What's in the Bag

What's in the Bag

The extra odds and ends I find useful

1: Bag
Over the years I've used (and abused!) various camera bags. At the moment I am using a top loading Lowprow bag. It's modular design allows me to add and change various pouches and cases as required.
There seems to be a current fashion with backpack style bags, but I'm not a fan. Despite their generally large capacity, and load distribution, I don't like the fact it's contents are not readily available and that you usually have to put it down to get inside. Not good on wet, dusty, or dirty ground.

2: Flash Bracket & sync lead
As well as a flash and spare batteries, I also carry a flash bracket that allows me to get the flash off and away from the camera yet keep the whole thing relatively compact. There is also a TTL flash lead for the rare occasions I switch the flash from manual. I also attached a Velcro strip to the bracket so I can mount a remote shutter trigger (I really miss the old threaded cable releases! Lol).

3: USB cable
For linking the camera to a computer. Also includes an OTG adaptor for linking to the tablet.

4: Notepad & Pen
In this hi tec world there are still times when only a note will do!

5: 7" Tablet
Although not always, I often carry an Android tablet with me. It has a number of useful apps installed for various things from various tables and photographic calculators to model releases that can be signed. The most useful app on it though is the camera remote which when connected to the camera allows me to see a live view on the tablet and control the camera functions including focus. It allows me to put the camera in positions where I would not be able to see the viewfinder. It also allows monitoring during video work.

6: Business Cards
You never know when you might bump into a potential supermodel or Vogue editor!

7: Extra Battery
Always have one or two spare camera batteries.

8: Remote Release
Useful for when the camera is mounted somewhere. I've attached Velcro to it so I can slap it to patches on my flash bracket or tripod.

9: Spare Memory Cards
A selection of memory cards. I tend to use cards with a max of about 8Gb so a shoot is spread across more than one. That way should one fail I don't loose everything. Each card has contact details on should it get lost. Several have Magic Lantern installed on them should I wish to make use of its features. I also carry a CF-SD adaptor on the off chance I wish to shoot on SD.

10: Spare Tripod Quick Release
Useful if you need to keep swapping cameras on a tripod.

11: Multi Tool
Whole range of uses from making running repairs to "adjusting" branches etc on a location. Sits in its own pouch on the bag strap.

12: Light Meter
I have a digital flash meter I sometimes bring, however this one lives in my camera bag. Despite being a very old classic Weston Master V it's still accurate and it's invacone allows incident readings for tricky subjects. It's dial is still the best visual aid to explaining the exposure triangle that I know!

13: Drink Bottle
Only sometimes take this clipped to the bag.

14: Torch
A small LED one that slides into one of the straps on my bag.

15: Polarising Filter
The only filter I use with any regularity is a polarising filter. The various processing software has made many filters redundant, however various aspects of the polarising are not reproducible by software.

16: Grey Card
I have full size Kodak grey cards however this is a small version I carry with me. It's useful when I need an accurate white balance. Include it in one of the shots, a quick click on it with the white balance picker in Lightroom, and it's sorted (not that it's what I necessarily leave it at!).

17: Food Bags
Although my camera and most of my lenses are weather sealed, I tend to keep several in my bag as with the aid of an elastic band they make useful quick rain guards.

18: Blower Brush & Lens Cloth
Full scale maintenance is carried out at home, however these provide an on the go ability to keep optics clean.

19: Wet Wipes
In addition to the previous, these also help keep not only equipment but also the photographer spic and span. I tend to try and restock my supply with extra ones whenever I partake of a certain colonel's fried chicken!

There are other "specialist" pouches I have that I clip onto the main bag depending on the shoot. For example one contains equipment for close-up work or another has extra stuff for fashion or model shoots.

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