Wild-West Road-Trip: Prep

Save weight, pack well, bring what you need, nothing you don't.

Okay, that kinda happened, and it didn't all at once. I've packed for shorter trips, and even trips to other countries where I was going to be doing some photography, but this time the parameters are a little different.

We're flying to Denver to pick up a 32' RV and we'll be making the rest off our 4300mi trip living out of that. So, on one hand, everything has to fit in an airplane, but once we get to Denver, it just has to fit in the RV. So here's what I packed.

Nikon D810 - my best digital camera. It's almost smarter than I am;)

Tamron 15-30 f/2.8 VC - Super Wide Angle for all those amazing scenic views. Only complaint is that there are no convenient ways to mount an ND or polarizing filter.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-s - This lens is so small, there's no reason to not bring it. It's also perfect for lightweight and low-light situations. If I could only bring one lens, this might be it.

Tamron 90mm f/2.8  VC Macro - This lens is amazingly sharp and is perfect for so many situations. Needless to say: just because the world is big doesn't mean that the details aren't interesting, so macro is a must.

Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8G VRII - This might be my favorite lens if weight is not a consideration. It's heavy, but it's fantastic in low light when you need a little reach. It also fills a huge gap in my kit and keeps me from having to take three other lenses (and that saves weight, right?).

Nikkor 200-500 f/5.6E VR - This is the least expensive super-telephoto lens in Nikon's lineup with a constant aperture. It's also relatively new and gets me closer than I could have with any other kit. The downside is that it's heavy (though lighter than some of the more expensive varieties).

Oben Monopod - this is great for supporting those heavier lenses after a hike. Most of my lenses have VR, but a monopod means extra stability.

Platypod Max and Oben Ballhead - I'm not taking a proper tripod because it's just too bulky, and I'm thinking I'll have to cary a child at some point on our hikes. This is a perfectly good compromise. Only downside is that I'll need an object to set it on if I don't want all the shots to be from the low-level perspective.

Two LumoPro LP180R speedlights and Odin TTL trigger - I'm primarily a portrait photographer. If I can find a way to make pictures of people on this trip, I'll probably do it with these speedlights.

Roundflash portable beauty dish - the only light-mod that I'm willing to cary because of weight.

Rocket-Blower - for getting the dust off the lenses and keeping it out of the camera.

Peak-Design Pro-Capture Clip - for keeping a camera secure on the outside of my bag during a hike.

Tiffin Variable ND filter - this will only work on some my lenses, but it's worth bringing, just in case.

Extra batteries for the camera, extra batteries for the speedlights & trigger.

A wired shutter release - because this is how it's done.

A headlamp - because it's smart.

Almost two terabytes of digital memory for the cameras.

And, I think that's it. It all fits in the Lowepro Whistler AW-350, which is a super solid bag and definitely permitted on airplanes. What else can I tell you? If you're curious about anything on the list, feel free to ask in the comments!

Now, to pack some clothes...