The Sigma 10-20 is an excellent lens. You will be very happy with it!
Went there years ago. The whole arrangement is very casual. The train blows a whistle to alert the shoppers and sellers. Everyone moves off the tracks. Many of the sellers have their displays on wheels or tracks that can be easily moved. An interesting but everyday process at this market!
I have found the DiGiorno brand to be very good!
The Madison Hotel (a few blocks from Beale Street, the Rendezvous, and the Peabody Hotel) has a rooftop bar that affords spectacular views of downtown Memphis and the Mississippi River. Recommend the views just before or after sunset, but anytime is worth a visit.
Since this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, do not leave yourself short. I agree with mizzee's suggestion about acquiring a Tamron 18-400 lens. Also suggest extra batteries and media cards (no camera stores out in the boonies). The bean bag idea is a good one. I took one on both of my Africa trips and it was very handy, I was able to position it on the edge of the safari vehicle roof to steady my camera. You will be amazed at how close you will be able to get to the animals. They are very accustomed to vehicles. Have a great trip!
Maybe UHH should write a program which automatically responds to the negative when a question regarding 42nd Street Photo is received.
I agree with Jaymatt. You will most likely shoot hundreds of photos during a trip that long. 50 to share would be about right. A side benefit is that it will cause you to broker down the best of the best. Those 50 or so photos can serve as the basis for a travel album should you decide to compile one.
Take a look at the Sigma 10-20 mm. Very affordable, well built, and light weight. Have had one on for my Canon T2i for years, Provides excellent photos,
Amazing how it blended in with its surroundings!
I wonder if they have upgraded their underground fuel tanks to meet EPA standards established in the early 1990's. If not, they in a heap of trouble!
One mistake that many photo safari participants make is thinking that they need super long lenses. Having been on two African trips, I found that the guides routinely get you within reach of animals where a 300 or 400 mm lens is more than adequate (think 70-300 mm or 18-400 mm). Lions, giraffes, elephants and such are used to safari vehicles getting fairly close (although elephants can be a bit feisty at times , if babies are around). I would definitely take either a backup camera body or a point and shoot with a decent zoom lens just in case. Extra batteries, appropriate chargers, lens cleaning supplies, a bean bag for steadying longer lenses are additional recommendations.
I have done three European river cruises. The last one (Lyon to Arles), I took my Canon 6D with 24-70 mm lens. I really agonized over whether or not to take my 70-200 mm lens and finally decided against it. The 24-70 mm covered every photo opportunity I was faced with.
From the Peartree, you can also get some spectacular sunset photos of the Arch, since the sun is setting behind your hotel ( in the west) and reflecting on the arch and STL buildings as it sets.
Just south of the ballpark and before you get to the Busch Brewery is an area known as Soulard. It is one of the oldest communities in the city. The Soulard market has been active since the 1700's (It is built in an "H" pattern, supposedly copied from the design of a hospital in Milan, Italy). There are many other interesting structures there, including the oldest church west of the Mississippi. Soulard is relatively safe, but, as in any big city, you should maintain situational awareness.
Re: East St. Louis. There is an elevated light rail stop in the parking lot of the casino directly across from the St. Louis Arch. The stairs leading up to the rail platform afford an excellent vantage point for photographing the arch and city. The casino parking lot has security, but I would still only visit in daylight hours. FYI: When I lived in the area over 13 years ago, the East St. Louis High School football games were held on Saturday's during the day, rather than under "Friday Night Lights"---too dangerous.
The first time that I heard that story, it was attributed to Lee Trevino. Supposedly, he made the suggestion to his amateur playing partner in a pro-am.