| There is a mind numbing amount of | | | | need to take your pictures, you need to put |
| considerations when packing for your | | | | some thought into how to store them. Should |
| photography trip. Such as which lenses you | | | | you take your laptop, a portable hard drive |
| will need, how you are going to store your | | | | or two, a bag full of memory cards or all of |
| photos and how you are going to carry it all | | | | the above? How much storage you will need |
| around. Then there's the pleasure of getting | | | | depends on how long your stay is and how much |
| it all past the ever tightening luggage | | | | shooting you'll be doing. A laptop is useful |
| restrictions of airlines. A little | | | | if you need to view images as you go, or want |
| forethought and planning can help make sure | | | | to do some editing back at the hotel room. |
| you don't get stuck without essential | | | | But if not, its just one more expensive piece |
| equipment and aren't burdened by what you | | | | of equipment you need to worry about. Leave |
| don't need. | | | | it at home. Some portable hard drives have a |
| | | | viewing screen so you can review your photos |
| The gear | | | | as you upload them, which can be handy to see |
| | | | if you have the shot you want and gives you |
| Perhaps the most obvious consideration is the | | | | the chance to go back and try again if you |
| camera and lenses. If you have planned your | | | | missed it. |
| itinerary already you will have an idea of | | | | |
| the types of shots you want to take. If you | | | | As a rule, it is a good idea to have two |
| haven't, stop what you're doing right now and | | | | copies of your images as hard drives are |
| do this first. Once you know what photos you | | | | notorious for failing at inopportune times. |
| want to take, you can decide on the lenses | | | | If you have a good supply of memory cards, |
| that will best help you take them. Thinking | | | | backup to a portable drive and store the used |
| landscapes? Then don't be without your wide | | | | cards is a separate place. |
| angle lens. Intimate portraits? Maybe a mid | | | | |
| range zoom would be useful. | | | | Getting it around |
| | | | |
| If you are debating taking a spare camera | | | | There are a few different options for |
| body then don't. Debate that is. Pack it. The | | | | carrying your gear around with you at a |
| last thing you need is for your camera to be | | | | location. Shoulder bags tend to be able to |
| stolen or break while on the road. You might | | | | hold a large amount of gear, but have the |
| not be able to find a repairer, and if you do | | | | disadvantage of all the weight hanging off |
| they might not be able to fix it on the spot. | | | | one shoulder. These bags are a good choice if |
| That would be the end of your photo taking | | | | you don't have to do too much walking, but |
| adventure right there. Don't learn the hard | | | | carrying gear around like this for days can |
| way for the sake of a little extra weight. | | | | do serious damage to your back. |
| | | | |
| Then there are all the accessories that may | | | | Backpacks have the advantage of distributing |
| or may not come in handy. Should you pack | | | | the weight evenly, making them ideal for |
| that set of neutral density filters? Again, | | | | locations where you will be doing a lot of |
| think of the types of photos you will be | | | | walking. Many of them also have the extra |
| taking. If its landscapes, then yes, by all | | | | benefit of not looking like camera bags and |
| means put them in. If its portraits they are | | | | so tend not to draw as much attention. |
| probably just going to take up space. This | | | | |
| goes for the tripod as well. Usually, travel | | | | Many considerations go into packing for a |
| portraits are taken hand held, usually with | | | | photography trip. But think it through and |
| abundant light. Landscapes however tend to be | | | | take the gear that suits the style of |
| early morning or late afternoon. | | | | photography you want to do and the place you |
| | | | are going and it will allow you to focus more |
| Storage | | | | on what is around you when you get there, |
| | | | rather than trying to decide which lens to |
| Once you've figured out what your going to | | | | use and missing the shot altogether. |