As a wild life photographer,
I am often asked what kit do I take with me.
As a film photographer, I used to carry several lenses with me,
but I could only afford one body.
Then along came the digital age (2 mp!) and
I was able to dispense with my film camera body and lenses
and only use a simple digital camera that had a fixed zoom lens.
Now the pendulum has swung back…
and my bag has been repopulated with lenses and camera bodies.
A camera battery charger is probably one of the most often forgotten items.
If you don’t have one of these and you did not charge you battery
before your trip…you might well end up shooting on you mobile phone.
If you are leaving South Africa, make certain
 that you have the relevant adapter.
I speak from experience…
On a trip to Turkey I forgot may charger and only discovered this fact when
I looked for it after a full day of shooting in Istanbul.
I had to curtail my photography quite severely
in order to conserve battery power.
(I did try to source another one, but with no luck at all).
If I am driving to a bush destination,
then I tend to take all three bodies with me.
This means that I don’t have to change lenses
and as a result I can almost eliminate dust and dirt in the housing.
The K1ii is a full-frame, 40 mp beast that
gives the other brands a serious run for their money.
If I am limited because of weight or space,
then I will carry only one body.
My go to lenses…
A Sigma 50-500mm that has been all over Africa with me
As has the Pentax 18-270mm, which compliments to Sigma.
As mentioned earlier, if due to I am limited due to weight or space,
I usually take the 18-270mm with me.
When space is not an issue, I take this along.
The largest in the Pentax range of lenses.
It is a 560mm (840mm if used on the K3 or K3ii)
If only I had this when I was in India on a tiger safari!
But the safari was part of a longer trip
where it would have been too cumbersome to carry in public.
A blower to keep the dust off your camera,
extra battery and SD cards.
Not necessarily a prerequisite but useful to have.
Most modern cameras have double card slots currently.
Spend money on a good camera bag.
Your equipment is expensive and needs to be cared for correctly.
This particular bag is no longer imported into South Africa.
Which is a pity as it is one of the best I have used.
Aside from camera gear, there is space for a laptop
and all the relevant cables.
Packed and ready to go…
Look carefully and you can see my Batman traveling mascot.
A good fold up tripod can be useful.
Make certain that it will take the weight of your biggest lens.
A good strong torch and a filter are useful
when you embark on night shots where you might need
to “paint” the foreground with light.
This locally made product was indispensable when using a long lens.
The ball and socket might look simple…and it is,
which is why it should be in the gear bag of every serious photographer.
This locally made, deceptively simple device is ideal
for tracking birds in flight or animals in motion.
The base can be used on a beanbag or a tripod,
with the ball being fitted to the camera.
The simplicity of the device allows to to move from supported
to hand held in a fluid motion.
There is also a version that can be used on a car window.
To take a bean bag on a plane is normally not an option.
But if I am driving to a lodge, it will form part of my kit.
I have modified mine to take the StabiLens base plate.
A good trekking harness means that you can use a
bigger lens when walking in the bush.
The weight of the camera and the lens is then supported
 by your back and shoulders and NOT off a strap around your neck.
If you are going to be doing long exposures of either lightning…
or star trails….
Then include a 10-20mm wide angle lens
as well as a remote control for my camera.
This, together with a tripod, will stop camera shake
and help enormously when doing 30-45 minute exposures.
A big thank you to each of these brands
 for coming on board.
This has been my constant travel companion
for the past several years.
It might look worn,
but that represents the kilometers/miles
we have shared together.
From Kilimanjaro to the beaches of India.
To coach trips across Europe and Vietnam
and to a variety of game lodges and road trip destinations
 in South and Southern Africa.
BEST SUITCASE EVER!
Check out their Facebook page:
This torch has been turning heads!
The Olight SRS2UT Intimidator.
Marketed locally by:
 https://torchsa.com/
My camera brand of choice for more than 4 decades!
When it is time to print out my special images,
this is the company that I rely on to do that.
Bush gear to make me blend in…
in comfort and style.
https://www.ruggedwear.co.za
I have worn the orange Veldskoen in the jungles of India
and on the beaches of Croatia.
Not to mention, many game reserves in Africa.
They are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes
that I have ever owned.
Now to try out the rest of the colours in the range.
When I get home. I rely on this ISP
to provide me with high speed fibre connectivity
to enable me to get my postings published in record time.
www.cisp.co.za
This Powerbank is my constant companion
 while I am travelling.
It can do up to 4 full re-charges of my phone before
needing to be charged.
Supplied by…
Â
When offered an option…
ALWAYS be Batman.
My constant travelling companion.
To find out more about the collectible Funko range of figurines,
visit:
I could not do without this awesome laptop bag from Solo.
Padded for protection and with enough pockets to keep
almost everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink in,
this is definitely an stylish addition to any business presentation.
Be it in the boardroom or the bush.
This bag can also be worn as a backpack.
There are straps in a hidden compartment that can be deployed
when you need both hands for other purposes.
To find out more about the stylish Solo range,
visit:
This locally made product was indispensable when using a long lens.
The ball and socket might look simple…and it is,
which is why it should be in the gear bag of every serious photographer.
This locally made, deceptively simple device is ideal
for tracking birds in flight or animals in motion.
The base can be used on a beanbag or a tripod,
with the ball being fitted to the camera.
The simplicity of the device allows to to move from supported
to hand held in a fluid motion.
There is also a version that can be used on a car window.
To see more about the product,
visit their Facebook page:
Or order directly from:
Â
Â
To see who else were winners in 2018, visit:
www.sablogawards.com
Â
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and may not be used without permission
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