Ever experienced artistic liberty by limitation?

[jippiejee]

Not even sure how to fully describe my problem cq question. But I am packing for a trip to Morocco, and have all the various photographic gear options lying about on my table. The gear is all fun, the permutation of film and digital cameras endless. Leica D2 with M4P? Leica X1 with CL? M8 and M4P? And then I look at all that stuff, the chargers and cables, and consider just throwing one film camera with only one lens into my bag and be done with it.
Has anyone ever gone on a trip with just one film camera and regretted the choice? There's just something very liberating about the idea...

 

[kbg32]

I traveled with 2 film Ms, 2 lenses, and lots of film for years. Never regretted it.

 

[FrankS]

From your gear I would select the M4P and CL. No cords or chargers.

 

[back alley]

the battery charger for my rd1 is about the size of a cigarette pack...no worries for me and less room than film.

 

[robklurfield]

accepting that I lack numerous skills is kind of liberating (sometimes). shooting with whatever I have in my hands can also free me up. When I've found myself with the wrong lens or body away from home, I always remind myself that I can move my feet to get what I want. What if lenses only came in one focal length and a fixed aperture? Would you stop shooting? Of course not. As to what gear to bring to Morocco, bring what you're most comfortable using and, owing to Murphy's law bring your second favorite as a back up. If it were me, I'd bring the CL and the M8. A couple of lenses. and plenty of film.

 

[jippiejee]

the battery charger for my rd1 is about the size of a cigarette pack...no worries for me and less room than film.

The charger for my M8 is the size of a shoe box though... 🙁

 

[f16sunshine]

The only reason I ever carry two cameras on personal travel is for a backup. That's it. I would carry the M8 and CL ...in my case lenses would be a Dual hex 21/35mmon M8 and CLE Rokkor f2/40mm. You don't mention which lenses, a normal and wide should cover all.

 

[Damaso]

I've done it and it has worked out fine. I often find having too many choices is the real limitation. When you've only got one to work with you use it...

 

[Colin Corneau]

Yup, it's called "less is more"

I've had trips overseas where I packed crazy amounts of gear. I ended up leaving most of it in the room and going out with one or two cameras, anyway.

That's what I'd recommend -- M4P and a backup 'just in case'.

Either way, pick one medium -- either go film or go digital. Personally, I've noticed film is less hassle on the road. But I've 'mixed and matched' on trips before and it is a pain in the ass.

 

[AncientCityPhoto]

Just don't worry about the shots you "could have made" and work to make the shots in your mind based on what you are using. Then its easier to just take one camera and lens and feel good about it. Sometimes less options is the best thing for image making.

I love shooting with just my M8. If I am going far, I will always take a backup. It's usually an advanced point and shoot though.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Having only one camera and lens forces another form of creativity into the process, often opening you up to new ways of seeing. Highly recommended!

 

[jippiejee]

You don't mention which lenses, a normal and wide should cover all.

Even more permutations now 🙂 ok available m-mount lenses are: 25mm, 28mm, 40mm, 50mm and 90mm...

 

[radambe]

I made the mistake of traveling in Europe once with a massive backpack and smaller kata bag filled with a Nikon F5 + glass, an F3, a Nikon super-8 camera, a Kiev-60 + glass and a holga. Add to that more film than I could possibly shoot in the amount of time I had (135, 120 and super-8 cartridges). I also packed a tripod. What the hell was I thinking? Shortly after I returned to san francisco I bought an M6 with a 40mm nokton, an A&A cloth strap and a soft release and have not once taken a single other camera out of the cabinet. That M6 turned into an M8 which I'm on holiday with now. I don't even need a camera bag. Most of the negs and slides from that fateful European tour haven't even been scanned. A single M body, one normal lens and my iPhone are all I need. I am far more in touch than I ever was with a suitcase full of toys.

 

[Araakii]

You could regret either way, but you will likely forget about it a few days later.

 

[Godfrey]

I don't like traveling with film any more due to the scanners and such.

On my last three week trip, I carried one camera (Ricoh GXR-M) and three lenses (21, 40, 90). Camera kit plus iPad with all required supporting bits (cables, cards, chargers, etc) fit into one small bag and weighed about seven lbs.

In a pinch for absolute minimalism, I could do with a 28mm lens, camera, four 16G cards, and five batteries, in a smaller bag for an all-up weight under three lbs. And come home with as many as 2000 exposures to work with.

Creativity thrives in an environment of constraint.

 

[jippiejee]

Thanks everyone, in the end I decided I actually like getting 'home' at night in my hotel bar, have a chat with people, smoke some, drink a beer and look at my pictures of that day and edit them a bit on my netbook to upload for friends at home to view. Since I wanted to travel real light I just picked my X1 and CL, but haven't shot anything on film yet. Digital really is convenient... 🙄 Cheers from Fez, Morocco.


fez11 by aad_b, on Flickr

 

[cjbecker]

I did el Salvador for 1 week and India for 1 month with a rolleicord, tri-x and a light meter.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

The one lens / one body thing is limiting... Two limits: to see and compose in the way one single focal length sees (we don't decide...), and to be without a photographic tool if the body or lens have any serious problem...

With two different focal lengths, the creative possibilities are a lot less limited, and we create and decide: with one lens only, yes, we all can shoot, and yes, some shots are great, but definitely we can not shoot or even capture the subject or express visually in some situations... With a moderate wide and a short tele, especially if both can be used in any of the two loaded bodies, IMO we have in hands the most liberating gear to travel with... And a lot faster and funnier than changing lenses in one body...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

cjbecker, can you elaborate more on your rolleicord overseas ?

i am down to 2 options:

a. M4P or CL and backup is a XA.

OR

b. Rolleicord Va. ISO 400 film and lightmeter.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I own a wide variety of cameras and lenses, because limitations in gear limit me creatively. I want to be able to execute my vision, no matter what, and nothing is more frustrating than not having the lens I need.

That said, on trips there is a limit to what you can carry. I took too much on my trip to New Mexico back in August. I used my Hasselblad for 99% of my photos on that trip. Should have left the Leicas and their lenses and film at home and just carried a single bag with the Hasselblad and its lenses (I used all 3 lenses for the Hassy on the trip) and my meter. Its all I really needed.

I'd say one body and one lens is too little. If I were doing Leica on a trip, I'd take a body and 28, 35, 50, and 75 or 90 lenses. That kit fits in a small bag and isn't too heavy, and won't limit you creatively.