Essential equipment for photographers on the move

Nomadic photographer - Spatula - Baie de Somme - France
Spatula - Baie de Somme - France

Setting off on an adventure with your camera, capturing the beauty of the landscape, immortalising fleeting moments... For the nomadic photographer, travel is an inexhaustible source of inspiration.

However, taking all your equipment with you can quickly become a constraint. Travelling light is the key to remaining free in your movements and your ability to explore, while ensuring that you don't miss any unique moments by having the essential equipment. In this article, I'll guide you through the minimalist gear you need to travel light and still be ready to capture every moment.

1. The camera: quality essentials without the weight

The key piece of equipment for photographers on the move is, of course, the camera. To travel light, it's best to opt for a compact, lightweight and versatile model. Here are a few types of camera to consider:

  • Hybrids or "mirrorless "These cameras offer the same image quality as SLRs, but are lighter and more compact. With a large sensor (APS-C or full format), you're guaranteed high-quality images. Their compact size makes them ideal for travel.
  • Expert compacts If you're looking for discretion and simplicity, an expert compact can be an excellent option. Their light weight makes them easy to slip into a bag, while offering manual control options and good image quality. They can also make great complementary secondary cameras.

2. The objectives: few but quality

When it comes to travelling, it's better to choose a few well-thought-out lenses than to pack your whole kit. In my opinion, these are the essential lenses to take with you:

  • A versatile zoom lens (24-70 mm or 18-135 mm) This type of zoom covers a wide focal length range, from wide angle for landscapes to standard focal length for portraits. It can be your only lens for light travel. Personally I use the Sigma 24-105mm f/4 in Canon mount on my R6 II. I think it's excellent 👍.
  • A bright fixed focal length (35 mm f/1.8 or 50 mm f/1.4) : Fixed focal lengths are often lighter and more compact than zooms, while offering superior optical quality and a wide aperture for low-light shots or artistic background blur. Here, I've had my old canon 50mm f1.4 for nearly 15 years, which gives me splendid bokeh 🤓.

3. Lightweight tripod: stability without bulk

A tripod is an invaluable ally if you want to take sharp photos at night or in long exposures. Opt for a compact, lightweight carbon fibre model that offers optimum stability while weighing less than a kilo.. Some tripods are even designed to fold up to take up as little space as possible in your bag. Choose one that can support the weight of your appliance without being a burden to carry. Here I'm not a very good example 😜, as I like sturdy tripods and I work with 2 rather heavy Cullmans.

4. Filters: the essentials for enhancing your shots

Filters are lightweight, space-saving accessories that can make all the difference in the field. Here are a few essentials:

  • Polarising filter It reduces reflections on the water but also son all reflective surfaces such as animal hair or feathers, while increasing colour saturation. Perfect for capturing deep skies or the brilliance of leaves, feathers and coloured pelage under the sun.
  • ND (Neutral Density) filter This reduces the amount of light entering the lens, making it ideal for long exposures in the middle of the day, such as capturing the movement of a waterfall or superb skies with stretched clouds.

5. Essential accessories for photographers on the move

  • Additional batteries Digital devices consume energy, especially when the screen or video is used frequently. Carrying 2 or 3 spare batteries is essential to ensure you don't run out of power at a critical moment.
  • Fast memory cards Memory cards: Choose several small or medium-capacity memory cards (32 GB or 64 GB) rather than a single large card, to minimise the risk of data loss in the event of a problem.
  • Microfibre cloth and blower bulb To clean the lenses and sensor, these accessories are essential for keeping your equipment in good condition, especially in dusty environments.
  • A waterproof cover for your camera/lens kit If it's raining, it's essential and safe, even for tropicalised equipment, but near waterholes such as waterfalls, there's a lot of water spray in the form of mist in the wind, and after 30 minutes or so, it looks like it's going to get wet!
Essential equipment -Waterproof cover

6. The photo bag: comfort and versatility

The choice of photo bag is crucial to a comfortable trip. Opt for a backpack or shoulder bag that gives you quick access to your camera and lenses. Here are my top picks:

  • Carrying comfort The padded straps and belly straps provide better support and distribute the weight evenly.
  • Modular compartments Make sure the bag has adjustable compartments to organise your equipment in the best possible way.
  • Water resistance : If you're travelling in wet regions, a water-resistant bag with a rain cover is essential to protect your gear. And there are many regions where, even when the weather's fine, you're not safe from taking a good shower in less than 5 minutes 😱 !
Essential equipment - Backpack
Essential equipment - Backpack

7. Managing the load: travelling light in your mind

Beyond the material, the philosophy of travelling light is to be free of all that is superfluous. Travelling with limited equipment will encourage your creativity. Instead of multiplying the options, you'll learn how to make the most of every tool at your disposal. It also allows you to live in the moment, unencumbered by technical choices. Sometimes these are good exercises!

8. Conclusion: lightness and freedom, the best travelling companions

As you may have read, for a nomadic photographer, travelling light doesn't mean sacrificing the quality of your photos - quite the opposite, in fact. By lightening your bag, you gain mobility and spontaneity. You'll be more available to explore, to feel the moment, to let yourself be surprised by the magic of nature and the people you meet.

Whether you're in the mountains, on a secluded beach or in a dense forest, the right lightweight equipment will enable you to capture precious moments with incomparable freedom and responsiveness. So, are you ready to set off on your adventure with just the bare essentials? What do you pack in your bag? Share your experience in the comments below!

Read more about photography preparation and planning I invite you to visit my dedicated articles.

Thanks for reading and grab your bag, adjust your camera strap and head out to capture the beauty of the world 😅.

See you soon on Dragonstreet Photography,

David

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