I have to admit that this is the kind of blog post that I enjoy reading the most. Not only am I always curious about the equipment that some of my favourite bloggers are using, but I also have a tendency to be nosy in general.
Even though I get a lot of questions about the photography gear I bring with me when I travel and the software I use to edit my photos, I’ve always just assumed that people would learn more from reading about the tools that professional photographers use.
I mean, I don’t use the most expensive or cutting-edge equipment – in fact, it’s extremely rare that you’ll even see me swapping out the lens on my camera – and I definitely take some short cuts. However, it is working for me.
I have such a deep and abiding love for my camera, and I am also sufficiently lazy to know exactly how little photography equipment I can get away with packing and still be able to record my travels in a manner that is professional(-ish).
My camera bag
I don’t use a real camera bag anymore, if that helps clarify anything. I do have something that is sort of like a waterproof foam insert that I put at the bottom of my backpack so that my camera is protected from the elements.
I just find it so much easier to carry my camera around with me in my Burton daypack or purse. Even though this may mean that my camera takes a bit of a beating sometimes (thankfully, my camera can totally handle it), it also means that I’m much more willing to take my camera with me everywhere, despite the fact that it is a monster.
Mark II of the Canon EOS 5D
The size and weight of my camera are two of the reasons why I refer to it as “the beast,” but if it can continue to produce photographs of such high quality, I will gladly carry it around with me wherever I go.
I purchased my Canon 5D EOS Mark II a couple of years ago, and despite the fact that it is an extremely high-end professional camera, I ended up paying less for it than I would have for the majority of the brand-new Canon DSLRs that I had been looking at.
This is because I purchased an older model that had been previously owned.
Even the older versions are a significant improvement over any camera that does not have a full frame sensor, and I know a few bloggers who have the most recent Mark IV. They say it is really, really nice and has lots of cool features. At least, that’s how I see it.
To give you an example, I am aware that more compact mirrorless cameras are currently all the rage, but to tell you the truth, I do not find the image quality of these cameras to be anywhere near as good!
In point of fact, I have a few friends who are dissatisfied with their mirrorless cameras and are considering switching back to DSLRs (although I also have friends who adore using smaller cameras, so to each his or her own!).
These friends are considering making the switch because they feel that mirrorless cameras are limiting their creativity.
I remember thinking that purchasing the 5D meant that I would really need to learn how to use it properly in order to make the most of it, given that it is the camera that the majority of photography professionals use.
The camera takes incredible pictures even when set to automatic mode.
Don’t be concerned, I no longer shoot in automatic mode.
Canon 24-105mm f/4L lens
On the recommendation of a fellow photographer, I upgraded my previous camera with the 24-105 mm f/4L lens.
This was such a smart decision for two reasons: 1. it is an excellent lens for travel photography because it is wide enough for landscapes but also has a pretty good zoom, and 2. because it is compatible with both crop and full frame sensors, I did not need to purchase a new lens when I upgraded to a full frame camera.
This lens is probably the one that I use for about 80 percent of the photos that I take because I adore it so much.
In addition to that, you can frequently find really amazing deals on the Canon 5D Mark when it is purchased together with this lens as part of a bundle.
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II lens
Because it has a wider angle of view and a larger aperture, the Canon 16-35mm lens was the one I decided to purchase in November of 2018, primarily for the purpose of improving my ability to photograph the northern lights.
But I’ve also had a lot of fun using this for taking pictures of landscapes, cities, and interiors, particularly because my 24-millimeter lens often can’t accommodate everything I want to include in the picture.
Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens
This was the very first lens I ever purchased, and I believe it is an excellent choice for those just starting out in photography. It takes photographs that are incredibly crisp despite its diminutive size and low cost.
The quality is noticeably, noticeably, noticeably better than the kit lens that the majority of less expensive cameras come with.
It is a bit difficult to use because it does not have a zoom feature; however, this necessitates that you move around quite a bit in order to get the appropriate angles, which I discovered to be a beneficial form of practise.
In addition, because it has such a large aperture, it works really well for taking photographs in low light and for creating a background that is pleasingly blurry in photographs.
A camera remote
If you’re going to want to take photos of yourself while travelling by yourself (or of you and your travel companions together), then you absolutely need to invest in a camera remote. It’s probably the most important accessory I have for my camera.
Because I find it embarrassing to ask other people to take my picture, the vast majority of the pictures of me that you will see on Instagram were shot by myself with my remote control.
You will need to get a remote control that is suitable for usage with your camera; personally, I pair my Canon 5D Mark II with a Canon RC-6.
A tripod that is not too heavy.
When I know I’ll be taking shots at night or attempting to catch the northern lights, that’s pretty much the only time I bring my tripod with me on a trip. If that’s not an option, I’ll just prop my camera up on anything like my bag or a rock.
I used to enjoy travelling with my compact Joby tripod because it is so lightweight and versatile; however, my camera and lens are now too heavy for the one I have.
I believe they now make a version of the tripod that is designed for heavier cameras; perhaps I will check that out and report back on my findings.
DJI Osmo Pocket
The DJI Osmo Pocket is what I use to film the majority of my films. I love that it is small enough that I can carry it with me anywhere, that it is unobtrusive enough that I won’t feel ashamed filming in crowds, and that it includes a gimbal, which ensures that the footage is really smooth. Additionally, the quality is rather impressive! In the past, I’ve worked with a wide variety of video cameras, but this one is, without a doubt, the very finest.
Lightroom from Adobe
Lightroom is such an essential component of my photography that I felt it necessary to include it in this article, despite the fact that it is not physically included within my camera bag. To edit each and every one of my images, I make use of Lightroom Creative Cloud.
Lightroom is without a doubt the greatest application I’ve used to process my images, and it also has the capability to process RAW files.
In the past, I’ve processed my photos using a large number of other programmes. And it’s actually fairly straightforward to use; I’m still learning about some of the more complex capabilities, but it’s not hard at all to gain a grasp on the fundamentals.
I really like that I can save my edits as presets (which are kind of like filters), because that means that if I’m editing a bunch of photos that were taken in the same place or with the same lighting, all I have to do is save the changes I want to make as a preset, and then I can apply that preset to the entire batch of pictures.
This feature is awesome. As of right now, I have presets stored for snowy days, overcast days, the beach, inside, northern lights, and other things like that, which means that when I’m editing fresh photographs, I generally just have to make a few minor adjustments.
You may purchase presets from websites such as VSCO if you are unclear of how to get started with editing your photos. Additionally, several Instagrammers and bloggers are selling their own presets. Alternatively, you may just download some free presets for Lightroom (this site has some nice ones).
The Black GoPro Hero6.
I was given the GoPro Hero6 by GoPro, and I prefer to use it in situations when I require a camera that is both waterproof and one that is able to withstand a lot of abuse. On my GoPro, I captured each and every one of these video clips: