Travel Tips

A very basic pack can get you through most problems and situations. When I travel, I carry a minimum, usually, but I’ll almost always have a core set of stuff with me. Here are some things that come in handy:

1- Roll Electrical tape
1-2 Cheap plastic shower caps
5+ Rubber bands
1 Permanent marker/pen
2 Lens cloths
1 Small blower/brush
1 Small screwdriver, flat ( - )*
1 Small screwdriver, Phillips ( + )*
2+ Sets of extra batteries for anything that needs them (more if
your camera uses disposables)
1 Small flashlight
1+ Card carrying case that’s waterproof to store your memory cards
1 Battery charger for camera batteries (if necessary)

Other items: it can be helpful to have extra lens caps for both sides of the lens and the body, and an extra strap. I carry my card reader with me and at this point, five 2GB cards, one in the camera and 4 in the case. Know which is card which- label them!

The electrical tape can be useful in sealing your camera against the elements. I’ve used it to seal a film camera against light leaks as well… namely the Kodak Box Brownie.

*These need to be small enough that you can take them on a plane! I think the rule is seven inches total length, but you might want something smaller.

The items above would be useful as a minimum. But, just as an example, for this last trip I took:

1 roll of medical tape, 2 spare camera batteries (I own six, but the other three don't work or I'd have them, then I wouldn't need the charger- this depends on the size of the batteries, operating temperature and typical shots per recharge) and 1 set of batteries for the flash (which I rarely use), 1 card case, 2 lights, 1 blower brush, 3 different lens cloths, my battery charger… and I think that was about it- I was going really light.

In digital cameras you have the option to delete all the images on a card or to format the card. Once (AND NOT BEFORE!) you have uploaded all the images on the card to a computer or external drive or whatever permanent fixture you have to store your photos once you are home, format your card. Don’t delete all. Formatting is the better option as it will clear your card completely. You cannot recover images from a card that has been formatted. Format in-camera again before you go, which helps to avoid confusion of file numbers of photos, helps to check to make sure the cards are working properly and starts you off clean. (Formatting cards on your computer can mess up the file system so the cards won’t work with your camera’s file system. Only format cards in the camera!)

If you’re in the field and you need to make room on your card, you can do the following: choose the images you want to keep and Protect them. Protecting images keeps them from being deleted, and you should be aware of how to do this. Usually you select “Protect” from a menu and press “Ok” for each image you want to protect (and a little “key” outline shows up). Once you have protected all the images you want to keep, you can go to “Delete All” and press “Ok”. This should (try it first at home with images you can afford to delete off the card) delete only the images that were not protected, creating more space and keeping your good images on the card. DO NOT FORMAT here, as that will erase everything, even the protected images. If you delete all, there is still a chance you can recover deleted images.