School is out and for many families that means it is time for a summer vacation trip. For those who are photography lovers who have acquired a lot of photo gear it can be a difficult choice on what gear to take while you are traveling. The question really is "Do you want to lug around every piece of equipment you own?" I am facing a similar dilemma (and my trip is a year away) and I am already trying to piece together what photo gear I should take with me. It is a lot harder than you think when you have accumulated as much gear as I have over the past 14 years.
Should I take a film camera? How much film should I bring? Do I actually think I will be shooting that much film? Which lenses should I bring? What if I need to shoot this? What if I need to shoot that? All of these questions run through the mind of a photo lover who is about to travel. I don’t think there is a right answer to exactly what each individual photography lover should bring with him or her on vacation. I do think there are questions you should ask yourself to help you determine what to bring.
By the way Joey Lawrence has an article with some fantastic advice for photographers who are traveling. More common sense things than anything else. Check it out here.
Ok, with all those answers asked and answered you still might have a mountain of equipment that only a sherpa would be able to carry. You may have to make some sacrifices or schedule some chiropractor sessions when you get back from vacation.
With that said, here is my initial list for our trip next year (I’m pretty excited about it if you couldn’t tell).
That’s it. I am not going to take a tripod because I never shoot on a tripod. If I need something to keep my camera stable I will bring a zip lock gallon bag and fill it with lentils when I get there. That will be my camera support.
I would love to hear what gear you are planning on bringing for your upcoming travels. Spare no detail. I love to live vicariously through other photographers.
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