How do you go about making preparations for a day trip!

[gb hill]

1 Prepare several days in advance, like a religious ritual.

2 Grab whatever camera has film in it & head out the door.

3 Bag is always packed & ready. Just grab it & go.

4 I always have a camera with me so I'm always ready.

I have several days off so I'm really itching to get out & spend some time, just myself & my kit for a days journey to where ever the road might lead. Many times I might just grab a camera spur of the moment & head out, but sometimes I like to plan ahead of time, going over every detail of what I might hope to accomplish for the days journey. Going over every detail of what film to pack, what lenses to carry along, how many cameras to take, etc... How do you usually prepare for a days jaunt? Are you a spur of the moment grab & go person or do you tend to make your preparations very carefully.

 

[t.s.k.]

Match the camera to the itinerary, especially if there's medium format to consider. For me which MF rig to take becomes important too.

 

[robert blu]

For a day excursion I usually prepare my self the day/nigh before. This includes folowing choices, trying to write in order of importance.

1- Is it a travel made in order to take specific pictures (place, event...) or shall I just take some picture during a leisure journey ?

2- If the travel is made in order to take specific pictures equipment does matter. Shall I need short distances photos, details (if yes SRL is necessary, probably my FM2) otherwise the RF are good and easier to carry (I'm getting old!)

3- Will be a situation where I'll need many picture (for examples when many people will be involved) or not . Choice between 35 and 120 cameras

4- The subject is rich of colors or will be better shown in B&W ?

Having said this many times I have not idea of what the subject will be and I choice what I feel I like to use !

robert

 

[nikon_sam]

If I'm just going out for the day I have several bags to choose from...today I might pull out the 4x5...

Now if I'm going to be away from home for several days that's a bit tougher...
MF, 35mm, color, B&W, lenses, tripod, meter, filters...I want to go simple but usually take more than I'll ever need...

 

[jsrockit]

I just grab a camera and go...

 

[KenR]

Depends. City vs. country. Architecture vs nature. People pix? Weather conditions. How far to carry gear? What gear has not been exercised recently? Too complex for a single answer.

 

[ebino]

more than the gear, plan and make sure you're comfortable while out and about. a tired, uncomfortable and irritated photographer is a bad photographer.

 

[healyzh]

It really depends on what I'm going to be taking pictures of, and where I'm going. I have a Canon G11, that is pretty much always with me, unless I'm packing the DSLR. When I'm going out with either the Nikon DSLR or SLR, I tend to pick lenses for what I'm doing and travel as light as possible. With my Leica M6, I either grab the bag, or just go with the basic camera around my neck and some extra film in a pocket. For MF, I either go with the bag, or the camera and a back or two. For LF I try to travel as light as possible (not really possible).

Probably the thing I spend the most time on deciding is what film to bring, something that can also have an effect on which camera I choose to bring.

 

[Gumby]

If this were a poll, I'd select "3" as my most frequent approach.

 

[chrismoret]

The bag is always packed, and film in the fridge.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I just grab a camera and go...

Same here.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Silva Lining]

M6 or 'Blad
PanF or TriX
Bag
Go.....

 

[alistair.o]

The bag is always packed, and film in the fridge.

Exactly.

When I get back in from photographing whatever/wherever, I always clean the kit i.e. take everything out of the bag and blow off any dust etc and wipe down. I make certain all goes back in the bag and all is ready for the next time. Last, but never least, I get the films ready from the fridge and they 'come up to temp' over night.

 

[thegman]

Pack that morning, if I packed the night before, I'd just take it all out to check I had everything anyway.

 

[gb hill]

If this were a poll, I'd select "3" as my most frequent approach.

I thought of making this a poll & somehow I feel #3 would run close to the top. My largest decision besides what camera to take is which film to pack. I admire you guys that are comfortable with a certain film & are certain how it's going to preform for you! I'm not there yet, especially on B&W. Enjoying reading everyones answers too!🙂

 

[gb hill]

Pack that morning, if I packed the night before, I'd just take it all out to check I had everything anyway.

That sounds like me!🙂

 

[Steve M.]

Pack some great wine (and a corkscrew), some fresh baked bread, cheese, and some chocolate and you are set!

Oh, better bring along one of those camera thingies and film.

 

[oftheherd]

I have a bag with a Yashica FX 103 and lenses, and one with the Keiv and lenses. Film and flash of course. They are always ready as an easy way to store, and have ready for use. Both also have a 6x6 folder inside. I also have one with a Fujica 901 and lenses, both Fujinon and others. Another (aluminum case actually) contains my Super Press lenses and accessories, but not the camera. All that is both for storage and to have those systems ready at a moments notice. I am putting together a small bag for a 9x12, some cut film holders, and a couple of aux lenses.

Even so, I am just as likely for a short trip to grab the XA, or the Leica Mini Zoom. Sometimes just the Welti or Weltini. But that would be less likely for a day trip, although it could be.

The problem is I don't have enough time for a day trip for photography. That is why the above is as much for storage as for use. sigh.