WHAT’S IN THE BAG?
Kit selection is even more important on the streets
The more you know about what you are going to shoot and in what style, the better. Preparation is paramount to any successful shoot in the city. While I’m not questioning your ability to carry a 30-kilogram rucksack with two DSLR bodies, six lenses and all the peripherals, the city is a busy place and you are going to get in a lot of people’s way.
I generally decide beforehand if I’m going to be shooting the wider view or a more intimate scene. If you intend to shoot a building, landmark or street in its entirety, a wide-angle lens would be best. However, if you have set yourself the challenge to look for intimate intricacies or a specific architectural feature, then a telephoto lens would be a better choice. For a general day on the streets I tend to cover the focal ranges from 10-55mm (16-70mm on a full-frame camera), which gives me plenty of scope. Anything I see that requires a longer focal length will be noted down for a future trip.
It’s rare that I take filters with me unless
I’m planning to shoot long exposures in daytime. Graduated filters are a waste of time in most instances, so If I am struggling with the dynamic range of a scene I choose instead to bracket a series of exposures and blend frames together later when processing.
Probably the biggest decision before setting out is whether to tripod or not. For a night shoot it’s almost an essential piece of kit, whereas if I’m planning to be home before sunset, I would leave it behind. A small, light travel tripod is great for most occasions, but you may find it frustratingly short in some instances where walls or railings spoil the view.
The usual accessories will come in handy, the same as when you’re shooting other genres, so don’t forget the lens cloth, jet blower, and of course, plenty of spare batteries.