Gear and bag company Wandrd is well known by photographers and travel enthusiasts. The company has released four new products in a new Transit Travel line to expand its offerings.

First up in the new release is the Wandrd Transit Travel Backpack. This camera backpack offers loads of pockets for organizing gear. The customizable interior is ideal for carrying photography equipment along with personal belongings, making it a versatile option.

As with Wandrd’s other offerings, the Transit Travel Backpack is very travel-focused. The pack features a hidden passport and travel wallet pocket and a hidden AirTag pocket to keep essentials safe. A luggage pass-through makes it more comfortable to cruise through airports with a roller bag. And it offers a weather-resistant build with reinforced zippers as well, so it should hold up over time. It’s available in 35 or 45L sizes and in either black or Wasatch Green colorways.

The Wandrd Transit Carry-On Roller is a new option for those who prefer rolling through airports. It is a carry-on-sized roller bag and plays well with the above bag’s luggage pass-through. Like the Transit Travel Backpack, it offers a hidden AirTag pocket and plenty of other organization pockets. It includes an oversized laptop compartment to make going through security easier. Crush-proof wheels, weather-resistant materials, and a two-stage retractable handle should make it easy to transport and plenty durable.

The Wandrd Tote Backpack offers a solution for shorter outings or as a second bag on longer trips. As the name suggests, this bag serves as both a classic tote bag and backpack for greater versatility. It’s made of durable materials to hold up to travel and daily outings. The expandable roll-top makes it easier to adjust the size of the bag, and the self-standing design means it won’t fall over when set down. There are dual water bottle pockets, a key hook, and a luggage pass-through. It’s compatible with Wandrd’s Essential Camera Cube, making it a multi-purpose bag.

Finally, the Wandrd Travel Wallet promises a “perfect blend of style and function,” according to the Wandrd website. It features hidden cash and AirTag pockets and magnetic closure. It also offers RFID protection for extra security while traveling.

All four new products are available for purchase now on Wandrd’s website. The Transit Travel Backpack is priced at $299 for the 35L and $329 for the 45L. The Transit Carry-On Roller is $379, while the Tote BackPack is $129, and the Travel Wallet is $74.

Imagine a world where the transfer of gigabytes worth of photography and videography data takes mere seconds instead of minutes or even hours. This isn’t a scene from a futuristic movie; it’s the reality brought forth by Other World Computing (OWC) with the launch of their groundbreaking Atlas USB4 CFexpress Type B memory card reader at the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show in Yokohama, Japan. As a seasoned journalist, witnessing the evolution of technology and its impact on creative professions first-hand, it’s exhilarating to see innovations that promise to redefine the boundaries of efficiency and creativity.

A Quantum Leap in Data Transfer Speeds

The Atlas USB4 CFexpress Type B memory card reader stands out not just for its sleek design but for its unprecedented data transfer rates. Boasting speeds of over 3300MB/s, it is more than four times quicker than its USB 3.2 predecessors. This level of performance is not just an incremental upgrade; it’s a monumental leap forward. For professional photographers and videographers, this translates to drastically reduced data transfer times, freeing up precious hours for more creative endeavors or well-deserved rest. The device’s compatibility with CFexpress 4.0 Type B and 2.0 Type B cards at maximum speeds ensures that it is not only relevant today but also future-proofed for advancements in memory card technology.

Designed with Professionals in Mind

OWC has meticulously engineered the Atlas USB4 card reader to meet the rigorous demands of professional workflows. Its compact, robust aluminum enclosure is not just about aesthetics; it houses an effective heat sink to prevent thermal throttling, ensuring consistent peak performance even during extensive data transfer sessions. The innovative Innergize switch further enhances this, boosting USB 3.2 transfer rates by over 30%. This attention to detail underscores OWC’s commitment to providing solutions that aren’t just about meeting the basic requirements but exceeding them, ensuring that professionals can rely on their equipment to perform when it matters most.

A Holistic Approach to Performance and Reliability

OWC’s dedication to enhancing the user experience goes beyond the hardware. The accompanying Innergize software is a testament to this, offering tools to check the health of Atlas memory cards, clean them, restore performance, and even allow firmware upgrades. This holistic approach ensures that the Atlas USB4 CFexpress Type B memory card reader not only delivers unmatched speed and efficiency but also reliability and longevity. Priced at $99.99 and available for pre-order, with shipments starting in early March, it represents a significant investment in one’s creative toolkit, promising to pay dividends in saved time and enhanced productivity.

WorkBoat sat down with Austin Leathers, a freelance photographer and deep-sea diver, to better understand his take on the commercial diving industry through his work.

“I ended up joining the Navy as a welder diver, an all-technician diver, so that’s how my journey started.  I became a commercial diver for the Navy and the Department of Defense in 2015,” said Leathers.  

Alongside his passion for diving, Leathers had a true interest in filmmaking, particularly black and white. He currently dives for Shoreline Diving, out of New London, Conn. That work covers a number of different projects in waters all over New England.

WB: What initiated your passion for subsea photography?

AL: I just enjoy documenting the daily life of diving and the people I’ve worked with. Nobody’s really documenting divers like this, so feel that I need to do it. I have family, friends and coworkers saying ‘You have to continue taking these pictures, it’s such a unique viewpoint and position that you have.’

When you dive every day it becomes ordinary. To me it’s nothing new, but it is such a unique position to be a photographer and a diver at the same time. That’s my spin on it, in order to provide the most accurate representation of what it’s truly like to be a commercial diver, I think you need to be one. 

WB: What’s your process? What’s it like shooting images 70’ below the surface?

AL: I have a theme that it’s not about one specific person. I’m trying to portray what it’s like working at that depth. I’ll dive on different jobs and think, ‘Wow, this would be a cool shot’, or we’ll be working on a different type of job and I think, ‘This is interesting, nobody’s probably ever heard of this.’

The current camera I’m using is just a crop sensor. It’s not a crazy expensive camera. But it has a really good autofocus. I use a wide-angle lens. You’re really shooting at 20 to 21 millimeters or less. And it’s up close and personal to the divers.

Water quality comes into play. We’re in New England, it’s not Fiji. That visibility affects the images a lot. At first, you’re frustrated because it isn’t clear, but at the end of the day, you’re telling a story that’s more accurate. That’s what it’s really like in the water. A lot of times there’s zero visibility, all you feel is your hand and an object in the water, so a lot of my pictures are really close because of the water quality. I’m almost touching people’s faces with the camera lens. And black and white is kind of my thing, I’m not really into color photography. 

Down there, it’s also extremely calming. It can be dangerous, but when you are in the water for so many hours or most of your life it becomes second nature. Yes, there are always accidents that are going to happen, but for the most part it’s very peaceful.

WB: What is it about people in this industry that you want to capture? What are some future projects that you’re working on?

AL: I want to continue documenting hardhat divers. Plus, there are so many people that work in and around the water. Nobody’s documenting these guys. We get different contracts all of the time. We’re working with the Northstar boats that are doing all of this windfarm work. But you get to meet the crew and see all of these deckhands and captains.

We’re working with pile drivers, so these floating barge and crane guys. And it’s all interesting stuff! So much so that I think somebody needs to document pile drivers on the water. 

Here’s an example of an interesting character. There’s a guy named Josh, he lives on a sailboat and he dumped all of his money into buying a crane and a floating barge just trying to make it happen. And it just so happens that he’s got one leg.

I mean, think about it, where does your marina come from? Who builds it? Divers, welders, tugboat crew, captains. These are all super interesting people with their own stories. 

A lot of these people are standoffish to outsiders, so it’s good to be in the industry, to know them. Knowing that I’m a commercial diver, they’re a lot more comfortable when you’re photographing them.

WB: How can people support your work?

AL: I sell prints on my website. I started doing old salt prints and having silver gelatin prints made. So, I’m taking modern technology, doing digital photography, and then using techniques from the 1800s, like the beginning of photography to print my work. So I’m switching back and forth between past and modern. 

I would really love to have a show or a gallery where people would come in and see all the commercial diving and maritime industry photos that I’ve taken over the years.

Another way to support my work is through my Instagram.

Imagine floating hundreds of miles above Earth, where the atmosphere thins into the blackness of space, and the planet below transitions from a vast expanse of color and texture into a canvas of light and shadow. This is the daily view for a select few humans aboard the International Space Station (ISS), but one American astronaut has transcended her role as a space traveler to become a bridge between the cosmos and those of us bound by gravity. Her photography offers a breathtaking perspective that not only documents her journey in space but also serves as a testament to the beauty and fragility of our planet.

From Fighter Pilot to Photographer in the Stars

Jasmin Moghbeli, known among her peers as a U.S. Marine Corps test pilot with over 150 combat missions and 2,000 flight hours, embarked on a mission that would see her capturing the Earth’s magnificence from an unparalleled vantage point. Her work, compiled during her time aboard the ISS, showcases everything from the swirling patterns of tropical storms to the ethereal glow of the atmosphere as the Sun’s rays dance across it. This collection of images, soon to be showcased in a gallery upon her return, offers a unique insight into not just the life of an astronaut but the profound beauty and complexity of our planet.

Connecting Humanity to the Heavens

Moghbeli’s photography does more than document the extraordinary; it serves as a bridge, connecting those of us on Earth to the vast expanse of the cosmos. Through her lens, we are offered a glimpse into the daily life aboard the ISS, the breathtaking views of celestial phenomena, and the delicate beauty of Earth itself. Her work is a reminder of our place in the universe, inspiring awe and curiosity about the world beyond our immediate senses. In a time when space feels more accessible than ever, her photographs encourage us to look up and wonder, to ponder our role and responsibility as citizens of this planet.

A Gallery Beyond the Stars

As Moghbeli prepares to return to Earth, the anticipation for her gallery exhibition grows. The collection promises to be more than a series of photographs; it will be a journey through the eyes of someone who has lived among the stars. It’s an opportunity for those of us who have never left the planet to see it from a perspective few will ever experience. Her work is a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries, whether they be physical, cultural, or conceptual, uniting us in our shared humanity and curiosity.

While the gallery will soon open its doors, the impact of Moghbeli’s work extends beyond the frame. It challenges us to see our world differently, to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our home planet, and to consider our place in the broader tapestry of the cosmos. Her photographs are not just images; they are invitations to explore, to learn, and to dream about what lies beyond our blue horizon.

WINCHESTER — When Laura Carpenter arrived for her regularly scheduled, 20-week ultrasound, she had no idea that she would leave the appointment with information that would change her — and her baby’s — life.

On the day she and her husband expected to learn the sex of their child, they also learned that the infant would be born with a congenital heart disease, or CHD.

“The floor came out from underneath me and I was sure that I had done something terribly wrong,” Carpenter said, knowing little about the diagnosis at the time. “You feel like you have destroyed your child’s life before it even began.”

Her daughter, Gwenyth, is one of numerous children with CHD whose family has participated in the Zipperstrong Project, a photography initiative by Winchester resident SheRae Hunter to raise awareness about those born with various forms of congenital heart defects.

About one in every 110 infants born in the United States has CHD, according to the Children’s Heart Foundation. This equates to one child every 15 minutes, over 85% of which live to at least 18 years old.

In 2010, Gwenyth passed away from overwhelming sepsis at 2 months old. Once Carpenter discovered the Zipperstrong Project seven years later, Gwenyth’s siblings were able to be photographed in remembrance of her.

“It was such a beautiful way to honor my daughter and to still be raising CHD awareness,” Carpenter said.

Hunter founded the Zipperstrong Project in 2015 after reading stories on Facebook about families whose young ones were born with CHD. She decided that she wanted to do something.

Already a photographer with her own business that specializes in capturing children, Hunter began networking with CHD families on social media to schedule their first meet-up.

Through photography, she aimed to highlight each subject’s zipper-like scar from open heart surgery while still portraying their strength. The name “Zipperstrong” was born from those initial goals.

“What I wanted to convey was the strength that they had, and the joy, and the fact that they are just like any other kid, but they’ve been through these battles and they have the scars to prove it,” Hunter, a mother of five, said. “They are not really to be pitied, but they’re warriors and they’re celebrated.”

Children who participate are able to befriend other young ones who share their scar, Carpenter said.

Not only do children benefit, but also their families, she said. Parents are able to learn more about congenital heart defects and, in cases like Carpenter’s where the child has passed away, siblings are able to be involved as well.

During February, which is American Heart Month, Hunter hopes to raise more awareness about her project and CHD.

“I felt like it’s almost my responsibility if I have a talent to use it for the building of my community,” Hunter said, mentioning her Christian faith. “I try to do it to make Winchester a better place to live.”

There have been seven Zipperstrong sessions so far and the next event is being planned for 2025.

Portraits from the project have been featured on the walls of numerous hospitals, including some which currently hang at Winchester Medical Center.

Images from the most recent photo shoot, which was in 2022, were displayed in Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in Falls Church, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore and University of Virginia Children’s Hospital in Charlottesville.

Four mothers whose children were diagnosed with a CHD, including Carpenter, have been pivotal in the initiative’s continued growth and bringing Hunter’s vision to life. Now, there are so many interested families that only some can be included in each chapter of Zipperstrong.

“Zipperstrong really focuses on just how each life is so unique and beautiful,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter expressed that it is important for parents to share concerns with their doctors and nurses, without fear of being “that mom.” She said she wishes she had trusted her instincts that something was not right with Gwenyth and spoke up.

Gwenyth passed away due to neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NAN), which is a lack of white blood cells and the resulting inability to fight infection effectively. Prior to this, she underwent successful open heart surgery for her CHD at 2 days old.

Because her pediatrician was so focused on her heart, they overlooked the symptoms of NAN. The same doctors also did not thoroughly read their discharge papers from the hospital where Gwenyth had surgery, which diagnosed the infant’s blood condition.

Had they done so, her daughter’s story would likely have had a different ending, Carpenter said. It was not until the autopsy that they realized Gwenyth’s cause of death was not CHD.

“Her life to me is such a light that I want to shine for people who are trying to figure out what their next step is and I just want to give them the confidence that I didn’t have,” Carpenter said.

Unlike other CHD-related organizations for which Carpenter has volunteered, she is able to be on the front lines of advocacy and awareness at Zipperstrong. In the past, because her family’s story is a more difficult reality to swallow, she was not able to share Gwenyth’s life so passionately.

“Now, I know how many families have faced this from all walks of life,” Carpenter said. “And I know it was not my fault, and I know there’s not enough research to tell me what happened, and I know there’s still too many families that have never heard of it.”

Hunter can be reached at 757-719-4460 or contact@slhunterphotography.com