When you travel, bring a power strip. This is something that I practice. I often have a laptop, a camera (or two), and a cell phone (or two) with me when I travel (iPod can be USB charged, so can phones…but that’s extra nerdy ?). On average that is four devices that need to be charged just for me. Four outlets in a hotel room are hard to come by. At the very best you will be running around the room collecting (and forgetting) chargers when you pack up. Save yourself the hassle and pack a 5-6 outlet power strip in the front pocket of your suitcase. You will save yourself the headache (I’m big on “headache savers”) and drastically reduce the number of plug adapters you need to carry (to 1). Yay!

I will be writing on both the creative and the tech side of the topic, but wanted to address the question I get asked everyday (no really…).

“Gary, what camera should I buy?”

The answer will be in 2 parts, faithful readers… but I am feeling generous and thus will include both parts in one post!

Part 1 of 2: the non SLR question.

“I want something that takes good pictures and I can carry around with me blah blah yada yada”

My Camera

I am biased. I like Canon cameras. My standard answer ( then, now, and later) is: Think of a budget, subtract a 4gb SD card out of it (so you can be lazy like me and never erase pictures) and buy the best Canon SD series (also known as ELPH series) camera you can afford. They start up quickly. Take great pictures. Have all the toys you could want. I climbed a volcano with my SD870 tied by its string to my jacket. It still works. 

*one exception: if you plan on taking pictures underwater, in beer mugs, at college bars, in adverse climates etc I recommend the OlympusSW series. A good friend of mine actually has a photo set of pictures taken with the camera from inside a beer pitcher.

Click Read More for part 2!

Part 2 of 2: the SLR question

For those of you getting started:

Remember, the body (the part that looks like the “camera”) will not be your biggest expense. There are lenses (the biggest expense), filters, memory cards, dust blowers, cloth wipes, bags, tripods, heads, flashes, extra batteries, etc, etc, and most certainly etc. the list never ends. This is not a cheap hobby.

So here is a word from the old (ok not really) wise (kinda) man (yes): Buy a used Canon Digital Rebel with the kit lens (the cheap 18-55mm that comes with the basic kit). Buy a Lowepro “holster” type bag, a 2-4gb Extreme CF card (slow/cheap CF cards will infuriate you), and a set of Hoya filters (UV and polarizing). If you have a bit more money, buy yourself a nice tripod and head (there will be another whole article on support, but the point is: buy nice support from day one).

For those a little more experienced:

After some time with a starting setup, you will get a feel for how you shoot. Do you need more zoom? Do you like to shoot wider? Do you shoot ants or massive landscapes? I don’t know. I honestly don’t care either. We all do this for because it allows us to tell a story (my photo matra is for another post). Only you know how to tell your story the way you see it. The ability to use the tools will come after some time getting a handle on the basics. I put my time in with a walk around 17-85mm on a crop body before I had a keen understanding of the ranges that I used most. 

Most importantly, spend less time worrying about the gear and more time outside shooting.