Pack the right supplies

How to look after yourself as well as your camera

Spending a day outdoors exposed to the elements will be far more manageable with the appropriate clothing and right supplies with you. Choose clothes that will blend into your surroundings and won’t spook the wildlife.

Sitting still in a hide for prolonged periods in winter won’t be much fun if you’re not wearing enough layers, or have the benefit of something warm to drink. Many nature reserves have catering facilities, but if they don’t – or if you’re wildlife-watching in remote countryside – you’ll need to organise your own solution.

1 Hot flask

A day without tea or coffee would be unthinkable for many people. And a mug of hearty soup can have a transformational effect in the cold.

2 Sandwiches

If there’s any doubt over the availability of food at the location you’re going to be photographing at, it’ll be wise to take your own. Plastic food wrap will be quieter to handle than greaseproof paper.

3 Cereal bars

These are less of a guilty pleasure than chocolate. The energy release will help keep up your concentration levels while you’re out in the field.

4 Snood

More compact than a scarf and wraps tight around the neck to keep you warm and toasty in cold winds.

5 Water

Not a diuretic like tea or coffee. Will also help prevent feelings of fatigue.