Wild life Photography Gear and Airline Travel |
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Written by IDP Editorial
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Friday, 20 June 2008 03:36 |
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Airplane travel can pose several difficulties for wildlife photographers and their specialized gear such as a the typical law and fast 300 f/2.8 or 600 f/4 lenses which are very heavy. With the airlines reducing the weight of our carry-on luggage every few months and photographic gear weighing over 12 pounds easily you have to become very creative in finding ways to get around these restrictions.
The photographers backpack-- Lowepro Trekker AW
Most airlines have their own guidelines for the maximum size of carryon luggage which is considerably smaller than the IATA guidelines. The Lowepro Trekker AW backpack fits most of the airlines cabin baggage specifications (55 x 35 x 25 cm) and allows you to use the maximum allowed size carry-on luggage. This backpack before that you a tremendous amount of storage space enough for all of your CF cards, battery chargers, camera bodies, cleaning equipment and a variety of lenses.
The Discreet Waist Bag
Surprisingly most airlines do not consider the waist bag also known as the "fanny pack" as carry-on luggage-- at least not at the present moment. These are wonderful for carrying many of your small photographic accessories. The largest waist bags have a capacity large enough to hold two 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 lenses.
The Duty-Free Shopping Bag
Most airlines will allow you to carry on in a duty-free shopping bag without question. Stashing some of your most light weight wildlife photography gear such as 70-200 f/2.8 and 300 f/2.8 lenses in a duty free shopping bag can save you 10 pounds in your backpack.
Wear a photo vest
In airline travel it is your luggage that matters the most however the clothes you are wearing do not count as part of the weight. But in general you can basically carry anything you need in your photo vest in addition to wearing a coat with deep pockets to carry a 24-70 f/2.8 lens or converters in the coat. Using this technique can save you an additional 4 pounds in your backpack.
Pack all your non-essentials in check-in luggage
The gear that you pack in the luggage that you check with the airline should be items that she would not miss if the luggage is lost or stolen. These items can include battery chargers or a 100 f/2.8 macro lens.
Canon Professional Services (CPS) Card
Canon professional services are designed to help professional photographers who use Canon equipment. Although they have rigid guidelines for every professional that they accept to be a CPS member once you qualify the advantages are numerous especially when you travel.
Once you become a member you will receive a CPS card that can alleviate many of the hassles photographers encounter when traveling with an abundance of wildlife photography gear. When you present the CPS card at customs it verifies that you are a professional photographer with valuable equipment. In most cases once the airline employees are presented with this card they allow you to carry on the equipment you need without further delay.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 23 August 2008 13:49 )
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