Part TWENTYFIVE: Working For Yourself

Part 25 of 20.... and it may, or may not be the second to last!

To sum up, we've looked at some business bits and pieces, and we've delved into some shooting tips and techniques.
We've talked Photoshop, and we've covered more depth on Lightroom, too.

Today, I'd like to look at What's in my camera bag:

steem Logo.jpg

I lied to you...sorry.
... not really sorry.
I'm not really going to look at what's in my camera bag... more like what's in my camera bag, when I...

The real answer is, it depends.
It depends on what I am shooting for that day.

That said, here's what's in my camera bag, and BTW, if you have met me on Discord, and interacted, care to guess which is my hidden fave in the picture?

1 SBD to the first person COMMENTING and actually naming the correct hidden Favorite gem of mine, in the photo. Although an upvote isn't necessary, it sure would be a polite way to enter... Contest ends at Payout, or whenever the FIRST person commenting gets the correct answer... the judge (moi) gets final say so!

First off, I don't have one camera bag, I have 4. As any photographer will tell you, there is never enough, so, one tends to collect stuff. I know I do, as well as those around me, do too. I do not, however carry all this around with me, at the same time. Even I am not that nuts.

Missing from this shot is my Mountainsmith Camera Backpack. As most of you know, I travel for work. I am a production manager on special events. This coming week, I leave for Settle for 10 days, so I dropped off my big suitcase, and my Mountainsmith Backpack, with my main camera, my main Nikon d7000, and my Tamron SP 150-600mm G2 and Manfrotto tripod. I have a couple dark days (no show) and am planning on some birding out there. It's easier than carrying, to send it with the equipment truck.

A - is my main walking around camera bag.
B - is my new fave, slightly smaller than the Mountainsmith, it fits my laptop, accessories, my usual (see far below) my camera body, lenses, and more.
C - is a present, sometimes I use this one on the boat or beach.
D - fits only camera body
E - fits the Nikon 300mm

F - Small flash modifier, I use this one quite frequently, takes the harsh off, and produces softer light
G - SB 600 and SB 700 Flash. I can use these on Camera, TTL, off camera, remote trigger, control power, etc.
H - small flash hood
I - larger flash reflector
J - lens hoods
K - medium flash diffuser
L - clothes pins, very useful for attaching gels, diffusion, etc to lights, and flashes
M - remote stands for Flash

My second Nikon d7000, with Tamron 18-270mm, my walkaround lens.
N - Battery grip for Nikon d7000 with both a Nikon Battery slide, and a AA battery slide, as well as additional battery. I consider this part of the camera, although, I removed it for this shot, so it can be seen separately. Both Nikon d7000's always have this on. Always. More batteries, more power, more shots. The battery grips also duplicate a few of the knobs and buttons, so, when you turn the camera from portrait to landscape and back, there is a set of thumb wheels, and the shutter release, at the correct place.

O - My Tokina 11-17mm Superwide zoom. One of my Fave lenses.
d - OOOoops... just noticed the second "D" This is actually the Variable Neutral Density filter for the 18-270mm
The Variable ND filter for the Tokina Superwide is in bag A, front pocket, just forgot to take it out.
P - Nikon 70-300mm, rarely used anymore. Somewhat slow lens.

Q - LaCie rugged HD, plus a USB and Firewire cable.
R - Gitzo Ball head jr. for tripod (left), and Tripod Camera adapter plate (right)
S - Lens wipes
T - Small binocs, for birding. (Damn... forgot to ship these to Seattle. Wonder if I will forget to bring them, too?)
U - Remote triggers. I have the tiny wireless remote top, and a wired one bottom.
V - Quick disconnect plate for tripod.
W - Camera and lens caps
X - Flash modifiers. Plastic, and have color correction for flourescents, tungstens, and LED sources
Y - Bits of Diffusion for flashes. I use Lee Filters.
Z - Soft cloths, for wiping.

1 - First and foremost, it's important to stay hydrated.
2 - My lightning trigger. ingenious gadget, attaches to flash mount, and triggers camera when it detects lightning
3 - My Evolution of Photographer t-shirt.
4 - A Chip Chart. Useful when getting correct white balance, and colors in ABSOLUTELY critical. People, skin tones, product shots with specific colors, etc.
5 - Clean white cloths, for drying. I shoot a lot of waterfalls, and outdoors by the ocean, on my boat, etc. Always keep a few in gallon plastic bags to keep em dry.
6 - Mini Mag (longer), and a UV minimag (shorty). Notice the watch below? Another present. No numbers on the watch face, it has 1.2, 2.4 4, 5.6, 8, 11 on the face.
7 - Multi tool, NEVER leave home without one. I have them everywhere. AND probably have lost a dozen or more to TSA, by forgetting them in my bags, etc.
8 - In each bag I have an emergency kit. Bandages, wipes, aspirin, usually some other meds, etc.
9 - Lee Color Correction and Gels for Flashes, etc

All that said, I pack each bag differently based on what I shoot for the day.
But here are my standard pack in each bag I own:
• Extra Camera Batteries
• Extra SD Card
• Lens wipes
• Clean white cloth
• Bottle of water
• Tripod Camera adapter plate
• remote trigger
• first aid kit
• multi tool

If I shoot at night, I pack the second remote, and the lightning trigger
If I shoot long exposure, both triggers, and more batteries, as well as the ND Filters
If I shoot people, I always pack the chip chart
If I shoot indoors, flashes, and modifiers

All in all, packing before I go out to shoot forces me to think about what I will need, and what I don't want to carry.
I hope this helps, more than hurts, given the length of the post.