Photography & Packing - Oh the Woe to be on the Go!

Photography and travel pack the perfect punch for adventure.  From new destinations to favorite locations we're rewarded with images and many fun memories.

Icelandair, a wonderful airline - by Sheen Watkins

The good news is that the images and memories don't weigh much.  Our gear, luggage and accessories on the other hand, can be a pain in the....back.

I much rather focus on shooting in smooth waters  than worrying about keeping up with too much stuff!

There are many more efficient packers than me, there are others that are anything but efficient.  With a few changes to my planning and packing process, I've significantly reduced my baggage.   When traveling with camera gear, every ounce adds up fast!

For clothing:
I bought a packing cube set  (my choice was the Bagail) and also quart and gallon sized Ziploc Slider Bags earlier this year.  Rolling clothes, compressing items into the ziploc bags significantly reduced the amount of storage space needed.  I was further inspired by the you tube video below by Storia. I loved the creative use of many household items versus buying more single use 'organizing tools'.

On a recent trip, I was able to pack clothing, shoes, etc. for 2 weeks in my 22" spinner suitcase using packing cubes and plastic bags combined with a tripod.  The plus?  I had room to spare!

For Camera Gear:
Camera bags - another potential "woe".  I've been through a few and thought I had made purchasing mistakes.  They weren't.  Different sizes, configurations work for various situations.  For example, my durable, 'hold everything but the long lens'  my large, heavy and well padded Tamrac bag is my choice when I can work from and out of the car - which is quite frequent.   Fully loaded, it's over thirty pounds with a laptop.  Not travel or hiking friendly but it is a workhorse.

Waiting to Go by Sheen Watkins

The only piece of photography equipment I'll check is my tripod when I need to check a bag.  It's just too risky to check any other gear.  My cameras, lenses, batteries, filters, chargers, tripod head and my laptop stay with me in 2 carry-on bags.

Think Tank's Digital Holster - compressed, it holds my Nikon 810 with a 24-70mm + filters, spare battery, cleaners, car keys and wallet.  Expanded in length, I can add 2 primes or macro in addition to the camera with the attached 24-70mm.

I've used the holster when hiking with my Nikon D500 and a 70-200mm 2.8 attached.  One of my best bag purchases period!

Lowepro Flipside Series - I use an older version of this series.  It fits a significant amount of gear snugly, plus I can include my 15" laptop when flying in the same area with my cameras and lenses.  I wrap the laptop in a soft, protective cloth.  To access gear, the swing-around, table-top like set up makes it easy to change lenses, find and store accessories quickly.

Here's to making our 'go' a bit lighter and more efficient!

Happy Shooting!

Travel & Photography: What Do I Bring?

Seriously?  Anhinga in St. Petersburg
Nikon 5100, Sigma 150-500mm

An upcoming business trip to a location serving sunshine and eighty degrees is on the horizon.  It's
our biannual global meeting.  Many hours will be spent in a low-lit conference facility absorbing crucial facts, figures and plans while fighting air conditioning.

I get to leave Michigan's tundra to only to experience Florida's artificial chill.  Seriously? Pack a sweater?

All is not lost.

During the week, there will be moments of downtime.  Early morning will share rose-tinted sunrises, a walk through an aqua blue harbor complimented with sea-faring birds cackling in the breeze.

It's decision time.  The majority of us tend to stress over 'what to wear to the meeting' and other work events.

Photographers also have to balance, "What camera and lenses do I bring?"

Balance is Never Over-Rated, Willet on Jacksonville Beach, FL
Nikon 7100, Sigma 150-500

For me, checking lenses and cameras is simply out of the question.  Over a million miles of travel have reinforced the guideline of 'if it matters, don't check it or don't take it.'

There's the challenge of managing carry on size as only two items are allowed.  Weight from a personal injury standpoint is always a consideration.

For bird photography,  it's easy.  I'll need my Nikon 7100 DSLR and two lenses:  Nikon 70-300mm and my Sigma 150-500mm.  That's about eight pounds.

Do I really need both?  Yes.

While fellow business partners are still sleeping, I'll be wandering the harbor chasing sunrises.  For those, I prefer to use my full frame camera (Nikon 600).

Another decision point.  I can only take two more lenses, with four to choose from.  The process of elimination?  My 24-85mm lens would serve well as getting some wide angle images and also act as a general purpose lens - done.  The last lens is my 105mm macro, never travel without it.  The wide angle and portrait lenses will sadly remain resting at home.

Sunscreen Needed, white Ibis near St. Petersburg Pier
Nikon 5100, Sigma 150-500mm

Knowing the size of your plane is important.  It's an important guide in organizing and packing your carry-on.  How I pack for small regional planes versus jets are a bit different.

Regional carriers:  A small backpack and another small carry on bag.  Under-the-seat storage is small and the overhead storage space allows for small-to-midsize messenger or computer bags.  If you have a 20" or larger roller, it's getting checked at the gate.

I've recently discovered the Tenba Vector Backpack.  At two pounds, it'll hold a camera, laptop if needed, my small purse and a few lenses.  Everything inside is flexible and attaches with velcro.  Sensible, easy and the cadmium red is a nice change from the black bag.

My second, over the shoulder carry-on will hold my other camera and my large lens in their stock storage cases. Tenba's light weight collections of Vector Daypacks and the Discovery Daypacks come in weights of 1.8 to two pounds.

Their Discovery Daypacks are on my watch list.

Watch List....  yellow-crowned Heron in St. Petersburg Pier, Florida
Nikon 7100, 70-300mm

Jet carriers:  Like the regional carriers, I always wear a lightweight backpack because I'll need it when I'm going out to shoot.  However, with jets I can take a few more lenses.  My Tamrac Expedition bag is huge, and holds most of my gear.  Fully loaded it's a hefty thirty pounds.  When my husband travels with me, this bag is going with us.  It's perfect for road photography trips.  At home this bag keeps my gear safely stored and organized.

When I'm solo, I use the Tenba Vector Backpack and pack the heavy lenses, cameras in storage cases inside a 21" Samsonite lightweight spinner.

What about work attire?  Not a lot of decisions needed and definitely not as much fun to pack.

Happy Shooting!

Sheen