Every year, thousands of photographers set off on adventure. Every year thousands of cameras a destroyed, stolen or damaged on those adventures. Hopefully I can help minimise the carnage with a few pieces of advice on gear selection. As travellers who like photography or photographers who like travel, we have a few things in common. Mainly that we want to keep down weight without sacrificing the functionality of our photography setup. The key here is to take dual-use items –ones that can be used in the normal course of travel, but also help out in some photographic situations. Here’s what I take.
A Crappy Backpack – If you head off Farawayistan with a nice and shiny Lowepro backpack, you’re asking for trouble. The backpack itself is worth almost a year’s wages in many parts of the world and the gear inside it is worth a hell of a lot more than that. Often simply by carrying one, you are making yourself a target for touts and thieves. You want to try to choose a backpack that is drab in colour, waterproof and offers some padding for your gear. They aren’t that easy to find, but you might like to check out our article on how to choose a backpack as our recommendations aren’t too far off – even if you’re carry camera gear.
Gaffa Tape – It is the all-round most useful thing to take anywhere for anyone in any situation. For a photographer, it help make your camera look a little more crappy so that you’re not such a target for thieves – simply put a few pieces all over the place, including right across that big, shiny ‘Nikon’ or ‘Canon’ brand on the front. You can also use it to repair leaking backpacks, ponchos and if it’s silver – a dozen pieces stuck to a flat object can even make a usable light reflector which is useful for portraiture.
A USB Thumb-drive – Ok, not too unconventional, but when you combine it with the instructions in this guide on anonymous blogging, it will let you upload your photos in countries where sites like Flickr and WordPress are blocked (UAE, Dubai, China, KSA etc). If not, you can just store your images on the USB stick too. Plus, if you discuise it like in the photo, nobody is going to want to steal it!
A Space Blanket – Great in survival situations where you need to increase your core body temperature, but doubles as an emergency light reflector! It can even be used to keep rain off your gear.
Twist Ties – You know those ones that used to be used to tie up the plastic bag on a loaf of bread? You can still buy them at most supermarkets. Use them to tie the zips on your pack together to make it harder for pickpockets. You can also use them to secure small things to your pack like USB sticks.
A Monopod – I like the Manfrotto 680B. This is really a great device to have anywhere. Primarily it’s great as a walking stick in harsh terrain or to beat of would-be pickpockets. Some people tell me they can also be useful for stabilising your camera in low light. Remember though, that the auto-extending models like the Manfrotto 685B will extend while you’re swinging it at a pickpocket making it far less effective as a makeshift weapon.
A Poncho – It will keep you dry. It can keep your pack dry. It can even be used to keep your camera dry. I recommend taking a couple of those $2 ones so that if you need to, you can cut one up to jury-rig a camera rainguard with the poncho and some gaffa tape.
Similar Posts:
- How to Choose a Backpack
- 7 Reasons You Got Robbed Overseas
- What Every Experienced Traveller Carries to Protect Their Health
- 7 Tips for Better Travel Photography
- 13 Things You Must Get Used to When Travelling in the Third World
The first two are incredibly helpful tips. I’m going to make my fiance’s camera look like a POS! Thanks for this.
Nice concept for a website. I wish you well in building it up!
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