How to travel light as a photographer

How to travel light as a photographer

I am a photography lover and an avid traveller. But I do not always need to travel for doing photography. But the challenge is to figure out how to get all the important equipment from home to place of travel and back. A further problem lies in figuring out how to have everything without sacrifice, which can be needed at the destination. Here is a cool checklist which will make your travel photography kit smaller, lighter and easy to handle. Same rules are applied whether you’re travelling across the town or from one hemisphere to another. You will eventually master the fine art of travel photography.

Bag

Travelling light starts with the kit. If you manage to control the size of the container, you will automatically limit your belongings on travel. It might sound extreme to some extent considering the camera and the lenses you will need, choose a bag which can pack it all. When the weight of the bag is concerned, it will provide you convenience when you travel on foot. Gura Gear bags are very light, durable and fill in most of the gear without adding extra weight.

Lenses

My lovelies with the prime lenses. 50 mm and 100 mm are two of my best lenses for fast portrait, 35 mm wide lens is for a wide variety. A single 24-700 mm lens can provide me with a super sharp image with versatility. The lens can all the points. It can work as wide-angle 24-35 mm, normal at 50 mm, short telephoto at 70 mm portraits. The single lens is smaller than all the other three, which it replaces. I can carry the rig in a different bag as I do not need any extra ones. This is the to-go kit for aeroplanes. Even when there are extra lenses in my checked luggage. The lens gives me the security in case the checked-in baggage is misplaced. I replace the multiple prime lenses with a zoom lens which is versatile at effective at various range.

Camera

If you aim for saving size and weight for travel, you can directly trade in your DSLR with a compact mirrorless camera. Point and shoot camera are much smaller, but compact mirrorless cameras retain the versatility with interchangeable lenses and severe control. All these features come in a compact size and easy to carry package. Work classed photojournalists have shifted to these compact cameras and smartphones to save the excessive weight and making the easy commute. Range finders from the past era, Fuji Film X-Pro1 brought the perfect solution for the photographers who needed compact camera without sacrificing build or image quality. It is pretty reasonable and rational idea to shift from 35mm DSLR to range finder. The same quality and calibre of the picture are packed within a small and light package.

Extras

There are various extra things which you will need as a photographer. If you need lots of AA-size batteries for your flash, rolls of film for 35 mm DSLR pick them up after reaching the local market. I prefer carrying a proper shopping list on the phone than carrying loads of batteries, trash bag, rubber band, or other accessories. If you are going to a metro city, find a big box store or local grocer who can supply you with expendables and accessories which is lighter on your shoulder and do not add to the weight.

Tripod

Go for lightweight and durable carbon fibre tripod which comes with compact ball head. For this trip alone, you would be remembering and thanking me. While you are on the journey to outdoors, on foot and uphill lightweight tripod will be easy to carry. I prefer my Manfrotto 410 junior geared tripod. But the problem is it is massive and large. When out in journey I would prefer a Right Stuff BH 30 compact Ballhead. When space matters, Ballhead is a must-have thing. As for the legs, I switched to carbon fibre a few years back. Whether I am going for local or extended travel, this thing is indeed a revelation. Especially at hiking or wildlife photography trips, the tripod eventually folds very easily and becomes small. The model is fully worth its weight in gold.

Light

I personally prefer strobes when it comes to lighting. But I will resort to multiple strobes only when it comes to studio work. But when it is about strenuous travel, demanding schedule, I am more than happy to use speed lights instead of heavy moonlight or pack and head system. Whether it is Nikon or Canon, the advantages are often shared and can handle extremely powerful flash, thanks to hot shoe flashes. Strobist is one such popular site providing a place to search for good lights. Serious light modifiers and accessories to fit in small light sources have become immensely popular in the market. If you are looking to shed some serious weight and size from your travel kit, consider using the small stoves. Considering the light modifiers, I am a fan of umbrellas rather than using the softbox when it is about shooting outdoor. The quality of light remains similar, and it does not compromise the aspects. A brolly box or umbrella with silk diffusor fixed to the front can be easily folded to small size. You can buy a double folding umbrella from Phottix for a super-compact umbrella. Umbrellas are light travel companions when it comes to reducing weight.

Rentals

Recently I got hold of Dynalite strobe kit which I bought specifically for smaller size and easy to carry. I can easily fly with the light or instead get to the location and hire such a light. A Broncolor Move 1200 W kit can cost me up to $100 per day. When there is a client project, I can easily adjust my budget within that. I can switch to something more cheaper yet effective when I am shooting for fun. Renting the heavy or bulky equipment take your headache off the weight and you can travel light.

Computer

If you need to carry a computer for image processing, invest in something compact like Macbook air, or tablet like Microsoft surface. You might hate a tracking pad, but it will help to you keep your mouse at home. Carry on with heavy processing once you come back home. The portable device will manage your basic works and creating backups.

Backing Up

When it is about duplicate equipment and back up please try to be careful. If you try to take two of everything you are eventually adding to the weight. But if you fail to carry the essentials, Murphy’s Law might come back to haunt you. So use rationality while you carry backup and duplicates. Third battery, second battery charger, extra reflector scrim set, and pleas are diligent in creating a backup. These can include spare camera lens, external hard disk. These things are the guardian angles if everything else fails to support you. Look what you need the most without which the show will stop. You need to be wise and decisive when it comes to carrying important duplicates to save bad times.