"When the snow falls,
When the wind stings,
When I'm feeling soggy,
I simply remember my favourite things
And then I don't feel so lousy!"

So, using my very poor product photography skills and in no particular order, here's an illustrated list of my current top 10 fave items...

1. The Pelican 1514 Case (aka the 1510 case with dividers)

This wonderful box not only protects my gear in transit and is fully waterproof, but also acts as a handy seat when I'm covering sporting events. Yep, the wheels seem to have been designed by The Flintstones but I wouldn't be parted from my Peli!...



More info: http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1510

2. The Gitzo 1588 Monopod

Long glass needs a sturdy support and the Gitzo 1588 'pod does the job. With a hefty girth and all the benefits of carbon fibre construction, a heavy lens sits sweetly and steadily atop this pole...



More info: http://www.gitzo.com/cms/site/gitzo/cache/offonce/home/products/monopods

3. The Think Tank Hydrophobia 300-600 Rain Cover

It's been one of the wettest periods I can remember and my Think Tank Hydrophobia has seen unrelenting action! I used to swear by Aquatech covers but the Think Tank is far, far easier to deploy in a hurry and just as protective.

I wouldn't hesitate in recommending this beautifully designed rain cover to any snappers who want to keep their sensitive bits from getty soggy...



More info: http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/hydrophobia-300-600-rain-cover.aspx

4. The Op/Tech Pro Camera Strap

Straps can be a pain. They get tangled up when you least want them to. They cut into your neck when you're carrying a heavy camera and lens. They slip off your shoulder when you don't want them to.

The Op/Tech strap solves most if not all of these problems. You can simply take off the padded shoulder part of the strap and leave it in your bag so you don't have to contest with a long dangly bit. The soft neoprene padding seems to take a few ounces off of the load and the nobbly bits underneath add some grip to reduce slippage...



More info: http://www.optechusa.com/product/detail/?PRODUCT_ID=23&PRODUCT_SUB_ID=&CATEGORY_ID=4


5. The Ansmann Energy 16 Battery Charger

Rechargeable AA batteries are a staple fodder for those of us that use a fair bit of on-camera flash. Charging them four at a time is in the past! The Ansmann refreshes and recharges no less than twelve in one go and lights up like a Christmas tree while doing so! Peachy...



More info: http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/Ansmann_Energy_16.html

6. The Apple MacBook Black

I used to be a bit of a PC man but I suffered with far too many problems when working 'live' in the field. Along came the jolly old 13" MacBook...



More info: http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook/

7. The Griff Gear Laptop Screen Shade

It folds flat and it slips neatly into the gadget bag. Then, when you're editing and wiring, it pops up, slips on and keeps the nasty sun from spoiling your view of the laptop screen. Hand-made by a nice bloke from down-under and totally indispensable...



More info: http://www.griffgear.com/pages/screenshades.htm

8. The Apple iPhone

I've never been a big fan of mobile phones. Annoying things really. Sadly, I am now addicted to the iPhone. Not so much for making phone calls, but for the internet access and the weather apps...



More info: http://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/

9. The Camera Bits Photo Mechanic Software Application

This is the best piece of software ever created. Simple as. It streamlines the workflow on location and automates many of the mundane captioning tasks. Jubbly...



More info: http://www.camerabits.com/site/

10. The PhotoShelter Online Image Archive

For Photoshelter, please refer to my earlier blog post: Archive or Schmarchive. It's crucial...



More info: http://www.photoshelter.com/index/c

Labels: Apple, Case, Gitzo, iPhone, MacBook, Monopod, Optech, Pelican, Photo Mechanic, PhotoShelter, Software, Strap, Sunday Football, Technique, Think Tank