Photography Gear — Learning to Make Do
Avoiding GAS by making the gear we already have do the job.
Avoiding GAS by making the gear we already have do the job.
Today, on our walk, I was practicing street photography technique using Liddy as my model. The path we were on really isn’t the same as a street scene, but if you use your imagination, they are kinda similar. The more I study this street photography thing, the more parallels I see with wildlife photography. In both cases we are stalking a good composition. In one case we are composing our shot around ducks and finches. In the other we are trying to get people into the frame. In both cases, we need to be aware of the background and be prepared.
On Monday, we depart on a vacation to Europe. We will be enjoying the Christmas season with my daughter’s family in Germany. It will be an extended stay and Liddy will be coming with us.
It being Christmas time, the famous German Christmas Markets will be in full swing. I am looking forward to great photo opportunities. I’m going to need a bag that will be OK in crowds I’ll take my sling bag. It’s great for that.
Street photography… Will need a good prime. I should run up to Seattle and pick up the RF 35mm F1.8 Macro lens. It will be a great add to the kit. Or maybe the new RF 24mm F1.8 Macro instead. Should I bring some lights? A strobe?
After Christmas we are going to the Harz Mountains. Going to ride the narrow-gauge steam trains that service the area. Will need my 100–500 zoom for sure as well as the 24–105 zoom.
Will need the GoPro and the new DJI gimbal and microphones for video making. Gotta get some video of gift opening and other highlights of the trip.
There will be snow. I could use my 100mm f2.8 L Macro lens to make awesome snowflake images.
That’s a lot of gear. Going to need a bigger bag. Let’s see we are gone for how many weeks? I can get away with two pairs of socks and under-ware, an extra pair of jeans and t-shirt — yeah — we can make it fit… NOT!
Just Stop! Take a deep breath and think…
GAS — Gear Acquisition Syndrome. We are all guilty of it in some way. Yes, I lust after one of those primes, the 35 or 24, there are some awesome zooms too. But not this trip. This trip I will keep my kit under control!
Here is what I came up with.
The GoPro, the gimbal and the mic? I want some video. I don’t do video enough. I suck at it. I will only get better if I practice so… I plan to use the gimbal and my phone to record video — probably not much better than my dad’s super 8 films, but hey — we pull them out and laugh at ourselves at least once a decade 😊.
If I use my 24–105 properly, I should get similar results as the 24mm or 35mm primes. This will keep the five or six hundred dollars they would cost in my pocket. I can buy more biscuits and hot chocolate, pretzels and beer to put more smiles on family faces. Yes! Definitely a better value.
So, my bag is packed. A Mindshift Backlight 18L Backpack packed full with:
Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 24–105mm F4 L IS USM Lens.
Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM Lens
Long Exposure Filter Kit
GoPro 9 with Media Mod
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal
DJI MIC
Tripod with ball head
PlatyPod without ball head
Canon Ivy Printer
Including a headlamp, extra batteries, a small LED light, a tablet, and some other odds and sods. The bag weighs in at less than twenty pounds without the tripod. Not bad. I still have room for some snacks and a water bottle.
The sling bag stays home because the backpack is small and light. Leave the tripod, long lens, and filters in our room while we are at the markets and it will work just fine. I’ll even have room to carry some of the wife’s souvenirs 😊.
So, while I would love to pack some fast primes and a couple of strobes, I don’t think I need the extra kit. I will take the GAS out of the bag and make do with what I have.