I am convinced that the best way to handle a disaster is to prepare for it. We can't foresee all potential situations but we certainly can predict a lot of them and alleviate their impact ahead of time. My primary criteria for items were that they would be small enough to fit into the little kit box (more on that later), that they provide a solution common to most photographers and that they serve more than one purpose. Your choices may be different from mine, but reading through this may give you some ideas you haven't yet considered.
Promaster Deluxe Lens Kit
Yes, we all need to carry lens cleaning supplies, but what we really want here is the nifty waterproof case this comes in. We are going to modify ours to better suit our needs. You should be able to find this lens kit at your local camera store, but if not try here. The only other thing I kept in the box was the little brush that is great for the lens as well as smoothing our makeup (though don't use it on the lens after it has been used for makeup, please.)
Fresnel Lens
This credit card sized piece of plastic with little grooves in it works well as a magnifier in a pinch plus you can tape it to the front of your speed light to focus the light for telephoto shots. Handy and helpful.
Para Cord
Parachute Cord is rated to 550 pounds so its great for lashing things down. I have used 6' of para cord to make the fob for my waterproof box. Inside the cord are 7 individual strands of smaller cord. That gives me a total of 42 feet of cord in a pinch. Learn how to make your own here.
Tin Foil
Just tear off a sheet of tin foil, fold it and keep it in the kit. It has a million uses as it is reflective, light blocking, conducts electricity, water proof and able to handle high temperatures. Pound for pound the most useful item in the kit.
Duct Tape
Close to tin foil in usefulness, duct tape is legendary for its repair abilities. Check out YouTube for some really outrageous uses, though I'm thinking about making one of those beer helmets when I finish this posting. You may want to get the black variety so it doesn't show up in your images.
Wet Wipes
Think of Wet Wipes as a bandana with cleaning and disinfecting properties. You can't make a sling out of it, but there sure are a number of other situations where it could come in very handy. The one listed in the link even kills the H1N1 virus.
Band Aids
I was shooting a wedding once when a wire caught on my arm and left a scratch that bled profusely. With all the concerns over blood-borne pathogens I knew I had to get the wound attended to fast. Fortunately I had a first aid kit in the car, but with the wet wipes and band aids I could handle that from my camera bag now without the trip to the parking lot.
OTC medications
Baby aspirin is a great idea for anyone suffering from chest pains and studies show that taking a baby aspirin at the first signs of heart trouble can make a huge difference. Even if you aren't in danger, someone you know may be. Tylenol, Advil, Actifed, Benadryl, Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate, all have there place in an emergency kit. You never know when sympotoms will hit and buying yourself a couple hours have a real impact on your image quality.
Space Blanket
Having something waterproof to cover your gear is always a good idea and the shiny reflective surface could also help you put light where you need it or block it where you don't.
Multi-Tool
One thing that will be nice to have is a multi-purpose tool that includes a pair of pliers. Don't think they will ever do any good? I once stopped to help a lady stranded by the side of the road armed with nothing but a multi-tool. Her car had overheated and when we opened the hood it was easy to see why; she had a hole in her radiator hose. Using the multi-tool, I was able to cut off a section of the hose and reattach the hose while she went to get some water. In less than five minutes she was back on the road. It's nice to be the hero every once in a while. Check out the fine "Clutch" from Gerber here.
Lens Filter Wrench
"A what?" you say, "I've never heard of such a thing; why do I need to be carrying one?" Keep in mind, this kit is for emergencies and as much as we appreciate the job filters do in protecting our expensive glass, we also want to be able to remove damaged glass and filters if needed. Just try shooting a wedding reception with a bent polarizing filter stuck to the front of your favorite lens. You'll thank me later. Besides, you can get a set of two for less than $5 from Amazon.
Flashlight
You never know when you are going to need one so you may as well keep a flashlight handy. Ideally it will run on the same batteries as either your camera or flash, though that is not essential. You are probably going to want one with LED lights as the batteries last much, much longer.
Rescue Mirror
This may seem like an odd choice, but the uses go far beyond signalling for help on a deserted island. You can loan it to a model or bride to check out their look and, may as well check out your own while you're at is. Also, it could come in real handy as a reflector for macro shots. You want one that is high quality with the reflective surface on the front side, and that is going to mean you will need to keep it in a scratch proof case. (Check out the note below about the use of CDs as emergency mirrors.)
Rescue Whistle
I hesitated putting this on the list as it is almost exclusively identified with rescue situations. Why would a photographer need one? I can think of two scenarios; this could be a great security device as you walk to your car late at night and to use as a round up device for wandering children (provided you tell them of the signal ahead of time.) The Jetscream Whistle produces a ear-splitting blast at 122 decibels, equivalent to standing next to the big speakers during a rock concert- just short ear bleed. That's not only a deterrant to a would be attacker, but is loud enough to be heard above almost anything else. I'm buying a couple for my grandchildren.
Other Options
Wedding Kit
As mentioned above, the kind of emergency kit you carry will depend a bit on what kind of photography you are doing. If you are a wedding photographer I highly recommend you check out Tom Philo's well thought out list. Elise Sanchez also has a very thorough list.
Special Note: The website Equipped to Survive tells us that people have been rescued through the use of the small holographic image on a credit card so we wouldn't want to ignore the possibility of using a CD for the same purpose. They go on to say that for inherent reasons they wouldn't recommend packing on for emergency purposes, it is something to keep in mind should the need arise. For photographers this may have special import as the slight flexibility of CDs would allow you focus the light where you want it. A good thing to know when you want to play McGyver.
Some things that didn't make the list
Bandana
Almost every survival list will include a bandana as an essential item; they simple have 1001 uses from wiping things off to serving as a sling (I've even used mine as a prop.) When I mentioned this to my nurse/wife she reminded me that they were great to use if you have to give CPR. If you don't know why just ask the paramedic who teaches your next class. You are CPR certified, aren't you? I do carry one in my bag but it's not a part of this emergency kit. I would suggest you carry at least one yourself.
Poncho
Another item on nearly every survival guide but in our case I decided that the space blanket would do many of the same things and a few more beside. Still, it you have a bit of extra room Stealth Gear makes a great one especially for photographers.
Toilet Paper
I don't carry this in my pack but I promise you I have plenty in my car. Uses too may to number in addition to the obvious but a bit too bulky to keep in the kit.
Some others you may want to consider:
Nail Clippers
Zip Ties
Magnifier
Sewing Kit
Sewing Kit
Paper and Pen
No comments:
Post a Comment