Here are 10 cool iPhone photos I snapped during my flight on the way back from Las Vegas (much better than an in-flight movie experience).
When I boarded my plane from Las Vegas back to New York City after attending the NAB convention, I found a little surprise. As I sat down in my window seat, I noticed that the traditional LED entertainment screen built into the seat in front of me… was missing.
Sure, I understand that shorter flights may no longer offer this traditional amenity, but this was five-hour trip. Huh.
Instead, I read instructions on how I could stream free content from my phone using the plane’s Wi-Fi.
This is progress?
The Show Begins
So after liftoff, I turned my attention out the plane window and discovered the real show was just beginning.
It was a clear morning with just a few wispy clouds. From 30,000 feet up, I could see… the entire United States. (Well, not exactly, as we’d probably have to be in orbit for that kind of view. But it felt like I could see everything. Just not all at once.)
For the next few hours, I took in the beautiful shifting view, and it was way better than any movie I might stream on Netflix.
It’s not like people never look out their window during flights, but you really need perfect weather to maximize the opportunity. If you haven’t done this lately, I highly recommend you look out for the this experience the next time nature makes it available.
Put Your Phone’s Camera to Work
And it’s shockingly easy to snap some great photos with your phone. You just need to hold it close enough to the window to avoid in-cabin reflections.
Here of some of the photos I snapped with my iPhone 15 Pro Max along my journey home. The order is from west to east, beginning in Nevada and ending somewhere in the eastern half of the U.S. after it finally clouded over.
This is a tight shot I snapped of a spring vinca flower that reveals the pent-up energy about to blossom over the landscape. Below are a few more spring pics I captured with my microscope lens mounted to my iPhone.
That anything living can break through the barren, winter-scarred ground always seems like a miracle. Yet, of course as the fading winter releases its brutal grip and the temperatures begin to rise, early spring begins this annual rebirth.
I’m always delighted during these first days before spring really kicks in. That’s when you need to make an effort to spot the signs. Though tiny, they’re everywhere. The trees are still barren, but the first flower buds are already starting to make their move.
Look Closer
I think we’re likely a week or two away from ‘opening day’ here in southern Connecticut. (That’s when you look out the window and almost fall over from the impact of spring’s stunning return.)
I took my Panasonic Lumix mirrorless camera outside this week to take a few early-spring test shots but found my results underwhelming. Maybe it was too soon.
Then, I thought for a moment and realized I just needed to get a little closer to nature’s magic. So, I pulled out my SANDMARC microscope lens for my iPhone and screwed it onto my iPhone case (also made by SANDMARC).
The images I captured were not your typical bright and colorful spring collection. The shots were necessarily darker with my microscope lens pressed close to the flower buds.
But this framing style also created a more intimate result, revealing a view of a young spring not yet fully formed.
Time to Expand the View
My microscope lens provides an especially narrow depth of field. Much of each image blurs away from the tight focal point. As a result, I think I’ve captured more of nature’s organic flow in action.
And this flow will soon burst onto the landscape. Then, it will be easy to expand the view.
I couldn’t be happier being able to see this preview.
It couldn’t hurt to have a bag packed with essential items to take with you in an emergency. Here’s some tech gear to consider for your own go bag and why.
I’ve always tried to pay attention to home safety topics like fire prevention. So far, so good. But you never know where your blind spots might be. Recently, my wife and I had a complementary review of our house’s smoke detectors by two members of our regional Red Cross.
They found a couple gaps and opportunities, which I quickly addressed the following week. While smoke detection and fire avoidance were the key themes to our discussion, they also talked about being ready to immediately evacuate in the event of an emergency.
And they brought up the important topic of having a ‘go bag’ packed and ready to take if the situation prevented returning home for a period.
Go Bags and the Cloud
Of course, there are different types of emergencies ranging from a stove fire to an extended power outage or natural disaster that could force you to leave your home. A go bag, also called a bug-out bag should contain items to help you get through this evacuation period.
While emergency supplies are the priority, the Red Cross team also suggested we might want to think about taking important or irreplaceable documents and photos should our house burn down. (gulp)
They helpfully suggested that I could upload some of that to the cloud to mitigate the risk.
As I nodded in agreement, my brain began to spin.
Are You Ready?
Backing up my important photos to the cloud is a fundamental file maintenance practice I’ve been following for years. But was I ready for this kind of moment? Plus, was this just tip-of-the-iceberg thinking?
I asked myself if I was really prepared to handle a big emergency, leave my home and perhaps not return for a long time.
I don’t think I am. No, not really.
So, it was time to begin closing that gap.
Mountain Bike Duffel Bag
I started by first getting a dedicated go bag to fill up. After doing some research, I decided I liked the structure of a mountain bike duffel bag.
These duffel bags have lots of pockets for organization and easier access than a standard knapsack.
I ended up buying one made by Wildhorn.
Important Tech to Pack
Next, came the packing part. Of course, safety and survival come first. And while I’ve brushed up on which emergency and medical supplies I should include in my go bag, I’m admittedly still a student in this space. So, I’ll leave it to the experts to offer their recommendations.
That said, you’ll likely want to also take along some tech. You might find yourself partially off the grid, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut yourself off without the right tools.
Here’s my tech list that you might want to consider for your own go bag:
Portable power bank(s) to keep your phone and other tech going (A solar-charging model is optimal.)
Charging cables
Wall charger with USB ports should you be able to plug into power
Portable power strip
Solar or crank-powered radio
Analog watch that can keep ticking more than 24 hours without recharging (My Apple Watch wouldn’t be up to this task.)
A portable hard drive with important files
And of course, a rechargeable flashlight and headlamp
Just Like a Camping Trip?
While I was creating this packing list, I began to realize that the process felt a lot like packing for just another trip, but one that you hope you’ll never go on.
Another, more positive take is this is like prepping for your next camping trip. (There’s a fair amount of crossover.)
On the one hand, you may already have some of this gear at home. But it’s probably best to purchase a duplicate set and then dedicate this ‘emergency’ tech to a permanently packed go bag that you wouldn’t borrow from under normal circumstances.
Get Organized
So now that my go bag is packed, I’ve set it aside and hope that I’ll never have to use it. (It’s like spending money on insurance.) One ongoing detail will be to make sure battery power remains charged up.
Yes, completing this project has provided me a little peace of mind.
But I also know I have more work to do on a variety of fronts. There are many chapters in the book of Organizing your Life.
At Home with Tech 