Travel photography is a passion for many people, and if you’re one of them, you probably know how challenging it can be when you don’t have the right gear.
So whether it be a quick day trip or a full-fledged photography expedition, these are a few of the essential photo accessories you want to have with you on your next trip.
Tripod
Tripods come in all shapes and sizes are essential for taking steady shots in low light conditions or for capturing long exposures whether they be indoors or outside.
There are tons of sturdy travel tripods available, from the traditional variety designed for travel to Joby’s line of GorillaPods, that can wrap themselves around objects allowing you to capture shots from vantage points where you might not be able to use a “traditional” tripod.
Pro Tip: When purchasing a travel tripod, it’s helpful to measure the inside of the bag you will be travelling with before going shopping so you know which sized tripod will fit in your bag.
You’ll also want to consider what it is made out of, carbon fibre tripods tend to be lighter, stronger and stiffer than aluminium alloy tripods, but also cost more and depending on the situation, might need to be weighted down with a heavier object to add stability.
Camera Bag
A good camera bag will protect your gear and make it easy to carry around while you’re traveling but there are a few things to consider when choosing the right one.
Both size and weight are key factors, when traveling around all day, you’ll want to make sure the bag is not only light, but also large enough to fit all of the gear you plan on taking with you.
You’ll also want to consider what your requirements are as not all bags are equal when it comes to features.
Some camera bags come equipped with extras such as, detachable lenses bags, internal and external storage compartments or a way to strap your tripod to it so it’s best to figure out what you need before you travel.
Pro Tip: Camera bags can get heavy fast, especially when loaded with extra gear, so make sure the bag has comfortable, secure straps, especially if you are going to be lugging it around all day, trust us, your shoulders and back will thank you.
Next, think about accessibility. When out and about, you might not always have your camera in your hands, so you will want something allows you to grab what you need quickly and efficiently so you don’t miss the shot.
Lastly, make sure that it is capable of withstanding the expected weather local to where you are travelling. Is it made of weather-proof material?, does it come with an extra rain cover? These are all things to look at when making your final decision.
Hard Waterproof & Dustproof Cases
For situations that require additional storage space or extra ruggedness, you might want to consider looking at a hard case rather than a soft camera bag.
Like soft bags, hard cases come in all shapes and sizes, and most feature interiors that can be customized or reconfigured to suit your specific needs.
Usually made of super rugged Polypropylene or hard resin materials these cases are designed to withstand just about anything you can throw at them, including airline baggage handlers!
Best of all, when closed and sealed up, they designed to be not only fully airtight, but waterproof, dustproof and drop proof and capable of protecting the most delicate equipment even in the harshest of environments.
Extra batteries
OK, this is a no-brainer, but if there is one thing you should always carry with you when travelling it is at least one or two extra batteries. Afterall, there is nothing worse than missing shots because you find yourself far away from your hotel or vacation home with a dead or almost dead battery.
Extra Memory Cards, USB Reader and/or Portable Hard Drive
Pro Tip: If you do have to purchase extra memory cards when travelling, make sure that you buy from a reputable local retailer as it’s difficult to tell a knock-off memory card that could potentially damage your camera, from the real deal.
If you travel with a laptop, you’ll also want to make sure you remember to bring a USB card reader with you so that you can easily transfer your images from your memory cards to your computer. This will also free up space on your cards so you can go out and shoot again.
The other alternative is to bring a portable hard drive with you as it saves you from having to bring your laptop. Most newer cameras allow for direct file transfer to a portable hard drive via the USB port.
Filters: Polarizing and/or Neutral Density
Filters aren’t something you would necessarily think of right away, but they should be an integral part of your travel photography gear packing list.
There are many different types of filters all of which do different things. There are two types however, that you should have with you when travelling, a Polarizing filter and a Neutral Density filter.
Polarizing filters are very useful, because they help to not only reduce glare, but can also help to enhance the colours in your photos, especially when you’re photographing landscapes.
Neutral density filters on the other hand, are essential when capturing long exposure shots, especially in bright daylight, and will allow you to create stunning images with blurred motion, especially when shooting water scenes.
Remote Shutter Release and Lens Cleaning Kit
Lastly, there are a couple of more things that while not essential, still make very useful items to pack in your travel photography gear bag.
The first is a remote shutter release which can help you to avoid camera shake when you’re taking long exposures or self-portraits in front of a building or natural wonder.
Pro Tip: Remember, shutter releases can be brand (Canon, Nikon, etc.), and in some cases, camera specific, so make sure you get the correct one for not only your camera’s manufacturer, but also make sure it will work with your specific camera.
The other is a lens cleaning kit which helps you keep your lenses clean and free of dust and smudges which ultimately saves you time when editing your images after your trip.
Cover Image Credit: Kameron Kincade on Unsplash
