Many times, I’m asked, what gear do you carry in your camera bag Steve ?

There is no one simple answer to that question. And before I go any further this blog is not about bragging what gear I own. It is intended to offer some help to photographers who either have difficulty in deciding which of their gear to take on a shoot or have a problem lumbering lots of heavy gear around the countryside.

The primary answer lies in planning. Deciding what it is you want to capture images of and for, then where you need to go to achieve that. From this bit of thought I am able to make up my mind which camera body, lenses and other equipment I will need to have at hand.

At the present I have three camera bags. Each serves a purpose of its own.

• A large multi-pocketed “Tamrac” shoulder bag which I use basically as a main storage unit for every bit of gear I possess. This keeps everything in one place so I can easily grab what I need. It sits at home when I go shooting local to my home or is securely stored in my van if I am away on a longer trip.
• A medium sized backpack by “Gitzo” which I use for trips from 1 to 3 days when I am reasonably certain what gear I will need. It has a capacity of 2 camera bodies and up to 4 lenses. I do, however, use it as a day bag when I need some lens flexibility and I need to carry water, food and warm/waterproof clothing.
• Finally, I use a small backpack by “Vanguard” as my main ‘day bag’ for local trips when I carry my main camera and two most versatile lenses. I might also sneak in a 50mm prime or a 2x extender if I feel it appropriate. A water bottle rides shotgun.
• In all three bags I find space for a collection of ND filters, a circular polariser and a 10-stop filter for creativity. Strapped to the outside of either bag I carry one of two tripods by “Gitzo” or “Manfrotto”. And in various pockets I store all sorts of ancillaries for cleaning, batteries and maintaining stuff. Tucked away in a corner are 10 waterproof hairnets. To place over the camera/lens during inclement weather – Why else ?

How do I decide what to take.

Depends on what I’m shooting firstly. But also where, what the ground may be like, what the forecast weather might throw at me, how long I plan the trip to take. Any number of parameters all of which are learned by experience.

Like I said at the start, it all comes down to planning. There is no point lugging kilos of unnecessary gear around which you could have predicted you would never use. That will give you two things. A bad back and absolutely no enjoyment at all.

See you next time.