What to pack on a photo-trip?
20 Sep 2015, Posted by in Articles, Equipment, Trip reportsThis question keeps popping up over and over again. Almost on every tropical expedition I get the same question from new participants – what should I take with me? So, I decided to put together a detailed packing guide that I use. I will also keep a list of old things to show what I don’t take with me anymore.
I used to take with me a Gemma 75l bag and a camera bag. Nowadays, I prefer a large duffel bag on wheels that is much easier to travel with and is kind to my back. As for the money, I exchange in the Czech Republic. I always ask for smaller notes i.e. several 50 USD that should cover more expensive accommodation for several days. 20 USD notes are for taxis and simple backpacking accommodation. I have the most of 10 USD notes. This is for an everyday use and to exchange into local currency. I try to avoid 100 USD notes that I was refused on many occasions in an exchange. I usually divide the money according to my itinerary into several smaller packs. This not only helps me to keep track of the running cost but most importantly I don’t have all the money in one spot. Most often I have 4 packs, sometimes 5 with a label “spare”. The latter is for emergencies only or when I discover a compelling book.
Below is my universal packing list. I allow for slight adjustments here and there depending on the destination, of course. I take into account that most of the time I travel to countries where the daily temperatures often exceed 30°C and drop to 20-23°C at night. Although weather is never 100%predictable. To the hot tropics I also take with me a waterproof lightweight and breathable rain jacket.
| Clothing | Some practical things | Against boredom |
| 2x lightweight long (expedition) trousers
2x convertible trousers with detachable legs 2x Merino T-shirts to be used underneath to prevent sweating 8x breathable short sleeve t-shirts (I sweat a lot) 2x long sleeve t-shirts 2x caps 2x multi-purpose scarves for neck and head (also to prevent sun burn of your back of your neck) 10x underwear (I get it washed as often as possible) 1x trekking sandals 1x good pair of hiking boots 1x breathable soft shell (mainly for when at the airports) 1x light weight fleece (mainly if I go to foggy rainforests) 1x swimmers 1x small towel 1x personal toiletries 1x cotton t-shirt and light trousers (for sleeping) 1x large plastic bag for dirty clothes 5x handkerchiefs |
1x head lamp
1x Ultrafire 501B torch 1x extension cord with 5 plugs 2x universal adaptor 1x small scissors 1x multipurpose knife 1x Clingfilm (in case you need to shoot in the rain) 1x umbrella 1x plastic raincoat 2x sunglasses 1x sun cream 1x min 50% DEET insect repellent 1x Tea-tree oil (for cuts and insect bites) 1x gaiters (for my elbows in case we’d lie on damp ground for a long period) 1x self-inflating sleeping mat (for shooting near waterfronts) 1x some dirt cloth (to wipe of mud etc.) 3x sweat cloth (a brilliant and useful piece of gear that I can use to cool down with or freshen up) 1x camouflage gear 1x camouflage scarf 1x first-aid kit (pills for treating diarrhoea, painkillers, band-aids and bandages) 1x mosquito net chargers (phone, tablet, AA batteries, extra camera batteries, torch batteries etc.) 1x 0,5 L thermal cup |
1x playing cards
1x MP3 (my trusty new Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini) 1x earplugs (for those that will sleep in the same room as me) 1x Tablet external input (Asus T100) 1x spare disc to archive photos 1x 64GB SD Card Movies, games and e-books on a tablet 1x some books to identify local wildlife (e.g. Birds of xxx, Reptiles of xxx) 1x A6 notepad 1x mobile phone with bird sounds and apps Passport (with an e-copy on my Dropbox) driving licence purse money credit card debit card business cards |
| Photo gear | ||
| DSLR:
+ Canon EOS 5Ds + Canon EOS 7D MKII LENSES: + Canon EF 300mm/2.8 IS + Canon EF 100mm/2.8 IS + Canon EF 16-35mm/4 IS + Canon 50mm/1.8 STM + Sigma 15mm/2.8 + Canon TC 2x II + Canon TC 1,4x II
|
FLASHLIGHTS :
+ Canon 430 EXII + Canon 270 EXII + Radio Transmitter TRIPODS: + Benro + 2 Mini tripods BALL HEADS: + Photo Clam PC-40NS + Benro Gimbal Head
|
ACCESSORIES:
+ extension tubes + 5 in 1 collapsible reflector disc + Better Beamer + remote timer + 4 6D/70D extra batteries + flash diffuser + clamps + 10 sets of Eneloop batteries
CAMERA BAG: + Manfrotto Bumblebee 220 PL |
Everyone obviously uses different gear so please take this as a rough guide, or an inspiration if you will. As for me, I will use this instead of my piece of paper that I always carefully fold away in order to never find it again.
