Traveling with Photographic Equipment can
difficult, but going without photographic equipment could be considered a waste
of the journey by any photographer who truly loves taking the picture, so here are
some handy tips that you should take some of the stress out of traveling with
your camera.
It may seem like the most prominent piece of advice in the
world, but if you are flying, carry your camera on board as hand luggage to
avoid damage or loss. If you still use film them remember when you go through
metal detectors, ask the attendant to hand-screen your rolls of the film.
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| Photographic Equipment |
It
will help if you carry your film in clear canisters or detach it from its
packaging and place it in clear plastic bags. However, If you can purchase a
film at your destination, consider waiting until you arrive to buy it, It will
at least make a part of your trip more comfortable for going through airport
security screening devices.
Packaging of Camera Film
Do not pack unprocessed film in luggage that will be stored in
the cargo hold. The scanning equipment is stronger than the ones used for hand
luggage, and your film may well be damaged. Always check your airline's website
to find out about hand luggage policies when traveling overseas, as some small
airline operators do not allow you to carry luggage onto the plane with you.
If you're traveling by car in a hot climate, keep your camera
inside when you're driving so it will stay fresh and always remember to carry
it with you when you leave your car; It can easily be stolen out of the boot
(or trunk).
It takes only a couple of seconds for anyone to make an
unattended camera bag so always, keep your eye on your equipment. If you
require to put your bag down, at a hotel reception or by your side at a coffee
shop, it is good it places your foot through the straps as a 'distraction
thief' may get your attention focused on something but cannot so quickly get
you to walk away and forget your bag without the strap tripping you up and
reminding you it is there.
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| Smallrig Camera |
Dangling a camera from your neck is not such a good the idea either; it's straight forward to cut a strap with a quick cut of a sharp
knife and snatch the camera. When walking with my camera, I wrap the strap
three or four times around my wrist and clasp the last section of the belt in
my fist, then I am ready to take a photograph, but the strap cannot be cut, and
the camera snatched.
Storing of Digital Images
Think about what you're going to do about saving digital images
before you go on your trip. Personally, I prefer memory cards, and in my two
Canon 5d Mk ii, Generally, everyone uses 32 MB cards, each is capable of
storing over 1000 large Raw files. Lugging around a computer or portable
storage device is a hassle we can do without. If we need to be particularly
protective about images, we will either go to a 'one-hour lab,' and have them
download the photos to a CD, (through we keep the original photos on the car
too).
Make Sure to Insure Your Equipment
We have to make sure about our types of equipment even if we
have an insurance policy in a place already it is still worth checking with
your insurance company just what will be covered and in what circumstances you
can make a claim.
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| Camera dealer |
Insurance company to ask for every item to be listed that was
stolen, i.e., camera, lens, lens cap, flash, diffuser, two memory cards, USB
cable, and bag, then charge 200 excess for each listed item that was stolen as
each item listed is the separate claim.
