Interesting ¨What´s in your bag?¨type article...

[Michael Markey]

Very interesting ..... thank you for the link John.
Re the filters .... I must admit that I put UV filters on my lenses too.
Usually B+W but I have one Rodenstock E46 on the 90 Elmarit.

 

[JoeV]

I dunno, I'm skeptical of this trend of unveiling the contents (supposedly) of one's camera bag.

There's one rather well known website that features camera bag contents with a Japanese focus (ahem), and the typical example is two film Leicas, a Hasselblad, spot meter and gobs of film. Oh, and the typical EDC (everyday carry) items like a flashlight, folding tactical knife and Moleskine notebook and pen. Then you take a look at the photographer's linked social media accounts and all their photos are taken with iPhones. Not that there's anything wrong with that... (to quote Jerry Seinfeld). But really, I could easily do that, take a few film systems from my cabinet, stuff them inside a bag, add some film and accessories, then lay them out, photograph them and claim I carry this around every day and that somehow gives me street cred. I remain skeptical of the whole trend. How about let's instead show photos of the contents of one's automobile boot/trunk? That'd be fun!

 

[Dogman]

In the 1970's, Peterson's Photographic magazine published a series of small books on several photographers--Paul Fusco, Mary Ellen Mark, Elliott Erwitt among them. The books showed the equipment they used on assignments. I recall Erwitt used a Leica for his personal work but carried a huge camera case full of Canon F1 bodies and a number of Canon lenses. Fusco had four cameras on his body while shooting--3 Leicas with 21, 28 and 35mm lenses and a Nikon F with a 180mm. I don't recall all other photographer's gear but I do recall they all had large cases full of cameras and lights for assignment travel as well as a lot of gear in shoulder bags.

Today pros can often carry less gear. Zooms are good enough for most jobs so primes aren't always needed--space saved. Digital cameras mean no need to carry one B&W body and one color body--space saved. Digital means no bricks of film to carry--space saved (but batteries and chargers take up some of that space). Small flashes work about as well as the "portable" studio lights from decades past--space saved. But there's still need for backups in case of loss or breakage. In the end, it's still a lot of gear.

Photojournalist or commercial photographer, you still gotta CYA and come back with the pictures.

 

[creenus]

Pros carry toolboxes (camera bags), with cameras and lenses as tools to make a living. That's all it is.

If you make a living at photography, you carry stuff you need. That doesn't make them gearheads. And some photojournalists are obviously risking their lives to accomplish their images, so hats off to them!

 

[PKR]

Although they were not mentioned, several of the photographer's lenses were outfitted with what appears to be UV or clear protective filters. I recognized B+W and possibly Hoya brands on some of the lenses pictured.

Or, maybe someone at VII, the person who thought the in the bag thing might be interesting, was just tolerated by some in this display of equipment? There are close to 30 VII members and all weren't represented.

If you look at the VII page (the equipment photos are part of it) they have a big PR thing going. This gear thing was part of it, along with pay to watch videos and workshops (coming) ALA Magnum. I'll bet some thought the stunt ridiculous and the last thing they felt important was including filters. Most working in war zones, with explosions happening, would have some kind of filter on exposed lenses, I would think? Cable releases? One guy showed his, because it was odd.

If I had been asked to participate in this kind of thing, I likely would have begged off, or waited to see if the webmaster got enough photos from others and quit asking for photos. I didn't see any watches or fountain pens in the photos.. I'm sure that disappointed some.

I did find the photos interesting but, a list of primarily used hardware would have been enough, as it gives some insight into how others think and work. Stanmeyer has always included photos of his working gear, going back to his old blog.

https://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...&gwh=BC416FCE8932ED02F211D8A168DD2107&gwt=pay

Who better than Canon, to do a bag thing..?
http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/pros_favourite.do

Oh, and they're selling prints and "memberships". They have bills to pay, like the rest of us. And, I don't think VII is a coop like Magnum (I could be wrong), I believe it's owned by the founders, who all participated in the bag thing.

https://medium.com/@VIIPhoto

https://medium.com/membership



c

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I dunno, I'm skeptical of this trend of unveiling the contents (supposedly) of one's camera bag.

There's one rather well known website that features camera bag contents with a Japanese focus (ahem), and the typical example is two film Leicas, a Hasselblad, spot meter and gobs of film. Oh, and the typical EDC (everyday carry) items like a flashlight, folding tactical knife and Moleskine notebook and pen. Then you take a look at the photographer's linked social media accounts and all their photos are taken with iPhones. Not that there's anything wrong with that... (to quote Jerry Seinfeld). But really, I could easily do that, take a few film systems from my cabinet, stuff them inside a bag, add some film and accessories, then lay them out, photograph them and claim I carry this around every day and that somehow gives me street cred. I remain skeptical of the whole trend. How about let's instead show photos of the contents of one's automobile boot/trunk? That'd be fun!

I have flashlight on office key chain and it is in my every day camera bag.
It lasts longer then iPhone in flash mode.
I have leatherman (original) tool and I wrote in my NY trip thread why and how I use it.
This is from yesterday. I used iPhone as well for geo tag of the place which will be eventually overbuild.




But I agree with you. Some photogs, from some group or something pushing not pictures taken with gear, but gear pictures...
One thing which didn't passed smell test was photo of Polaroid camera just as one I sold in 2016. I sold it and film for it was discontinued right away. Using camera which has no film made anymore on assignments sounds little bit fishy.

 

[giganova]

I dunno, I'm skeptical of this trend of unveiling the contents (supposedly) of one's camera bag.

There's one rather well known website that features camera bag contents with a Japanese focus (ahem), and the typical example is two film Leicas, a Hasselblad, spot meter and gobs of film. Oh, and the typical EDC (everyday carry) items like a flashlight, folding tactical knife and Moleskine notebook and pen. Then you take a look at the photographer's linked social media accounts and all their photos are taken with iPhones. Not that there's anything wrong with that... (to quote Jerry Seinfeld). But really, I could easily do that, take a few film systems from my cabinet, stuff them inside a bag, add some film and accessories, then lay them out, photograph them and claim I carry this around every day and that somehow gives me street cred. I remain skeptical of the whole trend. How about let's instead show photos of the contents of one's automobile boot/trunk? That'd be fun!

Well said! It's nice to see the bags of some real working pros!

 

[giganova]

One thing which didn't passed smell test was photo of Polaroid camera just as one I sold in 2016.

I recently read an article about a war photographer who takes a Fuji Instax with him that allows him to snap pictures of the locals and gives it to them as a gift, which helps establish a relationship and trust.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I recently read an article about a war photographer who takes a Fuji Instax with him that allows him to snap pictures of the locals and gives it to them as a gift, which helps establish a relationship and trust.

Fuji Instax is not discontinued film. I was looking at the camera with film discontinued in 2016. Rings the bell now? 🙂

 

[giganova]

I got that.

 

[zuiko85]

As a gag, I’d like to see one of these ‘what’s in your bag’ photos that show only a Minox IIIs and a couple extra films.
Maybe a different angle would be, ‘what is your everyday walk around kit?’
That could turn up some interesting displays.

 

[Bill Clark]

When I had my business, each wedding as an example, I brought a Pelican case with some stuff in it. For about 95% of photographs I made I used a Canon Mark full frame camera, a Canon 24-70 f2.8 lens. Had Quantum portable flash units mounted on light stands or I sometimes used a Jorgeson spring clamp with the flash mounted on it that worked quite well. Flash(s) fired with Pocket Wizards. On me, a couple of CF cards and a couple of batteries for the camera. I could make all the money shots with just that.

The most important tool by far is the person using the camera.

 

[stompyq]

Thanks, an interesting read.

What I find most interesting is the accessories that people take rather than the camera/lens combos. I note that not a single one of the bags mentions filters; not a ND, polariser, UV, or B&W colour contrast filter in sight. The only filter even mentioned is for a gas mask...

Because none of them are Landscape photographers

 

[stompyq]

Fuji Instax is not discontinued film. I was looking at the camera with film discontinued in 2016. Rings the bell now? 🙂

Can't you buy film for that camera through the impossible project?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Can't you buy film for that camera through the impossible project?

Me? For this size... No. It is overpriced, not so easy to get and so-so film. I'd rather get adult looking Fuji Instax and their film. Available in many stores around town.
I might get one, I was asked to participate in one contest with this cameras and bw films in use.

 

[michaelwj]

Because none of them are Landscape photographers

I wasn't aware that filters were only for landscapes. I've been doing it wrong, thanks for correcting me.

On the other hand, I know a lot of photographers who don't shoot any landscapes, but put a yellow filter on quite regularly for instance. I'll let them know they're also dong it wrong.

😀

 

[Dogman]

I guess I'm a gearhead. I find it interesting to see what other photographers use. It doesn't affect my equipment choices or the way I shoot but it's just kinda interesting.

I know nobody cares but if somebody asked to see what's in my bag, I'd have to ask "Which bag?"

 

[ptpdprinter]

I know nobody cares but if somebody asked to see what's in my bag, I'd have to ask "Which bag?"

I have one bag. What goes in it depends on whether I am shooting digital or film, and what in particular I am shooting. So my response would not be "which bag", but "which day". But generally it would be two bodies and three lenses.

 

[jsrockit]

Using camera which has no film made anymore on assignments sounds little bit fishy.

Perhaps he has a refrigerator full of it? Why so cynical ALWAYS?

 

[jsrockit]

My bag? Books for my English classes that I teach here in Chile, a toothbrush and toothpaste, sunblock, and one camera / lens. Not so sexy for this type of article, but I certainly would not think because this is what I use, nobody else should use anything else. Again, the equipment listed seemed really modest.