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