There is always some holiday planned in the year but for most people, a Camera is never on the list. In 2013 when I purchased my first Nikon DSLR I had no idea what the photography game is all about. That same camera inspired me to start hosting car shows around South Africa and also the first-ever overnight camping festival in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. There is no doubt that a camera can lead to great paths especially adventures like travelling the world. For some reason, I am addicted to travel and this all started after making short videos with my Camera at every place I go to. It also took some laziness out of me because to get that perfect picture or video you will have to step out of your comfort zone and get to these locations that are fit for Instagram or your personal photo album. Getting sunburn and running through dirty terrain is all part of the game. Some of you might say that you are not into pro-photography but making memories digitally and having them stored away in a cloud or local hard drive can last forever.
The Smart Phone has come a long way and with today’s technology, we have a powerhouse computer in the palm of our hands.
A few years ago when we spoke about High Dynamic Range (HDR), 4K resolution with Stabilization and various Frame Rates it was only possible to get these features with a DSLR or Mirrorless camera offering these high functionalities, now your smartphone can have the same functionality up to a certain level which is more than sufficient for your travel memories. For those who checked out my channel on Youtube (Kaylin’s Vlog), the Bali videos were all filmed in 4K UHD using my Samsung Note 9. It came so handy to snap a picture or record a video on the fly without digging into my camera bag trying to switch on my Canon or GoPro and before you know it you missed something awesome. My smartphone became my go-to camera and when time is on my side I pull our my Mirrorless Canon to frame that perfect shot!
Lighting is always an issue so when travelling I make sure that my shots are taken between sunrise and sunset, this gives me the best natural light because carrying external lights while travelling just packs extra pounds on your backpack. The last thing you want when travelling is a heavy backpack that can slow you down and deplete your energy. Try not to shoot at night because when you adjust your +ISO levels (allows more light into the lens) you will end up with a grainy image quality that looks far from nice.
Get out and make memories!
When travelling here is my list of the important gear for your next adventure!
1. SmartPhone – Try getting one that captures images with HDR and 1080P with 60 frames per second (FPS) or 4K optional, the high FPS allows you to capture in slow motion which gives you that smooth cinematic footage. The main benefit using a smartphone is uploading your content directly to social media whereas with a camera the SD card content has to be copied into your PC then uploaded.
2. GoPro or Action Cam – I prefer the GoPro action cam because it has been in the market from the dawn of action cams and targeted towards adventure sports as the go-to camera. Most action cams are waterproof allowing you to take them into the ocean or even jumping into a waterfall to capture epic videos. They also offer high and wide resolution cameras with even higher frame rates up to 120fps giving you even smoother footage.
3. DSLR or Mirrorless – This depends on your budget, these cameras can really puncture a hole in your pocket so be wise when purchasing a high-end camera, lenses are sometimes more expensive than the camera body itself so you really do not want to wing a purchase without researching the product first.
4. Extra Batteries – Most important item on the list when carrying a camera with removable batteries, having two batteries for each camera is a must, there were times when my camera’s battery died early in the day and my smartphone was not up to standards, I missed good shots throughout the day until I found a plug point to charge the camera. A good alternative is a high amperage power bank that can be your back up to get your smartphone or camera snapping away again.
5. A Tripod – Grippers or Tripods are cool because they give you the distance, grip and steady movements when filming or taking pictures, they are feasible and found in almost all tech shops. Most Tripods can hold your smartphone, GoPro and camera with standard fittings that make it modular. A good choice would be the Gorilla or Joby Pods.
6. Drones – One of the best toys to have not because they are fun to fly but also they take the most amazing aerial footage. Drones can become costly depending on the camera quality build and are now getting more affordable for beginners to start drone photography. Once you get comfortable with flying you will never forget about it on your holiday. Drones are banned in some countries so please take note of the regulations for entering a country. This is still an optional item but a damn good technology to have.
“Get out and make memories“
-Kaylin Pather