Page 56 - Australian Photography - September 2017

ence in the destination. Meet and make it clear that light, I can carry it discreetly and securely against my hip
you want to create an itinerary rich in photo opportu- and being a top loader I have easy access to my camera.
nities. Describe the kind of images you are hoping to My camera bag staples when travelling are a lens cloth,
capture, even show examples. If you plan to use a driver spare charged battery, local currency, a credit card, ban-
or a guide they should come highly recommended, be daids, hand wipes, sunscreen and an “if found” note with
able to speak fluent English and have been briefed on my contact details on it. When visiting humid places I slip
the purpose of your trip. in a small silica gel packet to absorb any excess moisture. I
also take at least two 16GB memory cards and a few smaller
YOUR GEAR cards, based on taking around 500-plus images a day.
Get your camera serviced and cleaned. If you’re plan- If you want to carry extra lenses it’s your choice but
ning on getting a new camera, I recommend resisting I only take my 24-70mm f/2.8 lens when travelling. It’s
the temptation to buy it duty free. Adjusting to a new general focal length suits my needs and I don’t want the
camera means missing out on photo opportunities in added weight or responsibility of other lenses if I’m car-
the first few days. Buying duty free also negates the ben- rying my camera around all day.
efit of having an on-going relationship with your local I also always travel with a laptop so I can download
camera supplier for any technical and warranty issues. images in a larger format because a camera viewfinder
A quality camera bag is a great asset, so don’t compro- can be deceptive. I have found dust spots on the lens,
mise on quality or design. I use a Lowepro Toploader shadows from a poorly fitted lens hood, blurring and ex-
Zoom 50 AW II with a cross body strap for my SLR. It’s posure issues this way. Also make sure your laptop has

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