Good photographers act as prepared for almost almost any contingency. Unfortunately, if you tried to hold everything you'd need to fulfill every contingency in the actual field, you'd have to pack such as a Bedouin trader.
Many times that simply isn't possible as well as other times it's not suitable. So the seasoned photographer learns to be resourceful. Here are a few miscellaneous tips that will save your back, particularly on short trips near home.
A Monopod
In all but one of the most extreme lighting situations a monopod can substitute nicely for any tripod and is easier to carry. With practice you'll manage to hold a monopod nearly as stable being a tripod, for a short period anyway.
Another trick for stabilizing a monopod should be to wrap the camera band around your upper arm and push on the monopod while exerting gentle backward pressure around the strap. Similarly, you can place a substantial clamp on your monopod and use it as a shoulder brace, almost like a weapon mount. It might look just a little funny but it operates surprisingly well.
Working In Sand
For those times you should drag a tripod to the beach or sandy area, grab three tennis balls in route out the door. Cut a hole big enough for the tripod leg and healthy a tennis ball over each end.
The tennis balls won't sink inside the sand, will keep most of the grit outside the end of your tripod leg and you will throw them away when you're finished.
Another great thing about working for the beach is you should not carry sand bags, just bring bags. There's usually plenty of sand already for the beach. Those are priceless pertaining to weighting reflectors, which tend to perform like a sail in underwater breezes.
Bring A Cooler
But leave the ice packs in the home. A cooler has a number of advantages over an equipment case in lots of situations. They're solid, many have a handle and wheels, and you can sit or stand in it in a pinch. If you lose or even break it, you're only out with regards to $40.
You can still carry drinks while using camera gear, but carefully. Get those drink cozies you invest the freezer. Those will keep your current drinks cold without bringing down the temp too much within the cooler. The last thing you want to do is bring cold optics or maybe a camera out into cozy, muggy atmosphere. Expect instant condensation if you undertake.
Carry a Bag of Rubber Bands
They're just so handy for numerous things and so very mobile. You can use these individuals for emergency repairs and to keep papers from traveling away.
A fat rubber wedding band is handy for dislodging any stuck filter. Wrap the rubber band round the edge of the filter and this should give you enough grip to obtain it loose.
And, if you're stuck waiting around outside a courthouse expecting a photo op, they're also endlessly engaging for taunting your guy photographers.
Incident Light Meter
Many photographers still bring a light meter, even in the days of top quality digital SLRs. If you're packing light you can use a styrofoam cup on the end of your contact and use your camera's lighting meter, hold it in place with one of your rubber bands.
Note that cups do also come in different thicknesses, so you may wish to calibrate yours using this Sunny 16 rule before you decide to leave.
Record the exposure at the subject, then walk back to shoot the picture.