The 10 Things Every Nature Photographer Should Own
Photographers tend to be gadget-oriented. We walk into camera stores and when faced with a towering wall camera gizmos, our eyes bug out. If we just had that one more accessory: a titanium tripod head, a chocolate colored filter, or a light meter with a built in solar powered bird call.... we'd be nabbing much better shots. I'm as guilty as anyone for having an arsenal of useless camera gear lying around my house!
But for nature photographers, the most important pieces of gear to have out in the field (aside from a camera and tripod), are not things you'll find in a camera shop. I'm talking about the weaponry that makes it possible, practical and productive to be out in the field. These items have saved my butt many times from certain photographic disaster and have helped me be prepared for incredible photo opportunities. The best thing is that all of these items are quite inexpensive and you'll be able to find most of them in a single pass through your local hardware or outdoor store. So without further adieu, here are the 10 things I consider essential field gear for a nature photographer. Don't leave home without them!
1) an alarm clock
I love the fiery glow of purple-orange light that creeps over the horizon and
ignites the sky about a half hour before sunrise. My body, however, is not
always enthusiastic about getting up in the dark to trek out to a great photo
location. So I always set two alarm clocks (one as a backup) to make sure I
don't miss the most exciting time of day. For traveling, I use a compact, battery-powered alarm clock
and my Timex watch alarm as a backup.
2) rubber boots or hip waders
A bit of mud or water should never stop you from getting to a great photo
location. This is especially true if you're photographing along shorelines -
sometimes the best perspectives come from getting into the water.
3) a shower cap and garbage bag
The shower caps they give you at hotels make great emergency rain hoods for a camera
body or lens. They pack conveniently into a camera bag and the elastic band
holds them securely to your gear. I carry a garbage bag for the same reason - to
put over my big lenses when it starts to rain. These cheap items have saved me
thousands of dollars in damage to my camera gear when I've been caught in an
unexpected downpour!
4) bug spray or a head net
Nature is full of bugs that want to feed on you, but this shouldn't stop you
from photographing. Some of the best wildflower and bird photo opportunities are during
the height of black fly or mosquito season. Just be careful not to get bug
spray on your camera gear!
5) a repair kit with duct tape and
crazy glue
I once dropped my brand new camera body on rock and cracked the battery grip in half. I crazy glued it back together and was shooting again in a
few minutes (in fact I'm still shooting with it as is 2 years later). Accidents
happen and gear breaks. A bit of preparedness can save your
shoot, so always carry an emergency took kit in your car when you go out
photographing. Be sure to pack a hex key and sockets to fit all the major
fittings on your tripod and head.
6) extra batteries and film/memory
Your photo excursion is cooked if you run out of batteries or film/memory, so always carry
spares. It never ceases to amaze me how many photographers I've encountered in the field
who've had their batteries die and didn't have a spare!
7) a headlamp or flashlight
I hike in the dark all the time to be on location before dawn
or after dusk. A headlamp and spare flashlight in my camera bag helps to gets me home
safely. Sometimes I use a flashlight as an additional light source for a photo,
when I need to fill in shadows.
8) a compass
Most people carry a compass in case they get lost and need to orient themselves
home. While that's a good reason to have one, I use mine mostly when I'm out
scouting photos during the day to know where the sun will rise or set. When I
return to shoot, I've already got a good idea of where the light will fall on
certain scenes, which increases my efficiency in the field.
9) toilet paper
It is inevitable: if you spend a lot of time out in nature...nature will
call. What more can I say?
10) quality outdoor clothing
Crappy weather often spawns the most dramatic photo opportunities. Being
prepared with clothing that keeps you warm and dry in the field is a must.
Although this is the most expensive item on the list, it's something you can
invest in over time. At the very least, buy a lightweight shell (waterproof/windproof)
that you can pack in your camera bag. A pair of quick-dry pants that zip-off to
shorts is invaluable for summer shooting when mornings or evenings are cool. I
always keep a full spare set of clothes in my car, to change if I need to.
Naturally, I have bright red, orange and yellow clothes that stand out in photos
(they'll also make it easier for rescuers to find me if I ever get in trouble!).
About the Photos:
1) Showy Lady's Slippers, Bruce
Peninsula, Ontario
Canon EOS 1N, EF 100/2.8 macro; Velvia 50
Where I live, these wild orchids bloom right at the peak of mosquito and black fly
season. The only way I could concentrate on composing this image was to wear a
head net and repellent so the bugs wouldn't drive me nuts!
2) Reddish Egret fishing, Estero
Lagoon, Florida
Canon EOS 1N, 600f/4; Velvia 50 (+1 stop)
Nothing beats wading in a mucky lagoon to get a shot of a reddish egret fishing.
I was wearing sandals when I made this shot and the mud was squishing between my
toes. I wish I'd had my hip waders instead!
3) Cave Point, Bruce Peninsula
National Park, Ontario
Canon EOS 1N; EF 20-35/3.5-4.5; polarizer, Velvia 50
Most people don't consider photographing on rainy mornings, but they can
make for wonderful moody images. On this rainy morning, I kept a shower cap over
my camera gear and photographed whenever there was a break in the light
drizzle.
Happy shooting!
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