Any photographers?

[James205]

I'm due away in April for my first sea phase and am intending on taking my camera gear (DSLR, 5 Lenses, Flash etc) and wondered if anyone else has been away and taken their gear with them? If so how did you find it? Did you find it a hinderance during travel/not get used as much as you would like?

Just wondering as leaving it at home would be like going away and leaving a leg behind...

[GuinnessMan]

I'm due away in April for my first sea phase and am intending on taking my camera gear (DSLR, 5 Lenses, Flash etc) and wondered if anyone else has been away and taken their gear with them? If so how did you find it? Did you find it a hinderance during travel/not get used as much as you would like?

Just wondering as leaving it at home would be like going away and leaving a leg behind...

Hello, I'm a photographer as well and I always took my camera with me! When it comes to lenses, I now only take the ones that can fit within my camera backpack comfortable (ie no mahoosive ones). Before I took along one that fit comfortably into my boilersuit pocket, and to be fair that did the job as it is rather difficult not to take a half decent photograph at sea. I was using my camera all the time, but when it comes to work things, a small pointy clicky is a lot better than a DSLR so I would highly advise purchasing a decent pointy clicky (pal of mine has just bought an Casio Ixus 130 and thats brilliant).

[James205]

I have a good point and shoot which will be going with me for the very purpose of use where the SLR isn't practical, but as it stands all my gear fits in my bag which is perfect size for flying hand luggage! I was looking at getting the Canon powershot G12 and not take my SLR, but I think would find it some what limiting. What gear did you take with you?

[GuinnessMan]

I only took my pointy clicky, although I did wish I'd brought the DLSR along with me. It's good for shore leave and good for some distance shooting, but workwise a pointy clicky is suitable.

From what you've said, I think you should be alright with what you've got, but do be careful and make sure you keep your cabin door locked. Some crew have sticky fingers and are not above damaging something to make you sell it...

[James205]

Some crew have sticky fingers and are not above damaging something to make you sell it...

Somewhat reassuring...

[GuinnessMan]

Somewhat reassuring...

To be fair, I've only known it to happen to one or two people and I do wonder about how true the story is...

[chris]

a cheap camera for taking shots in the engine room and ashore when you don't want to attract the attention of thieves and my trusty 350D, just 3 lenses. A 80-200mm lens, standard 18-55mm lens and a fast 50mm lens for night shots. The 1.6 magnification factor came in handy for 360mm style telephoto shots.

[CharlieDelta]

Woo 350D buddies!! Don't see the point in upgrading.

I didn't take mine to sea though. Stuck with the pointy-clicky.

[Steve]

If you want to flog steeley phots of ships to the likes of Ships Monthly and Sea Breezes, take something with good zoom capability.

[CharlieDelta]

You don't happen to know how much they pay Steve? And Jane's too? Had been wondering!!

[Steve]

I haven't had anything published in aaages, so I've no idea of the going rate these days. Most of my best work was as a cadet, I have been rather busier on watch since qualifying. Never had anything in Jane's publications but I have heard that they pay better than the magazines. If you've got photos of warships then there's Warships International Fleet Review and Warship World, who also produce books. Photos of anything unusual, or of ships at sea in heavy weather, or in groups or convoys are especially likely to get published as a lot of the contributing photographers are land-based and take photos around the same old ports all the time.

Just be a little careful when clicking away in a foreign port as the locals may take issue with it and haul you off to jail. :-)

I can't emphasize too much the importance of a good zoom lens for nautical photography. Turns a useless little dot in the middle-distance into a full-frame beast. 20x to 30x is probably where it's at these days.

[Frenchy]

Absolutely agree about a good zoom lens. I took my 1000D with me and got some great pics. Don't forget to take some filters. UV filter was a must.

[CharlieDelta]

Might pack the DSLR next month then, got a 50-500 lens that might come in handy!

[Frenchy]

Oh and I found a little bean bag mount was brilliant for taking longer exposure shots, easy to rest somewhere on a piece of the bridge without worrying about the camera falling over. And no camera shake because it absorbs the bulk of any vibration.

[CharlieDelta]

Good thinking. Have a normal tripod and a gorillapod thingy but neither are exactly practical on a pitching ship with the bridge right forward.