The Trip

Photography by Mark Stothard

Leaving for a photographic trip takes a lot of planning.  Michael and myself with Chris Sanderson leave for a two week adventure in Australia shooting in the Kimberley region on the west coast.  Full details of our workshop can be found at thePODAS Blog page.  Joining us will beArt WolfeandChristian Fletcher.  This is a Phase One workshop where all attendees receive a Phase One camera system to use for the workshop.  We will be shooting a good bit of the time, listening to lectures by our instructors and spending time working on our images.  We will be posting when possible on the PODAS blog the details of our adventure, but it may have to wait until we get back to civilization.

Deciding what camera gear to take on a trip like this is always a big decision.  I’ll share with you my kit for this trip and how I haul all this gear to other side of the planet.

The Rolling Bag

The Medium Format Gear

I am using aThink Tank Airport Security Bag. I have had this bag for years and it is one of the best bags I have ever owned.  I have traveled with it to top and bottom of the world as well as many places in between and it still functions perfectly and doesn’t even look like it has traveled as far as it has.  In the picture I am showing all the gear I am taking and packing in this bag.  

The Really Right Stuff Airport Security Roller

All of this will fit in the bag

It’s a lot of gear and it all fits in the bag as shown below.  I’ll be carrying a Phase One DF+ camera with 80mm lens and anIQ180digital back.  In addition I am also carrying anIQ260.  I’ll be shooting with both and will use the IQ260 for long exposures and if I need to control the camera with the iPad.  I’ll be bringing a28mm, 55mm, 150mm and a 240mm lens. In addition you can see I have batteries, cable releases, ND and polarizing filters, and a number of odds and ends.  Not shown but being carried in my check on baggage will be chargers and additional batteries.  All of this gear is wrapped as shown for extra protection.  It’s a good possibility that I may have to gate check this bag for some of the flights into the remote region we are going.  Packed this way all gear should arrive without any issues as I have done this many times.

This The Roller Packed and Ready To Roll

There’s still some space left

My Shoulder Quick Shooting Bag

Fuji X-Pro 1

My Shoulder Bag Before Packing

One Of The Nicest and Most Functional Bags I have Used

When I am not shooting the big landscape I’ll be using my new favorite camera theFuji X-Pro 1. I carry this is a small ThinkTank shoulder bag.  Inside it will be the camera with a18-55mm lensattached, and I’ll also have theNEW Zeiss Touit 12mm lensand32mm lens.  Michael and I will also be shooting theNEW 55-200mm Fuji lenstoo.  As the picture shows I have 2 extra batteries, and a small flash unit with extra batteries.  Also, we both will be using theBlackRapid RS7camera strap system.  I really like this strap and we will do an article on this strap.  We both also have theBlackRapid wrist strapthat we will use for street shooting.  

Loaded And Ready To Go

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In My Checked Bag

The Other Stuff

In my check in bag I also have my shoulder sling bag.  This is shoulder bag I have had for years too.  It is a Lewis N Clark bag that I bought atTilleyin Toronto a number of years ago.  You can get the latest version atAmazon.  This bag will hold 3 Phase One lenses, batteries, a bottle of water and much more. I usually load it up with the lenses I think will be needed and then head out to shoot.  It’s amazing what can go in this bag.  I find it much simpler than carrying a backpack.

Lewis N Clark Bag

 I also use two vests many times while traveling and shooting.  I use a vest I bought fromTilleythat is light weight and great for carrying all the items needed for long plane travels.  My favorite shooting vest is calledHumvee Safari Vest.  It’s about as good as a vest gets and can be really loaded up with gear.  This vest is in my check in bag and I load it once I get to a destination.

Last is my tripod.  My tripod of choice is theReally Right Stuff TVC-24Lwith aBH-55 LR Ball head.  Michael and I both have theARCA SWISS cube headbut I am opting on this trip to use the Ball head.  The tripod has it’s own sack and will also go in my check in duffle.  And, speaking of duffles I have been using what I consider the best rolling duffle there is, theClub Glove Rolling Duffle IIXL. This duffle can handle whatever you can throw at it.

So, in the end I take what you see below as my carry on.  The rolling camera bag, theGuruGear Chobethat slides over the ThinkTank roller handle and then I hang on the bag with my Fuji system.  The Chobe has my laptop, an iPad and iPad mini, power cords, external hard drives and the paperwork I need as well as some meds and other odds and ends.  

Let The Trip Begin

I have been traveling non-stop for years and have had a lot of time to work out the kinks and this system works really well for me.

May, 2013