Things in my landscape photography bag that just make sense.
Welcome to another blog, which I think might end up being uncharacteristically short, but I want to talk about some of the things that are not strictly related to photography but (I think!) make sense.
This isn’t going to be a huge entry, it isn’t a massive list, but there are some things on here that I think are quite important to have with you, some of it straight forward, some of it a bit unusual, but I hope that its all helpful. Let’s jump in.
1) Head Torch
This is a vital piece of kit for shooting sunrise and sunsets, generally, it’s either dark when you get there or getting dark when you leave and you need this to be able to find your way back to the car. It’s important that you know where it is, that it is bright, comfortable and is always fully charged or has some decent batteries in it - the torch on your phone ins’t going to do the job! The one I have is the Victoper Head Torch, which I got on Amazon. It has great battery life, charges quickly via USB and it’s bright enough that anyone walking towards you is going to think they’re heading towards a BMW. It also has a red light mode, which is great for all of the astro shooters amongst you. You can check it out by clicking this link.
2. Disposable Shower Caps.
Yes, you read that correctly, disposable shower caps. I always keep a stack of these in one of the pockets of my bag, and I have a bulk supply of them in the studio to replinish the ones I use. Why though? Quite simply, because they make great, cheap and lightweight rain covers for your camera. They slide over the top and across the back, the touchscreen still works and you can still work all of the buttons and see what you’re doing. These aren’t going to weather seal your camera, but they are great in a pinch when you caught in a brief shower but still need to get the shot. I got mine from Amazon, and there’s a hundred in the pack for less than a fiver!
3. Small Rig Camera Tool
Small but mighty is how I would describe this. It’s got all of the common attachments to do any of the jobs you might need to do to your camera/tripod/other when you’re out in the field. It’s great for tightening up L-Brackets, Arca Swiss plates, tripods… the list goes on. I like its versatility, small form factor and light weight. Definitely something you should pick up. You can get them here on Amazon.
4. Battery Packs
I have two of these, and they are both made by Belkin. I got them on a whim from Costco during a visit there as the price was too good for me to miss out on. There are two different sizes, one is 10k mAh and the other is 20k mAh. They are fairly lightweight and so far, they have proven to be rugged - I have dropped them more times that I can remember and they are still going strong. If I had one complaint about them, it’s that they take a long time to fully charge but if you leave them overnight, they are usually full by the morning. Having two sizes is good, as if I’m going somewhere overnight and won’t have access to power then I can take the larger one, saving the smaller one for shorter trips. I can’t find a link to the exact ones I have, but you can get a twin pack of the 20k ones by clicking here and heading to Amazon.
5. Pen/Sharpie/Notebook
I actually carry a pen and a notebook most of the time, so this one feels like a little bit of a cop-out, but suffice to say, these items always come with me on shoots.
Thank Peter McKinnon for this one, his use of journalling and carrying a notebook is a habit I have developed following his video about it.
I use a small field notes book, which I keep tidy in a leather sleeve, both of which came from Amazon. They’re handy to have with you when inspiration strikes and you need to make a quick note so you don’t forget that incredible idea that you’ve had. I also use mine for shots lists and general reminders as well. I use Pilot pens to write in them and I keep one of these with the notebook.
I like to have a sharpie with me, not entirely sure why, but the amount of times it’s come in handy is untold, and so it remains a part of the contents of my bag.
6. Cables
This could be an endless list, but generally I will have a USB cable, a USB C cable, a charging cable for an iPhone and probably a spare phone charging cable, just incase (those things never seem to be able to take much of a beating). These aren’t the most exciting things, but they are always useful, especially on longer walks/trips when it’s great to be able to charge things up when you’re taking a break or getting in your sleeping bag for the night.
7. Water Bottle
Probably an obvious one, but you should always have some water with you, especially if you’re going on a longer hike and if you’re not carrying a load of water then maybe some water purification tablets as well. We’re not short of flowing water in the Lake District, but you shouldn’t just be drinking it straight from the source! I like this Nalgene one as it's tough and fits neatly in the pouch on the side of my bag!
8. OS Map + Compass
This one is dependent on where I am going, and what I am doing. If I’m heading to the local nature reserve in the fog and walking around the nice safe, way-marked boardwalk, which is about a mile long, I’m not taking the map and compass. If I’m going out in the fells then these two things are definitely coming with me. I like the Ordnance Survey ‘Landranger’ series for walking, and I buy the waterproof ones, they’re a bit more pricey, but by the time you’ve ruined three maps in the rain, it makes them a sensible investment.
Please don’t just rely on the OS app and/or Google maps to get you home. You can’t guarantee your signal and you also can’t guarantee your phone won’t die. Always have a map with you.
For compasses, I have the Silva Ranger Compass, it’s well made and easy to read/use.
9. Toss Up! Game
This one is a bit of a left field choice, but sometimes, there is a lot of waiting around and if you have someone with you, or you’re out for the night then this can be a good way to pass some of the time, especially if you’re not out with another photographer who doesn’t enjoy your photography chat! It took me a long time to get hold of my copy of Toss Up!, but it was worth the wait, it’s fun, small, light and gets oddly competitve for a dice game. If you can’t get your hands on a copy of Toss Up! then a pack of cards is just as good but weighs about the same!
10. Money!
Fairly straightforward this one, but I always have my card with me, but also cash to around the value of £20. This can be handy for any number of things, but some places don’t accept cards and it’s also nice to support small businesses by paying with cash too! Just don’t blow it all at the start of your walk, you never know when you might need it!
Having cash hasn’t saved my life yet, but it has furnished me with numerous coffees and ice creams when I have ‘needed’ them!