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loccdor

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Jan 12, 2024
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I'm going on a road trip to Appalachia, I'll be there for two weeks.

Since I'm driving instead of flying this time, there's unlimited space for photographic equipment.

In this situation would you still limit the amount of equipment you took, and if so, how much?
 
Been there many times in the past. Very rich with photographic opportunities. Especially if you travel the back roads. No matter where I go, though, I limit what I take as too much gear leads to too much indeciison and/or fiddling with equipment. I've used 35mm with a 50 and 85 mostly in that area, with great success I feel. On the next opportunity I'd bring a Hasselblad with 80 and 150. Whatever you do... bring plenty of film (or plenty of digits if that's your prediliction).
 
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There's always a limit. Can't take everything. I prefer to travel light and not fuss over what I didn't bring. Have a nice time, that's the main thing - enjoy!
 
Go with one set. No more than two film types like one color and one BW. Keep it simple. I found too much freezes me, makes deciding what to shoot hard, frustrating, and tiresome. IF you're afraid to leave all your equipment in the car overnnight, that means moving it in and out of hotels or motels. If you;re going with your spouse or family, they'll appreciate less distractions too. Take a pocketable P&S digital for family shots and travel pictures along the way if recording your travels interests you.
 
Lots of film, a Horseman 6x9 with 3 lenses (90, 150, 270) and 2 backs (6x9, 6x7), a Pen F with 1-3 lenses. Debating if I should try taking the big 500mm telephoto on the Canon T90 because I never get the opportunity to use it when plane traveling. Probably will take it just in case, there's always time to pass watching the birds in the yard. I've already got a backpack specifically for carrying it. And I think that will be it.
 
I'd suggest taking as much as you can comfortably carry all day. Leaving gear in the car while exploring could be costly.

We pulled into the parking lot of a remote trail, and as we did the car that was already there had been broken into. The couple, who were on holidays, had everything stolen.
 
Good point - but gear will be able to be stored in my dad's house so no worries there.
 
When I look at my landscape work I find my best shots are all using a portait lens. It just works well for composing closer and distant features. And if the scene doesn't compose the way you want it, you move 'till it's right. As an artist friend of mine (Michael Steele of South Dakota) told me, an artist uses their hands, a photographer uses their feet.

And don't take too much film; that will only produce more poor shots. The good shots you'll get on one roll or twenty. The poor shots need the lower standards that come with cheap and abundant film. Reference: The Modern Camera, and the Dilution of Effort an essay by me 20 years ago.
 

Frankly I'd limit it to the Horseman with one back. You're setting yourself up for analysis paralysis by having so many different systems to switch between. The way you shoot with the Horseman is completely different from the Pen F and the T90, which are both different as well, but not as far apart as the Horseman is from either. You won't be able to get into the right mindset for any of them as you bounce back and forth, and your shots with each will suffer. I got my very best work the time I took a Rolleiflex with me to Paris. Second best trip photographically was Rome, when I had a standard Rollei, a Tele-Rollei, and a Lomo Belair X6/12 (at least all three were medium format, and the two Rolleis were both square, so there wasn't a major mind-shift between them).
 
I sit and stare at my gear just trying to get out of the house for a short drive/walk let alone a road trip. Bring the kit/kits that are second nature for you to use and have fun.
 
We're prepping for a road trip to NW Arkansas. Along for the ride will be (besides my sweetie) my 8x10 Nag, my 4x5 Tachi, and my Fuji GW670iii. We wanted to leave last week but the weather was bad where we are heading, now we're waiting out the blizzard conditions here. Leaving in the morning regardless of weather, it's supposed to be upper 70's to mid 80's there.
 
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