Commentary, Equipment

Photography Gear For Travel

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This is the time of year when people plan their summer travels. Recently I’ve noted people trying to figure out what gear will work for photography while traveling, what kind of camera and what lenses to take. What is the best approach? Take the whole kit? Just use your smartphone? Get something special just for travel photography?

I do a fair amount of travel photography, and I wrote an article sharing some of my ideas: Travel Photography Gear. Click the link and take a look!

Je Suis Bleu, Paris
“Je Suis Bleu” — Sidewalk, graffiti covered wall, and women (virtual and real) on a Paris street

A starting assumption: There is no one “right” or “best” approach to photography while traveling, and what works for me may be far from ideal for you. It depends a lot on your goals and the role photography plays in your travels. The article explores some of the options and variables.

I’m hopeful that this article may help you figure out what will work for you.

COMMENT OR QUESTION? Scroll down to the comment form.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Stilts and Geese

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Stilts and Geese
“Stilts and Geese” — Four black-necked stilts wade in front of a flock of snow geese.

This photograph comes from my second-to-last trip of the season to photograph migratory birds in California’s Central Valley. (See ya’ next year, geese!) Early in the season I try to time my visits for the best bird photography weather — a bit of morning fog, clearing later in the morning, and interesting clouds for sunset. But at this point, merely weeks before the geese would depart, I could not be as choosy!

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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Big Sur Coast Near Hurricane Point

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Big Sur Coast Near Hurricane Point
“Big Sur Coast Near Hurricane Point” — Late spring morning on the Big Sur Coast.

This is a bit of an odd post for this site. While updating older photographs and posts I was unable to locate this one. So I’m sort of semi/maybe/kind of reposting it. The photograph comes from almost two decades ago on one of my many visits to the Big Sur Coastline of California. This visit was on a late-spring day when fog was clearing from coastal bluffs and the surf was active.

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Portugal, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Lisbon Graffiti #1

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Lisbon Graffiti #1
“Lisbon Graffiti #1” — Colorful graffiti on a door in the Alfama district of Lisbon, Portugal.

Here is one more photograph of Lisbon graffiti, this one from a wall next to a sidewalk in the lower Alfama neighborhood. The colors and patterns are so vivid that you might not even notice the doorway in the wall behind the paint. The colors of this street anrt are were perhaps the most intense that I recall seeing.

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Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.