Lets Start a thread here about what to do when planning a trip so others can share and
also learn from this list!

Ill start with the basics and just add on the list..

1. You should have a good Traveling bag for your camera gear. Putting everything in order will help you in those situations when you need to find your gear or accessories fast. Good Cases and Travel bags also protect your gear from the elements.

2. Scout the place before you travel. Most Travel Destinations have been photographed before or someone may have went there in the past. Look for guides, warnings or anything online to give you a glimpse of what to expect. Looking at photos of others will give you a window to view where you are going so you can start imagining how you will take your signature shot of the Place.

3. Bring the Right Gear. Why bring a macro lens if you won't use it? It will only make your bag heavy and hard to carry long distances. Bring only what you need.

4. Bring a Good Tripod or monopod for those shots that need the extra stability like night shots or low light level shots.

5. Wear Comfortable clothes that will keep you warm and dry while you shoot. Wear comfortable shoes that you can use for walking long distances. Some people prefer to bring Photographers Vest which is a practical idea knowing that you have so many compartments to place your accessories.

6. Bring only the accessories you need. Graduated filters, polarizers, warming filters bring only what is necessary. Special filters like expodisc or whitebalance card may not be used in outdoor situations for travel photography.

7. Bring Extra Set of Batteries, Water, Gum or candy, a clean cloth for lenses. You will never know when your next store, or break will come if you are shooting travel, It is best to keep stock of the things that you will be needing while waiting. Water to quench your thirst, Gum or candy to keep you from starving and a clean cloth or towel to keep you and your lenses dry.

8. I usually psyche my self up by listening to music that gets me into the mood to shoot. You can do this or maybe view some of your favorite photos or maybe read books on the destination you are going to.

10. There is safety in numbers. Find out who else is going to your destination, if it is a fiesta, festival or some event there will always be other photographers there.

Levi's ever reliable tip: Bring disposable trash bags to protect your gear... they always come in handy.

Oh, and always check the weather forecast... www.weather.com or if the destination has it's own weather website (e.g. HK has the HK Observatory site)...

hmm. when in rome.....? a better understanding of the culture of the place can prob give you better shooting ideas?

oh yeah, like if you plan to go to Saudi... lots of don'ts!!! (though i really havne't been there)

aside from the above i always bring/prepare these...

> CPL (never leave your hotel wihtout it) + lenspen/lens cloth
> crackers/gum/chips - you dont want to get stomach ache in a middle of a sunset shot right?
> medicines - enough said :Grin:
> book or your ipod - while waiting for that perfect light
> watch - some people do take this as trivial, but it does help, esp if you like to shoot during the "magic hour"
> shades and sunblock.. hehehehe

nice.. great start guys! keep it coming!!

a small notebook and pen - take notes of the scenery, future photo ops next time you're in the area.

Did anyone mention sunglasses and hat already?

Tropical classic hamburger and coke, kung meron lang :Grin:

Slightly OT

Hi Anton, can we have a sub-forum that discusses photo ops destination. this is to specifically provide inputs if someone plans to go there... more of information based from those who have been there.

1. tips on what gears to bring (suggested)
2. how to get there,
3. feedbacks on the place
4. possible itinerary
5. indicate if day tour or overnight, etc..
6. precautions
7. best time to go...
8. sights not to be missed.
9. maybe links to galleries if there are. :)

oops I forgot my inputs..
- a good supply of water
- a good comfortable footwear
- sunblock SPF 30, hehehe.
- most have been said as far as gear is concerned :)
- travel guides / flyers (esp if outside the country, there are a lot in airports and information booths)

when on travel, my copy of Lonely Planet would always come in handy. :)

Recent The Lonely Planet Travel Guide
Few Zip Lock Bags
Po and Opo

Bring:
1. Insect repellant
2. Vitamin C and tabs for colds and flu
3. Compass
4. Flashlight
5. Safety belt bag to hide your cash
6. Digital storage replacing your bulky/heavy laptop
7. Local guide (double purpose to carry your stuff)
8. Remove the battery grip in your camera to lighten your load!:)

One thing I've learned from Travel Photography is that it's just too difficult to combine a family and photography trip.

Recently, I spent a weekend in Turkey with my 4-yr old son and I have returned with only 10% or less keepers.

You have to be concerned also of the security aspects.

For nature trips...Mosquito repellent!! or ointment for the bugs!..maybe a medicine box for minor scratches etc...

oops i missed ross's inputs

Lonely Planet travel books are the best!!!

Make sure you get the latest versions...

I recently got myself a copy of URBAN Travel Photography by Lonely Planet... it's so nice... go, check out Powerbooks if they still have any copies left.

Before you leave make sure u charge ur camera batteries and empty ur CF cards. Also dont forget to bring ur medicine kit and band-aids. =P

nice tips most of the tips here are very good and practical. When I go to a trip especially out of the country I usually check with the local tourist associations on their regulations of photo taking. Most of the tourist agencies are very helpful and they would suggest places not found in the travel brochure.

Man, while outdoors, bring the most important element, WET ONES! OR ANY WET WIPES BRAND. I kid u not. Urban places, u can drop this suggestion. But in remote areas where water, food may be scarce, it will come in handy!

Hi Anton!!!

Last summer we went to europe and I made a lot of mistakes. I hope to learn from them.

- Dont look touristy, shit can happen (and it did to us)
- Bring the right gear
- TRAVEL LIGHT
- Try getting lost in back streets. The most colorful location I've seen in a long time is VENICE in italy.
- Take the Venice Ghost walk and try to remember the streets your guide will take you to, this will make for great surreal shots! I think its 18 euro pax.
- Always bring your tripod, some cities look very different at night.
- Some churches in europe dont allow you to bring in big bags, I was able to get in with a small shoulder bag with my DSC-V3.
- When going to small bars around madrid, try talking to the locals, they're very friendly and they wont hesitate to show you around town, one guy took us to the BEST tapas bar in madrid (La Trucha near the Retiro Area)
- Bring lots of water with you, Water from restaurants and small snack bars is expensive, so I suggest stopping by a concenience store first.
- When settling in a hotel, get some rest first and try to ask about the area first, when we were in Milan, a Filipino doorman helped us find a good store for midnight snacks and drinks, he suggested some pretty good places to dine.
- Take the CITY SIGHTSEEING BUS Tours. Its about 12Euro average and you can hop on and hop off for a 24 hour period, I was able to hit on one of the bus attendants and take her out to coffee so I was able to use the bus in florence for a good 3 days :)
- Try to make friends with the locals... cant stress this enough really.
- If you guys need a good travel guide, I can recommend the BEST guide hands down in rome. He has masters degree in European studies and is very friendly. He likes to take you to backstreets and shows you lesser know secrets of different towns. He is 100x better than lonely planet books. Please trust me. (He took us to the BEST Gellati house in Rome, where they make the ice cream at the back of the house)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/sanjeev/thegiovanni.jpg < A cute kid, Giovanni, I sent his parents a print :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/sanjeev/DSC02157.jpg < and this is me being a total idiot at an impromptu jam sessions/street party (a school band literally jumped out of the metro stops)


Sorry for my tips not being organized, I'm a messy kid :P
So far, Ive been just to:
Madrid, Paris, Firenze, Venecia, Milano, and Roma
(PS: If I were you, stop by the Spanish Steps in Rome and try to look for people with similar itinerary and passion in photography and try to tag along with them)

one very important thing i learned in mountaineering is to find new appreciation for ziploc bags. they're very useful for waterproofing/dewproofing electronics aside from doubling as leave no trace bags.

for traveling around the country, i highly recommend jens peters' travel guide to the philippines. the book makes lonely planet guide to the philippines look like kate moss on a stricter diet :-D seriously, it's helped me get around by myself.

http://wwwogglepinoy.blogspot.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/oggie http://www.oggieblog.blogspot.com

something i learned recently about bags... backpacks are a double edged sword:

they're easier to carry, because the weight is divided between your two shoulders, and the weight is centered down your body... they also don't necessarily look very camera-bag-like, so you can get away with just looking like a backpacker or tourist with nothing fantabulously expensive in his bag. for long hikes, and places where you need maximum balance, then this is a good way to go.

but what happens when you're in a crowded train or bus? you might have to wear the backpack in your front for safety reasons.

or what about when you want to change lenses in the middle of the road? it's not as easy to swing to your front to change lenses... btw, this was the first time i appreciated the wisdom of those people who carry around side-bag camera bags. i've always thought backpacks were the way to go, until i had to change lenses in a slightly flooded area with nowhere to place my backpack. i had to crouch down, place my bag on my knee (balancing it very precariously), and proceed changing lenses in that position... which wouldn't have been necessary had i had a side-bag instead... it would've been as easy as swinging it to the front, and changing in that position - standing up, sitting down, it wouldn't matter.

just a small observation. :D

@Poch: I've seen both Tamrac and Lowepro with this sling backpack feature. Actually tried the Lowepro one myself. Liked it but was looking for a slightly bigger version.

@ poch: you got it spot on. I have backpack and love it. I do quite a lot of walking when I'm out shooting photos and that weight distribution has been great. But, as you mentioned, backpack is not conducive for those spontaneous shots, pretty awkward trying to get that camera out of the bag without having to put the bag down first. Now looking at the velocity series for a second bag (what can I say, I'm a bag ho :Grin: )

when travelling in the provinces, its better to wear trekking sandals.. you can get these in sporting goods shops for less than 500 pesos. also, always talk to the locals.
do research before going to a place, some provinces here have a reputation for poisoning visitors and only the local herbal man can give the medicine.

yep - water...have to agree... this is one vital part of travel photography. :D

for the gear... i recently experienced shooting with 2 cam bodies...NEAT!!!:)

though im pretty sure people knew i was a tourist... but who cares..i got the shots i wanted. hehehe....

itching again to go out....:Grin:

cash. maybe in different currencies

1. Plan ahead - the most crucial part especially on long expeditions.
2. Having a backup itinerary.
2. Bring the most comfy-quick dry clothing.
3. Backup camera, film, extra batteries, silica gel, ziploc bags.
4. Nail clippers
5. Cash/Plastic fantastic.
6. Smile
7. Learn the local language.
8. Emergency food
9. Small umbrella