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From ornate churches in Lyon to coastal treks before sunrise, CamerEyes shares what’s in his bag. What’s the one accessory you won’t leave home without?
CamerEyesHome base: Hong Kong and the Philippines
A headlamp might not be the first thing you’d expect a photographer to name as his favorite piece of gear, but CamerEyes makes a good case for it. Getting to the coast before sunrise often means walking in the dark, and he wants both hands free. His photography began with a Canon AE-1, but these days, he travels with a Sony a7CR and Fujifilm X-H2 to photograph everything from coastal landscapes to church interiors.
What I personally enjoyed about his answers was how much attention he gives to the parts of photography that happen before the camera is even used. In this spotlight, he shares how he prepares for unfamiliar locations, what he’s learned from talking to locals, and why he takes a few minutes to look around unfamiliar places before setting up.
“My first camera in the late 90s was a Canon AE-1. I brought it with me to photograph family members over multiple special occasions. Later on, we would spend countless hours looking at those old photos and recalling the riveting memories we created together. I knew then I should take seriously being the family’s Chief Memory Officer!”
Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what today’s guest has to share.
CamerEyes’s bag.CamerEyesFavorite cameras(s): Sony a7CR and Fujifilm X-H2
“Definitely the Sony a7CR and Fujifilm X-H2. Both high-resolution beasts. The a7CR allows me to use a small form factor when necessary while still taking stunning photos. The X-H2 lets me brave the weather.”
Favorite gear: “My headlamp! Unless I make it safely to a particular spot to take a photo, all my gear is pretty much useless. When I travel for photography, it is a mix of pleasure and a commercial trip. I wouldn’t want an accident caused by tripping or, worse, falling into a ravine because you tried to walk in the dark.
Favorite bag: “I have tried a lot from practically every manufacturer, ending up with a Godox bag. The bag is light and well-padded, large enough for two bodies and two lenses, with plenty of storage pockets. They built it to securely hold fragile lighting equipment, so I am pretty sure it can keep my weather-sealed cameras and lenses safe.”
Ornate cathedral interior with stained glass, painted vaulted ceilings, marble columns, and hanging gold chandeliers.“When I need to do a commercial shoot for a client, I only bring the lenses I know I will need, which creates more room in my bag for lighting accessories and flashes. When the weather does not cooperate, I leave a small waterproof action camera outside to capture time-lapses while waiting for things to clear up.
Most importantly, I bring a SmallRig Magic Clamp and a small Fotopro tripod. They always come in handy when I need to put the camera on long exposure for scenic coastal landscapes or edgy cityscapes, or when the light is a challenge and I need to expose at 3-5 seconds.
When the weather does not cooperate, I leave a small waterproof action camera outside to capture time-lapses while waiting for things to clear up.
Let’s also not forget what is likely the smallest yet at times most essential accessory – a mobile internet device. We have all been there – in a location not even the remotest, yet mobile service is between zero and a faint single bar, simply because our own provider did not invest enough in cell sites in the area, while others did.
Did I mention it conveniently runs on a solar-powered charging power bank, so I can use it for 24-36 hours if needed? Then, of course, I have powerful auxiliary flash units. My big Godox flashes, with a wireless trigger, also trigger the smaller Godox units that use two double-A batteries. It gives me flexibility to shoot events – by having the Godox V1 on cam while having as many as four iA32 strategically placed around the venue for additional light.”
“Walking back to my hotel, I saw this vibrant riverside scene in Frankfurt, Germany. I planted my camera on my small tripod to avoid any shake, since my hands were so cold from the evening wind!”“My first assessment goes into the camera settings and lenses I need to use, which is made easier by doing research before arriving at the venue. For example, during a professional photo shoot for doctors in the emergency medicine department, I requested iPhone images of their surroundings, offices, and the clinic operations area. I saw how predominantly white the venue would be. This helped me better prepare for the lighting accessories I needed to bring.
For cityscapes, time of day can be critical. Rush hour often creates haze that makes photography generally less pleasant. I would scout for the best rooftops, balconies, and other spots. This is where my metal clamps become really useful.
For cityscapes, time of day can be critical. Rush hour often creates haze that makes photography generally less pleasant.
For landscapes, especially after sunset, and for astrophotography, I use Stellarium and a local weather app. There is a huge difference between those global weather apps and local weather apps, I tell you! It can be partly cloudy on AccuWeather, and it’s already raining according to your local app.”
“Another coastal trek, which meant being up and about at 3:45 a.m. My headlamp made the trek easy, while I was following the sound of the sea.”“Lyon, France! I didn’t know that Labor Day is a sacred European holiday, and I made the mistake of visiting such a historic city in France on that day. Shops were closed. Train stations were quiet. I had to make do with what was still a photographic opportunity – which brought me to Notre Dame de Fourvière. It looked marvelous outside, but the real magic was when I entered – it was majestic.
I avoid the tourist traps, except if they are old churches and museums, of course, since I love shooting their interiors. I have an entire album on social media dedicated to places of religious worship. The architecture and intricate details make me feel like I am journeying through the storied past and glorious, sometimes troubled history of how they were built, and why.
I avoid the tourist traps, except if they are old churches and museums.
Since the places in Asia where I often shoot are close to the equator, I would have a narrow window to capture dramatic sunrises and sunsets – usually 12-15 minutes, max. This means waking up at 3:30 a.m. to be in a hillside location, factoring in the time to drive and trek, so that I am ready when the sun rises at 5:00 a.m.-ish. By 5:20-ish, the sky would be so bright that even ND filters would hardly help.”
“Winter in Sapporo, Japan can be particularly daunting for my warm Tropic blood. From the rooftop of our hotel, I decided to capture this image when the snow stopped falling. To avoid capturing the railings, I clamped my camera on the edge handle.”“Digital photography introduced me to lenses and accessories that encouraged further creativity, starting with using multiple external flashes to light up a subject, down to using various continuous lights and filters. I have been spoiled with options at affordable prices, especially since I live in Asia.
Most importantly, when I moved from Canon RF to Sony Full-frame and Fuji APS-C, I learned that access to terrific lenses doesn’t have to tank my bank account. I discovered Sigma during my Canon 6D days, and Tamron during my Canon 7D days. I knew way back then that these lenses could help me create more art by stretching the capabilities of my cameras, at truly competitive prices.
When I moved from Canon RF to Sony Full-frame and Fuji APS-C, I learned that access to terrific lenses doesn’t have to tank my bank account.
Since I travel a lot with the family, I naturally loved portraits, landscapes and cityscapes. Photography is my perfect reason to be in the great outdoors, and to routinely abandon the toxic spaces of client offices where I work as a Change and Transformation Consultant. It is a huge part of what keeps me sane.”
“While waiting for the cloud cover to thin, I started putting the ankle weight on the legs of my tripod because there was no way it could remain stable considering the strong winds.”“I must emphasize safety first. Some of the best locations are not the safest. I am not talking about falling off a cliff because of excessive selfies. I am talking about seeing the path in the darkness of a hillside, or walking through a forest as the fastest way to the seaside. A headlamp is a must for my kind of “adventure” photography, because I would need both hands to walk, deal with unexpected obstacles, protruding branches, the works!
Once I am safely at the location I have chosen, I don’t immediately set up my tripod. I stand and stare for a few minutes. Watch how the clouds are moving. See where the Sun is going to rise from. Take a few slow-shutter shots that can be managed handheld, at higher ISO. Those initial images would often give me a lot of reference for my more “proper” shots to become stunning images.
Lastly, with noise-reduction software so advanced these days, do not be afraid to shoot at ISO 6400 or higher when you have to. Until around 2022-2023, I would usually avoid going beyond ISO 1600, which slowed me down a bit because it meant shooting at slower shutter speeds. Not anymore!
Be friendly! Not everyone is out to steal your gear.
Try to integrate into the culture of the locations you are trekking to. I was once in a province that I did not consider particularly remote, and therefore Google may have had it all figured out for me. That was until I spoke to the locals in a nearby roadside restaurant. They saw my gear and recognized me as a photographer. We chatted, and I showed them some of the photos I had already taken. Immediately, they recommended spots that Google hasn’t even heard of! They even offered tips – the best time of day to trek, available transportation, precautions. Be friendly! Not everyone is out to steal your gear.”
CamerEyes really enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography and to answer any of your questions in the comments below.
You can check out CamerEyes’s other work and photography discussions right here on DPReview in the community forums.
Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.
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