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Thailand. Packing Light. Sort of.
July 29th, 2009
It’s no secret that I wrestle with packing light. I think I’ve done it, then arrive at the airport only to be mocked by whomever I am traveling with. Clearly what it means to travel light is a subjective thing. I usually travel with two carry-on’s – very heavy – and two checked pieces – also max weight. Well this time I decided to really try. It meant not bringing all kinds of “but what if I want it?” items – no flash, no pocket wizard, no reflectors, no Lensbaby, no Pogo printer, no Hyperdrive. I’m bringing one of everything critical instead of the usual two, except my camera bodies. And I think I’ve done it.
The photo at the top is my whole 2 week trip to Thailand. One North Face Base Camp duffle, one Think Tank Shapeshifter, and one Think Tank Speed Racer.
It helps that I’m going during monsoon, so it’ll be hot and wet. Less clothing, no sweaters or bulky items. I threw in a diving mask and snorkel as my one luxury item. Not for the monsoon but for the 3 days in Ko Samet at the end. And I threw in a small trekking umbrella. My bag could drop 5lbs if I weren’t a Type 1 diabetic, but I always bring a mountain of snacks and a small Pelican case with extra insulin, needles, etc. It could all drop another 5lbs easy if I could bring myself to leave the laptop, cables, harddrives at home, but I’m just not that hardcore. ( C’mon Henri, you gotta admit this is pretty good, right? 
)
I’m actually pretty proud of myself, but it’s nothing more than an experiment. As I’ve said before, clients don’t pay you to travel light but to come home with the shots. Case in point, Joe McNally just drove a fully-loaded Suburban from Phoenix to San Francisco. He’s shooting projects there, among them a story for the Geographic. A fully-loaded Suburban. And I’d be willing to bet half of that is accounted for by a half-ton of SB-900′s and 3olbs of CTO gel.
Speaking of Thailand, one of the highlights will be spending some time with Gavin Gough, and Matt Brandon has just posted another of his excellent Depth of Field interviews, part one of his interview with Gavin went up this morning HERE. Look for part two tomorrow. One day I hope to convince Matt to do one of these with me but I think he has a thing about Canadians. Don’t believe me, listen to the way they keep dropping my name and teasing me.
Jonesin’ for more? I’ve got a short article up on Niches, Grooves, and Ruts at DPS, Digital Photography School, thanks to Darren Rowse for his kind invitation to contribute. Find the link HERE.
Wow David, I’m impressed. Can’t wait to hear whether you feel “deprived” while on the trip. I doubt you will. Could be a whole new lifestyle!
Mark
But how will I recognise you at the airport? I’ll be looking our for the bearded pack mule. Go safely. Go well. Looking forward to dodging the monsoon rains with you in BKK.
David,
Like the personalised mottif on the bags – very trendy.
BTW I found a poncho very handy for the rains in Vietnam – great for keeping the camera bags and me dry, and folded down real small when not needed. You can probably pick one up locally though. Yep, with that and the snorkell your good to go in a downpour
Hi David
Bought one of the “Bound” prints at the Linwood Art Experience. It speaks to such a deep place. Everyone I show it to has a deep reaction. Just yesterday a friend had tears in her eyes the moment she saw it. Your work is beautiful, powerful. Thank you for all you are doing. Bless you. As for traveling light: rather you than me! Have not perfected the art.
That is indeed impressive. I can’t even remember the last time I travelled without a Stormcase (which is HEAVY even empty). Maybe next time I’ll try to out light you. I’ll even handicap you the 5 lbs. Oh, who am I kidding? I can’t do it. I once travelled with just a toothbrush (my lightest flight ever), but these days my luggage weighs more than I do. This is especially true of my return luggage when Silvia travels with me.
Well done – and that TT shapeshifter can get smaller as you lose gear in the rain. I took my TT Streetwalker Pro HD on a plane recently and that was my current version of “light” (of course a 1D MKII is probably as heavy as two 5d’s with their lil li-ion batteries)
Ah, Ko Samet, spent a week there 5 years ago HUGE prawns and papaya salad at sundown = heaven.
Wow, only three bags? Very impressed. You done good kid. LOL. Enjoy your trip and I just read your article on the Digital Photography School website and it really hit home for me. I have been in a sort of “photo phunk” for weeks now and wondering how the heck to get out of it. The advice about making sure one’s niche does not become a rut is priceless and will help me out climb out of mine.
Regards,
Cate
I’ll be packing light, too. In fact, I just bought a mask and snorkel and it doubled my weight.
Great article at DPS, David. Once again, you speak to life wider than photography. Thanks.
Just curious since I also need to pack meds on my journeys. Any issues with Customs over the meds you pack. Any special paperwork on your visa required?
BTW – Have Matt interview you over a few beers the next time your paths cross. Be sure he records the interview. I’d pay big bucks for that one! (kidding)
That is an impressive effort to have only 3 bags. If you really wanted to go light, you could travel with just one set of clothes and buy the rest in a Bangkok street market or Chatuchak.
Great article at DPS! This doesn’t stop at photography, it applies to every crack and corner of our lives.
Didn’t know you were a diabetic. Is it hard mange with that sort of stuf while roaming in some of the most remote parts of the world?
Can you carry your needles as carry-ons by the way?
Have a safe trip!
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Hey David – could you do a post on traveling as a T1? I’d love to know what you do if your insulin goes off, what travel snacks are best for you, etc. Jacob is 11 now and getting a lot more mobile on his own – and so packing light for skate park trips and non-mom outings would be terrific. He’s always got a camera case with him (for his supplies) but other types of cases you have used too would be terrific to know about.
I also just wanted to say thanks again for giving me the vision that he will one day be able to do anything and everything because I know you do. Gives me so much hope for him.
Traveling mercies!
Hey David! Have a good trip!
I like your silhouette motif on your bags. How did you do it?
I sympathize with your struggle to pack light. I lived in northeast Asia for 9 years which allowed me to make 4 extended trips to southeast Asia and I always tried to fit everything into my trust 55L backpack.
At that time though I did not own a SLR of any kind, just bringing with my my Olympus 5060 bridge camera. And traveling with a laptop then was pretty much unheard of. Thinking back on the places I visited and the near lack of security on the rooms and beach bungalows I rented, one would have to travel on a much higher budget to keep a laptop in tow.
Anyway…really, no flash, not even an SB-600?
I’ve been to Thailand twice before but all to areas in the south. I look forward to the postcards from the trip.