This is my practical packing list for any hobbyist or blogger who’s looking to step up their travel photography. The bag I’m currently using is from Thorndale who’ve sponsored this post by gifting me a Weston Rucksack. The Staffordshire based company create luxury handcrafted bags for men and women.
THE WESTON RUCKSACK
I’ve always preferred using a rucksack or messenger bag for my travels as their much more discreet and versatile. Thorndale’s Weston Rucksack has a timeless design, the contents are fastened by rope and secured with a stylish leather strap and buckle. The wax cotton and nylon fabric felt robust against the turblulent weather in Wales (unlike my hat), yet light enough to not add any unnecessary weight.
The inside contains one zip pocket and several smaller ones to neatly secure items like pens, bank cards and a mobile device. On the side of the rucksack you’ll find a separate zip up pocket for quick access to things like your ID or phone.
The bag is large enough to comfortably hold my DSLR camera with three lenses and the accessories mentioned below, excluding the tripod – however this will fit in snuggly at an angle too.
1: A STURDY TRIPOD
I’ve gone through a fair few budget friendly (but rather flimsy) tripods so invested in a premium Caseflex alloy tripod. It’s lightweight, feels solid when in use and folds up neatly into its own carry case.
2: CAMERA AND PROTECTIVE CASE
It’s wise to get a padded case to insert inside your rucksack to isolate your camera from the rest of your gear and protect it from any scratches, bumps or drops.
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3: WIFI MEMORY CARD
My DSLR has built in wifi, but before this I purchased a wifi memory card that was brilliant for transferring images to my mobile in seconds. I’ve particularly enjoyed this feature for quick social media updates on my travels, as well as an additional backup for my favourite shots.
4: LENSES (AND LENS WIPES)
If I had to choose one lens from my kit for travel photography it would be the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8 – available for Canon, Sony and Nikon. 17mm is great for wide shots of landscapes or city streets whilst the 70mm end allows you to single out details or get very close to your subject for macro photography.
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5: LENS FILTERS
Filters reduce unwanted glare, reflections and haze whilst also being an extra bit of protection for your lenses.
6: CAMERA REMOTE
A remote is super useful for long exposure photography when the camera needs to be completely still or if you don’t want to rely on other people to take a photo for you.
7: A SHOT LIST
When you’re in the moment handling equipment you could easily forget the typical shots of landmarks worth banking for your travel photography archive.
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8: EXTRA BATTERIES
It goes without saying but it’s particularly important if you’re travelling to a colder climate or planning to take lots of long exposures as you’ll find the battery drains quicker than usual.
9: MODEL AND LOCATION RELEASE FORMS
I don’t share many portraits or street photography, but if you enjoy this style then it’s definitely a good idea to have a printed form and pen in your bag to cover yourself. There are templates floating around (take a look at Jeff Guyer’s guide), but make whatever you use is relevant and up to date.
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10: HAND OR SHOULDER STRAP
A strap provides an extra level of security and grip whilst saving you having to put the camera away after every single use. I prefer a shoulder strap as pulling against the back of my neck helps stabilise my handheld photography.
Some very usual tips there.
Thank you 🙂
Having seen the bag myself in person, I can say it looks just as good as it does in the pics! Very ‘you’! I need to get something more discreet too, my bright pink pineapple-patterned rucksack is in dire need of an update.
Thanks Kacie!! Yeah its served me well so far 😀