Fellow retiree -

1. What do I take along? - everything that I own in the back of my 4-wheeled camera bag otherwise called a mini-van. When I leave the van, I will take the pieces that fit the occasion (which on occasion is still everything). Three bodies, five lenses, the usual filters, etc. all fit in my Lowepro backpack and a vest (minus tripod which always has a body attached). Backpack, vest, and tripod over my shoulder (my full pack) weighs about 30 pounds and at age 72 I find myself learning to be selective more & more often although this spring I did take it all on a 1500' elevation change 6 mile hike to some waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park where I am a volunteer photographer. At a minimum I always wear the vest (with 8-10 pounds of "stuff" in the pockets) and my Gitzo 2220 tripod with a body attached regardless of where I am. Occasionally I'll also take my IR body on a Kirk strap that attaches to the body's L-bracket. If returning to the scene of the crime for do-overs isn't a good option, I try to have my laptop in the back of the van to be sure of what I got before leaving - now a 4-wheel camera bag and a mobile darkroom.

2. As a primarily nature photographer and morning person, I prefer morning shoots. However, I really like IR work and had one of my bodies converted and use that extensively during later hours.

Early morning -

Infrared -

3. I plan my weekly 50 mile trips to Shenandoah around the weather and prefer days with at least 80% cloud cover. If it's totally socked in and miserable, all the better. My favorite work tends toward "moody" and hopefully that explains my choice of weather.

Misty Island -

4. I virtually never use a flash outdoors. If I want a bit more light on a close up subject some simple reflective surface is my choice. I carry a 4-in-one diffusion disk to help with natural light and/or a backdrop.

5. Since starting seriously about 5 years ago, I doubt that 0.1% of my images have been made without a tripod. For me, the issue is not camera shake. My reason for a tripod is to force me to slow down and get pin point framing - most importantly composition as perfect as I can make it. Without a tripod, my shots tend more toward snapshots and that's not what I want. Many shooters can get the job done hand held but not me. You'll notice that my three example "landscapes" are all in the portrait mode - each of my camera bodies has a body unique L-bracket permanently attached (and usually has a remote release attached as well). I own one VR lens (came with the body) and have turned it on maybe 5 times in almost two years. Similarly my 105mm macro lens' auto/manual focus ring NEVER has been used in the auto position unless I using it in a non-closeup situation.

6. Just my way. Doubt that it fits too many others' needs, but it works here.

I agree with Ya Me.
Beautiful and interesting composition.
I love it.
Thank you.
Fred

I am with Terry on the minimalize where I can.  On a long trip I take it all.


The Nikon 18-200 is a lifesaver, but I keep the 17-35, 28-70 and 80-200 nearby on a long trip.
The 12-24 is on the other body and the 300/f4 is in the butt bag (well....it's a front bag)
I take all the CF cards  6 @ 2GB and 2 @ 4GB
I carry an Xdrive with a 120GB in it and DL the cards in case of card error or over shooting.  At night I DL to the laptop AND burn a DVD which I mail home.


When I can.  If I am at a motel and have seen something that trips me as a sunset shot, starts raining, or something, I'll go back.


Depends on the place and the effect.  I'll go for fog in a minute!!  Clear skies, both in Montana and New Mexico are a knockout.  Polarizer in Montana; impossible to do in New Mexico because it is dark blue already.   Little puffs and wisps don't really thrill me.  Large, billowy Cumulus are great.

Atleast one is always with me.  Of course, on day-to-day work (job) we always use it.  Dragging the shutter at night with a flash opens a whole new world.


One doesn't substitute for the other, to me.  IS is a CYA, but I'd rather have at least a monopod.  For panoramas (and not having to hike there) a tripod is the nuts.
Absent that, I practice the sweep a few times, shoot a little wider, then set the camera:  high speed motor 6-8 FPS, RAW, auto bracket, then start the sweep.  I usually do it twice since I am handheld.  All shot vertically, 60-70% overlap.

Seth

Hi Fred-

Is that a 400/f2.8 or 400/f4?  A good monopod should do for either in daylight. 

If you want to shake the cable release, punching 3-4 frames at a high frame rate settles the camera down.   That's how we grab a low light shot hand held at 1/30.  It seems the second or third shot is the sharp one. 

Out in the wild if I am absent a monopod, tc., I use a rock, tree or a shoulder.

I'm pleased to hear you are environmentally  friendly 
Terry.