Useful items in your bag (that other smart photographers forget)

[Heroique]

Over the years, I’ve added a lot of items to my field kit that no LF book or manual would ever think of recommending. Mainly, they’re small items that didn’t occur to me either – until I sorely needed them. Afterwards, they won a permanent place in my kit.

For example, I once composed a shot that would have been ideal, except for a nearby tree branch that blocked the view. I had no way of removing it (it was too big to break off ), and placing the tripod elsewhere wasn’t an option either. “If only I had some twine,” I thought. Now, I never leave home w/o several yards worth. And I’ve tied back countless branches, taken the shot, released the trees from their temporary bondage, and continued along my way...

Tell us – what’s that useful item in your bag that others want to hear about?

[Gem Singer]

A micro cloth for cleaning filters and lenses.

A small spirit level.

Proper step-up rings to adapt screw-in filters to every size lens in the kit.

An extra cable release.

[zcary]

Small pliers (in a pocket knife), sometimes when shooting in the cold i tie the knots too tight.

A notebook to write down everything about the shot, and if i need to compensate in developing later on.

[Kirk Gittings]

National Park Service photography rules, for the benefit of over-zealous rangers who don't know their own rules.

[John NYC]

A super bright pen-sized LED flashlight, much brighter than conventional flashlights with D batteries and even smaller than a mini-maglight. If you are still using "old tech" flashlights, it is worth the upgrade. Mine has a dim and bright setting. The dim setting is perfect for looking at lens settings. The bright setting is perfect for shining out onto railings or anything else that I want to make sure is NOT in my city night shots in the corner of the frames.

National Park Service photography rules, for the benefit of over-zealous rangers who don't know their own rules.

Along the same lines, a copy of an email exchange I had with the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting saying that it is perfectly OK to use my large format camera on a tripod without a permit.

[David Karp]

Pretty complete lists above. Learned some new things. I love this forum.

A couple of additions.

I have a pair of progressive glasses with the distance vision way at the top (so I have to tip my head down to see far away. This puts the close up portion of the lens close enough so I can comfortably work up near the camera and use my glasses to focus on the GG. I just switch them for my regular glasses (most of the time) when I pack up and move on. I read on this forum years ago that some people flip the progressives so that the distance is on the bottom and the close up is on the top.

A much less expensive device is one of those paper holders that you attach to your computer monitor. It has two clamps, one on each end, and a flexible arm in between. I use it by clamping one end to the front standard and using the other to hold my small gray card. Then I maneuver it to block light from hitting my lens.

[Kirk Gittings]

National Park Service photography rules, for the benefit of over-zealous rangers who don't know their own rules.

Someone asked for a link to the rules. First see Jeff Conrad's excellent: http://www.largeformatphotography.in...o-permits/#NPS:


Then print out for your camera bag. NPS.

[Steve Goldstein]

Someone asked for a link to the rules. Scroll down to page 4 for the pertinent info first see Jeff Conrad's excellent: http://www.largeformatphotography.in...o-permits/#NPS:


Then print out for your camera bag. NPS.

Kirk, I'm confused a little by the NPS info. First it says no charge for still photography provided it meets certain requirements, then the table says 1-10 people, $50/day. I thought I counted as a person, and my wife definitely does, so that makes 2. I guess what it really means is that, for those occasions where still photography requires a permit, these are the rates. But it doesn't say that in plain English.

The wording of the video rule is amusing, too. It could be interpreted to mean any family that's making a home video of little Johnny feeding the bears

[Alan Gales]

Small Mag Light flashlight.

[Stephane]

- Tape measurer to calculate f-stops for unmarked lenses
- Super glue
- Leatherman
- Paper plates to prevent the tripod to sink on the beach/loose soil
- Umbrella to shield from the wind
- Next time I'll bring a small portfolio