Active Threads - The Nature, Wildlife and Pet Photography Forum

Welcome!

NWPphotoforum.com

Active Threads | Active Posts | Unanswered Today | Since Yesterday | This Week

NWP Product Reviews

01/15/26 11:17 PM

Re: Field Review - Think Tank Shapeshifter 17 V2 [by James Morrissey]

Like the article? Please share it. We are a small site and word of mouth is everything at a time when a few social media companies control pretty much everything. I am trying to produce more content recently because visitation has been so strong. Also, if you have ideas for a story, don't be afraid to reach out to me through the Facebook Group.

If you are new to our website, please feel free to look around and read our many articles and artist showcase interviews.

http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

If you like the article, please join our forum and I will send you surprisingly rare spam with new articles when I have something that I think is worth posting. Also, please consider joining our photography group on Facebook, a very positive and supportive environment for people interested in Nature, Landscape and Wildlife Photography. Membership is as easy as answering 3 simple questions and agreeing to avoid controversial topics like religion and politics in the group. It is the only reason I still and a member of the FB community.

Link to FB Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nwpphotoforum

As much as I am ashamed to admit it, please remember that these images are mine. Yuck. All text and all images in this article are (c) 2026, James Morrissey.

2 43 Read More

NWP Product Reviews

01/15/26 07:18 PM

Re: Field Review - Think Tank Shapeshifter 17 V2 [by James Morrissey]

I don't know about you, but I have been looking for the 'perfect' camera bag for a long time - and I have come to the conclusion that there is really no perfect bag for all occasions. I have particularly been looking for something small enough to carry with me on the subway when I am travelling back and forth to work. There are times when I see a sight so beautiful - but I am stuck with my iphone. Don't get me wrong - the best camera that you have is the best camera that you have. I want better though - enter the Think Tank Shapeshifter 17 V2. Is it perfect?? No. But it is pretty damned good.

Oh - and to get it out of the way - YES. That photograph of the bag is BY FAR the worst photograph I have ever put on the front page. How UGLY. I may try to replace it with something better in the next week or so. What is worse - there are going to be a bunch of really [censored] photos of the bag after this. I decided that utility beats form for this article.

[Linked Image]

Padding and Straps - Pretty Impressive.

I like three things about the bag in particular:

(1) The accordion design is incredibly inconspicuous. I have no problems taking it onto the subway and around New York City. I am a social worker by trade, and I travel in some tough places - there is nothing about this bag that screams 'take me' about it.

(2) The bag is surprisingly high capacity. It has space for two cameras (with grips) a 24-70, a 70-200 and a flash (or other lens)- not to mention a 17 inch laptop and lunch. The folks at ThinkTank included a really fun diagram of the different ways that the bag can be put together - with Canon and Nikon use cases. You have to love the traditionalists. Honestly, the point of the bag is for me to be able to carry a relatively limited gear set but also the fundamentals that I need in order to get me through the day, here in New York City. Right now, my bag has one camera, the 24-70 F2.8L and a 50mm prime. It also has my flash and whatever else I need to take to work. Any more than that, and I start adding weight that I don't want.

[Linked Image]

The inside of the main compartment - completely empty...except those desiccates. Why did I leave in the desiccates?

All the positives said, there are a few things about this bag that are real compromises. For example, the neoprene pouches on the inside of the bag that hold everything are really fixed. You cannot attach a camera WITH a lens on it (well, that is not really true. You can attach a small prime, like the 50 F1.8). When you are bouncing around the city with your pack on, it means you have to take off the pack and put on the lens. It becomes a two step process. Also, if the bag is compressed (which it typically isn't, because I have gear in it), you cannot actually open the main compartment. It only works when it is extended.

[Linked Image]

My Asus ProArt P16 Laptop.

Oddly, the bag comes with a place to put my tripod legs, but there is no strap/connector built onto the bag for my tripod to connect to - which means I will have to add one. I guess most folks don't shoot with tripods anymore, but I cannot work the way I do without one. Once that tripod goes on the back, there will be another drawback - specifically that I am currently using that rear compartment to hold my iPad Air. Once a tripod goes on it, I won't have access to that compartment anymore and it looks like I will need to stick it in with my laptop in the main compartment.

[Linked Image]

Their Promo literature

(3) The bag is really well made. It has YKK zippers and plenty of padding. I love how the bag contains 'wrap' for each of the camera bodies and lenses in order to hold them in place. I HATE playing with all of the velcro in your typical bag. While there is an added element of flexibility in that case, I like how secure this feels. The sternum strap and D-Rings make it easy to carry - and I will say that those straps are really thick and comfortable, even when the bag is full. I particularly like that the bag comes with a rainfly. Many bags charge additional for that. The one problem with a really well made bag comes back in the form of weight. The bag is not lightweight at all - but I am willing to take that compromise. Quality and protection comes before portability.

But wait - there is more. This thing looks like it has a ton of really cool 'travel friendly features.' While I would never see this as being able to replace my Lowe Pro, I could easily see myself taking this on a short trip to visit friends and family. This thing has a luggage pass-through sleeve for a suitcase attachment. It even has a water bottle container.

Exterior Dimensions:
20 x 12.5 x 7" / 50.8 x 31.75 x 17.78 cm
Weight: 4.6 Lbs

[Linked Image]

Where are the tripod straps???? This is a 300 bag!

Conclusion:

I have been using this bag now for about two weeks. I like it so much that I am writing a review on it. Is it perfect? No. There are some minor niggles - the lack of a tripod strap built into the bag being the main one. The other minor issues, like compartment access I am willing to go along with in the name of safely porting myself around New York City. Even with my minor complaints - I think this bag is great. I bought this bag on clearance at B&H for $129.75 on clearance at B&H. It is currently listed as 199 - and has a normal price tag of 299. The Big "A" is selling it for 299 so I definitely feel like this bag at 129.75 is a steal. I am so pleased. Let's see those tripod straps cost me $50 bucks...but hey. Thems the breaks.

On a separate note - I see that my own forum has decided to censor me. I referred to the photographs in this article as "[censored]," and they are. No other word for them. I promise that the next set will do better.

[Linked Image]

The Bag as I have it Configured...Why did I leave the desiccates in it??? Why??

2 43 Read More

NWP Product Reviews

01/15/26 07:18 PM

Think Tank Shapeshifter 17 V2 Field Review [by James Morrissey]

Has James finally found the perfect bag for kicking around town?? Is it the ugliest photograph to ever be placed on the front of the NWP Photo Forum page???????????????? The answer to these burning questions (and more) is coming!!!

[Linked Image]

2 43 Read More

NWP Articles

12/28/25 12:55 AM

Loving the National Parks (to Death) [by James Morrissey]

Like the article? Please share it. We are a small site and word of mouth is everything at a time when a few social media companies control pretty much everything. I am trying to produce more content recently because visitation has been so strong. Also, if you have ideas for a story, don't be afraid to reach out to me through the Facebook Group.

If you are new to our website, please feel free to look around and read our many articles and artist showcase interviews.

http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

If you like the article, please join our forum and I will send you surprisingly rare spam with new articles when I have something that I think is worth posting. Also, please consider joining our photography group on Facebook, a very positive and supportive environment for people interested in Nature, Landscape and Wildlife Photography. Membership is as easy as answering 3 simple questions and agreeing to avoid controversial topics like religion and politics in the group. It is the only reason I still and a member of the FB community.

Link to FB Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nwpphotoforum

Please remember that the text and all images in this article are (c) 2025, James Morrissey.

Tags & Keywords:
Mormon Row, TA Moulton Barn, John Moulton Barn, Grand Teton Photography

2 229 Read More

NWP Articles

12/25/25 01:18 AM

Re: Loving the National Parks (to Death) [by James Morrissey]

John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling, and I must go." From the first moment I laid eyes on the Tetons, I’ve felt that call. And I know I’m not alone. In 2024, over 3.5 million visitors flocked to Grand Teton National Park, underscoring just how beloved this place is. This year, I made two trips—once in June for my friend Janet’s memorial and again in July, hoping to climb the Grand. The Tetons were my first National Park, and for nearly 30 years, they've shaped how I experience the natural world. What I didn’t fully grasp until recently, though, was how long these parks have been under siege—not just by overuse, but by the very people who claim to love them. That includes me.

[Linked Image]

I’ve spent years photographing Mormon Row, one of the most iconic spots in the Tetons. The barns—owned by TA (Thomas Alma) Moulton and his brother, John Moulton, are beautiful, photogenic anchors against the backdrop of Sheep Mountain (the Sleeping Indian) for sunset, and the Tetons for the morning A side. Over the years, I've captured countless images here, bringing friends and even bridal parties to photograph in this timeless setting. But looking back through my photos, I see something I didn’t notice before: the land is in bad shape, and it’s been that way for a long time. What I thought was a recent deterioration is, in fact, the result of decades of heavy foot traffic. The soil has been trampled over and over, and it’s not just the park’s infrastructure that’s struggling—it’s the land itself. The ground cover, designed to withstand wind, snow, and grazing, has been worn down to the point where it can no longer recover. The cycle of erosion, uneven surfaces, and mud has only gotten worse.

This realization came into sharper focus on my recent trips. Honestly, the fact that I had not realized this until recently really irks me. As I put together a really fiery article about why I was never going to photograph The Mormon Row again (and that you shouldn't either), I started looking for images that showed this as I have many years of photos from this location. The photos just don't support my supposition.

With the exception of one banner year, ALL of my images from the Mormon Row really kind of stink.

[Linked Image]

Taken in the early morning before sunrise, this has remained one of my favorites of the barn.

I can’t ignore the reality anymore - these barns have been loved to death. They’ve been photographed, shared on social media, and used as the backdrop for countless memories. But each step on that ground has left a permanent mark. And I’ve been a part of that. It's not just that the land is in bad shape today—it has been for as long as I’ve been visiting. I failed to recognize it until recently, but now, I see it clearly. I can’t continue to photograph these barns without acknowledging that I’m contributing to their degradation. I’ve walked on this land, I’ve stood in it, and now, I’m standing up to the fact that I’ve missed the signs for too long.

The conditions at Mormon Row reflect a bigger issue in the National Parks: we’re loving them to death. Infrastructure and park management have not kept pace with the rising number of visitors. The sheer volume of people has overwhelmed the land, and small, accessible areas like Mormon Row are bearing the brunt of the impact. While the rest of the park remains relatively untouched, these iconic sites are being trampled. We’ve allowed experience to take precedence over preservation, and as a result, we’re seeing irreversible damage to our most treasured landscapes.

[Linked Image]

This image was taken a couple of years ago, and this is where I really started to see how terrible the conditions of the ground were.

I am going to keep coming back and looking - and hopefully the Parks department will do something about these spaces. I'd hate to think that this is my last dance, but for now, I am only going to fill the memory cards between my ears. To be fair - if I see something really awesome, you KNOW I am going to break that promise. It is so beautiful, even with the ground conditions. Having said this, you as a parks lover do have some recourse though - if you see something...say something. The National Parks have a portal called the Content Management System and you can find it at the following link. The portal system seems to be down as I write this, but you can send them an e-mail: SAWS_Support@nps.gov.

I close with this image I took of the Pink House with the Outhouse. One of my favorite images of all time, taken during a snow squall one October back in 2012. The Pink House was owned by John Moulton and his wife, Bartha. John was a dairy farmer, and lived in that house until 1990, when he died and the house became part of the park.

[Linked Image]

2 229 Read More

NWP Articles

12/25/25 01:10 AM

Loving the National Parks (to Death) [by James Morrissey]

I won't photograph the Mormon Row EVER again (and neither should you)!!!

[Linked Image]

2 229 Read More