiFi network of its own making.  There is also an associated app for your phone or tablet that can provide your file management interface.  Once the RAV Power is plugged into the 4 port hub with your portable hard drive in  another port, you can transfer files using the app interface.  The RAV Power also has a 6000mah battery that can re-charge your smartphone if needed.

The RAV Power plugs into the main (bottom USB cable permanently attached) portion of the 4 port hub and your portable hard drive plugs into any available port.  The use of the 4 port hub is the scenario I tested but the RAV Power device is advertised to work directly with hard drives up to 4TB which would eliminate the need for the 4 port hub.

When you need to back up your SD card, just pop it into the RAV Power, link your smartphone to the Rav Network and supply the 11111111 password (that was 8 ones) it needs, open the app, and locate both the hard drive and the SD card in the app program.  It is here you navigate to your files and make a copy to the hard drive folder of your choice.  It should be noted that your portable hard drive solution must be port powered so as to not exceed the limits of the hub.

For most photographers the above solution will suffice.  For those of you, like me, who also must contend with Compact Flash (CF) cards, I have added a USB 3 Card Reader to the scenario.  The card reader handles CF, SD, micro SD cards.  It also provides a USB C converter to plug directly into newer laptops and smartphones with the "C" type connectors.

WEme Aluminum USB 3.0 CF/SD/TF Micro SD Card Reader

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There is also another single device solution for SD cards only that might be attractive for some people and that is the Western Digital SSD with a built in card reader.  It is a bit pricier ($500 for 1TB size) than the other two scenarios above but it is a single device that should do it all.  I said SD cards only but I should clarify that this device will accept a card reader but the USB port is of the 2.0 variety and not 3.0, so your transfer speeds for external devices will be a bit slower.

Western Digital SSD with Built In WiFi and SD Card Reader

The WD SSD shown above features:

• Built-in SD card reader with one-touch copy button
• Durable, shock-resistant SSD inside
• All-day battery life (up to 10 hours)
• Wirelessly stream 4K videos and view photos with the My cloud mobile app
• Import from USB card readers

Kennedy-Trump; History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.

After watching the CNN series, The Kennedy’s, I couldn’t overlook the points of comparison in the lives of Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy.  Prior to watching the re-telling of the story behind the Kennedy dynasty, I wouldn’t have thought such a comparison to have warranted contemplation.  How can one of the most revered presidents in modern history compare with a man responsible for so much of the divisiveness we see today?  How can the oldest president ever elected compare with the youngest?  While these two individuals were polar opposites in many ways, the points of comparison are many. 

DJT                                           JFK

The vision recurs; the eastern sun has a second rise; history repeats her tale unconsciously, and goes off into a mystic rhyme; ages are prototypes of other ages, and the winding course of time brings us round to the same spot again.¹ 

Both men were the second sons of wealthy fathers.  Both fathers were strong willed businessmen with somewhat nefarious backgrounds.  Fred Trump Sr. was arrested on Memorial Day 1927, while marching with the KKK, wearing white Klan attire, protesting that Protestants were being bullied by Catholic police of New York.  Joseph Kennedy was known to be a staunch anti-Semite who had ties to mob boss Sam Giancana during his Prohibition bootlegging days.  Both fathers made portions of their fortunes in real estate.  Both fathers lived long lives and died after long illnesses.  Joe Kennedy Sr. died at the age of 81 after a stroke suffered when he was 73.  Fred Trump Sr. died at age 93 after suffering six years with Alzheimer’s disease.  He died, perhaps ironically (as a Klan member), at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Trump's Brothers and Sisters

Kennedy Clan

Both Don and Jack came from large families; Trump with 5 and Kennedy with 9 brothers and sisters.  Both families were recent generational immigrants; Trump of German extraction and Kennedy Irish.  

Both Jack and Don were/are serial philanderers with a penchant for beautiful women.  JFK got away with his indiscretions initially but history found him out.  Two of JFK's relationships (Inga Arvad & Ellen Rometsch) were with probable foreign (Russian/East German) spies.  Some of his more famous trysts were with Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Angie Dickinson, Anita Ekberg, Gene Tierney, and Blaze Star.  That last reference was a stripper famous mostly in Miami whose daughter I met briefly in the 60's.

Ellen Rometsch (East German spy?)

Ellen Arvad (Russian spy?)

DJT’s cheating ways were also kept quiet for a while but again, time wounds all heels.  Times have changed, but people haven’t.  I’m sure DJT would have preferred the days of old when sexual dalliances were not only prevalent they were the main course in Washington.  To read more on this, see Bobby Baker’s salacious secret history of Capitol Hill.

Trump's Women (accused him of harassment)

JFK's Women (for more detail, click this link)

Donald and Jack both had older brothers, who were their father’s namesake, but who also died tragically.  Fred Trump Jr., Donald’s older brother, was an alcoholic who died at age 43 of related complications.²  Joe Kennedy Jr., was killed in WWII piloting a “drone” where he and his copilot were to bail out after take-off, after switching to autopilot, and arming explosives aboard.  The then “drone” was scheduled to crash into German U-boat pens.  The plane exploded prior to their planned bailout and Joe Kennedy Jr. was killed.

Kennedy meets with Russians

Trump meets with Russians

Both Donald and Jack set up back channels with the Kremlin.  Both appointed family members to key political positions.  Both men were/are very astute manipulators of public opinion and used the tools of the newly available media; television for JFK and Twitter for DJT.  Both men triumphed over strong political rivals with more experience in public office.  Both of them won their presidencies by narrow margins.  JFK had a family home at 1095 N. Ocean Blvd., in Palm Beach, Florida, and DJT has Mar-a-Lago in that same town, just 6 miles south.

Mar a Lago

Kennedy Palm Beach Estate

"Winter White House" for JFK and DJT

JFK had widespread medical problems, which weren’t divulged until after his death.  He sought treatment from the White House doctor, Max Jacobson who had the nickname, “Dr. Feelgood.”  JFK took painkillers and got injections of amphetamines for his back, and he was given corticosteroids for his colitis and Addison’s disease.  This latter treatment has the side effect of thicker hair, skin with a permanent tan, and an intensified sexual drive.  That might explain a few things.

DJT, on the other hand, is one of the healthiest men on the planet if we are to believe Dr. Ronny Jackson.  Dr. Jackson indicates that President Trump “is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.”  Oh wait, that is a quote from the Manchurian Candidate and not Dr. Jackson.  Dr. Ronny was known around the White House as, “The Candyman,” for his rather liberal (the only use of the word allowed in this White House) dispensing of drugs for staff.  It is perhaps too early to know President Trump’s true health but we know he is an overweight, septuagenarian with a poor diet.  It is therefore hard to fathom that his health is as good as Dr. Jackson would have us to believe when he read from the medical report Trump dictated.

I’m sure there are other parallels between the two men but it will take the passage of time to fully realize the many similarities.  I was just surprised that there were any at all.

¹ 1845 October, The Christian Remembrancer, Volume 10, (Book Review of “A History of the Church in Russia” by A. N. Mouravieff)

²  Donald J. Trump would later cut off medical benefits to his older brother’s grandson who was born with a rare neurological disorder.  This was in retaliation for Fred Trump III’s lawsuit seeking benefits from the estate of Fred Trump Sr.  It seems that the senior Trump had previously provided family medical benefits and the Donald was not so generous.

Note:  The title of this article was paraphrased from a quote attributed to Mark Twain but for which no known verification exists.  I'll take credit for it as soon as my name change is effective where I will be known as Anonymous.