I was packing up recently for a day of shooting and some hiking without thinking about it too much I packed my bag and was out the door. However to think about what to take to a shoot is a much bigger deal then I gave it credit for and is something we should all take a little more time doing even if we don’t have a ton of equipment. The reason I say this is it forces us to think about the shot we want or are hoping to get. Also how were going to accomplish it with the equipment we have available. There are other positives to thinking this through ahead of time as well for instance you don’t end up taking a 4lb lens with you on a trip into woods where you’ll never need more then a 35mm, saving your back hours and hours of trekking with extra weight.
For my day I was going into a nature preserve just looking to get some good landscape shots. We were heading into an area we had never been so I packed a little heavier then I would if I were to go back below is what I brought with me -
[Canon 5D](http://l.knowphoto.com/o)
[Canon 24-70 f2.8](http://l.knowphoto.com/p)
[Canon 70-200 f2.8](http://l.knowphoto.com/q)
[Canon 35 f2](http://l.knowphoto.com/r)
[Canon 100mm Macro](http://l.knowphoto.com/s)
[Sandisk 4GB Extreme III x 4](http://l.knowphoto.com/t)
Sekonic L508
Extra Batteries
Looking back on this I didn’t take into account what I was shooting, being in the woods and having little desire for any wildlife shots, I could have and should have left the big bulky 70-200 at home and saved a few pounds. The rest I’m actually glad I brought with me, the 35 gave me good low light option by giving me 1 more stop the then rest of the lenses. The 24-70 is a great all around lens and gives me plenty of options while shooting most all of the shots I was planning on taking. And the 100mm Macro is always in my bag for those cases where you find some cool insects or moss etc.
What do you take with you when you go shooting? Do you spend much time planning what your going to take with you? I know thinking more and more about this now I find it very valuable.
Photography day, what to pack?
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