In the Field
What’s in the Macro Field Bag?
As a macro shooter, what do I take with me on a shoot and how do
I carry it? I thought it could be fun to revisit the “What’s in the Bag?”
theme with macro shooters in mind. We all might learn something
and it is always interesting to see what other photographers feel is
important to have with them.
First of all, like most photographers, I have too many gear bags.
Most are pipe-dreams that cost a lot of money and didn’t do the
trick or did it only for a short while. I have a small closet full of bags.
I have ones with wheels that go on airplanes, ones that go on my
back, on my hip, over my shoulder, and even weeny- teeny bags
that can carry almost nothing. I also have large rock-concert-style
hard cases if I need them. I haven’t lately.
Then I have the one bag I actually use. It costs less than $20 and
filled with my stuff weighs only three pounds. It is an over the
shoulder bag (I wear it fairly high up) and I hardly notice it when I
am in the field.
Here is a photo of my standard bag. It is only 10x10 inches square
and has one large main pocket within which is a single zipped
smaller pocket for small stuff, cell phone, etc. On the back and in
the front are two more large thin pockets where I carry my diffusers.
By adjusting the over-the-shoulder strap higher the kit is not so low
that it bangs on my hip, making me always aware of it. By wearing
it higher I can feel it but it kind of hugs my back, which is where I