[show_ms_widget id=”32461424″ image_id=”36589188″ width=”700″ height=”700″]
As a photography major in college, I really care about what kind of equipment I use when taking photos. That being said, its also important that I don’t have too much with me while traveling. Things like weight, size and necessity play a real role for me while making decisions on what to use for my travel photography.
People are always asking me what I bring along with me on my travels (and my friends that travel with me, are constantly asking me why I don’t leave certain things at home!)… Here are the things I would never leave home without!
1. Olympus OM-D E-M 10
I traded in my big Canon DSLR for a mirrorless camera system based on the fact that it was way to heavy to carry around. I had a home base in Florence when I traveled with my Canon, and it was still a pain in the ass. Considering I knew that I would be on the move for several months, I decided to purchase a camera that was much smaller in size and a lot lighter. The quality of my photos have not suffered, they have even improved a bit since I’m more conscious of how I’m using my camera. I only use the kit lens at the moment (I have the Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ Interchangeable Lens) which can get a bit finicky at times, because of the retractable feature, but its super light and fits into a small case! I will definitely invest in a better lens after I get home and save up some more money! And how amazing is my colorful camera strap by LoveBirdsLA?
2. GoPro Hero4
I bring my GoPro everywhere… I’m onto my second one because I dropped the first one I got into a quarry in Thailand. When I did it, it was terrible, but I didn’t feel bad about getting a new one right away since I knew I would use it. (I have since added a strap to the handle…)
I take photos with it and I take videos with it. I’m still learning, but I feel like I’ve been getting a lot better. You can head over to Youtube to check out some of my videos from my travels.
At the moment I have the GoPro 3-way pole and the GoPro Smart Remote. I use both of these to take better photos. I am not a fan of selfie sticks. but the pole is extremely helpful for taking selfies, for taking video and even for getting better angles. It can even double as a tripod! The remote is great since the Hero4 does not have a self-timer feature and I find that the burst setting doesn’t always get what I need.
3. Polaroid
I have so many old Polaroid cameras. I absolutely LOVE them. I was super bummed out when they discontinued making the original size film, so I had to upgrade to a newer camera. I’m pretty sure that now only FujiFilm makes instant cameras, but thankfully their film fits into the Polaroid model that I have. I bought SO MUCH film before leaving for my trip, which was silly since I’m in Asia and there are tons of stores that sell it here, but you can never be too prepared! I think that having a physical photo in my hand is a better memory than browsing through Facebook or Instagram. Whenever I decide to move into my own place, I will definitely have an entire wall covered in them.
Disclosure: some of the links in this post are affiliates which earns me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for continuing to support Whiskey Ginger.
