My Camera Bag - Playoff Edition

[Jeremy Igo]

This may not interest many of you, but for those of you with an interest in photography, here is how I travel to away NFL games. (The irony of me taking these photos with my phone is not lost on me.)

 

Remember, I don't have the luxury of corporate backing and a large budget. I own and maintain all of this equipment. So you won't see any 12,000 dollar lenses like the big boys use. But I make do...

 

 

First up, and should not be overlooked, is travel bag. I choose to use a backpack, namely the Tamrac Expedition 8x. FOr me its just much easier and mobile to get around a crowded stadium area and in the tunnels. This thing is iron clad, have had it for years. Even accidentally dropped it in a pool once (don't ask). None of my equipment was wet.

 

 

 

 

A nice feature is the front pocket is large enough to fit a 17 inch laptop.

 

 

 

The monopod is mounted on the side. A monopod is just what it sounds like, a tripod but with one led. It is a back and shoulder saver on the field and a big help in keeping the frame steady. Its a manfrotto monopod, highly recommended brand. Very durable.

 

Inside the bag....

 

 

Camera Bodies:

 

Nikon D4 - The Nikon D4 is a solid football camera. Super quick reaction, durable, and amazing low light capabilities for night games. Really I have no urge to use anything else.

 

Nikon D3s -

The D3s is also good, but with less megapixels and not quite as good low light performance, but still more than acceptable.

 

 

(note: a good way to get my eyes to gloss over and lose interest is telling me how much better one camera brand is better than another. I really don't care. To mimic Jack Nicholson in The Departed.... I'm an artist. Give me a fuggin polaroid and I'll get ya something out of it. )

 

That mesh nylon bag up top? Holds the aquatech sport shield. Think rain coat for a camera. Probably smart to take it to Seattle. Obviously I don't take it to dome games.

 

The Lenses:

 

Sigma 120-300 2.8. This is my main football camera. A lot of photographers use 400-600mm to shoot football. Editors want really tight photos of players. I really don't care for that as much. 300mm for me is the ideal length. Here is why...

 

A shot a newspaper or magazine editor would like... tight and facial expression

 

 

A shot I prefer....

 

 

For me, the second picture tells more of a story, it even reads left to right. Of course, there is no correct answer. This is all subjective.

 

Sure, with only 300mm of reach I have to run around like a mad man while other guys can just hang out in the end zone, but I need the exercise.

 

Nikon 70-200 2.8 This is mainly a backup lens should the sigma lens fail. I will use it something in goal line situations within the 5 yard line especially if I think a run is coming.

 

Nikon 24-70 2.8 This is my wide angle. Used for celebrations that are close for me and player interactions on the field after the game.

 

Like these...

 

 

 

 

 

That strap in the middle of the camera bag is a black rapid camera strap. If you still use the old school camera straps that connect to the top of the camera at either end, you should stop. This new type of strap connects to the bottom of the camera and is made for super quick pull and shoot. SO if you are on a monopod with a large lens and have exactly 1.3 seconds to grab your wide angle and get a shot off... its a must have.

 

Overall the weight is about 40 pounds. Gives me a good amount of exercise lugging it to and fro.

 

There you have it, a one man show covering the game from the field on a modest budget.

[CarolinaXblue]

Rad post dude. Have a safe trip!

[!stUp]

I really like the Duck Tape around the lens Zod...nice touch.   

[ThPantherFan]

Battle worn equipment; time tested applications; artistic expressions, you're the man.  You provide a quality product and many of us appreciate the effort.  Have you arrived in Seattle yet?  5 star hotel or motel 6?  Chang's Bistro or McDonalds?  You deserve the best of any and all but you're a frugal man.  Hopefully the Huddle will cough up what you need for the Superbowl.  Hopefully there's enough kitty money to get you to the next one.  Have fun, my friend.

[Jeremy Igo]

I really like the Duck Tape around the lens Zod...nice touch.   

 

Show me a photographer without duct tape on his equipment, and I'll show you a photographer that frequently misses shots.

[Jeremy Igo]

Battle worn equipment; time tested applications; artistic expressions, you're the man.  You provide a quality product and many of us appreciate the effort.  Have you arrived in Seattle yet?  5 star hotel or motel 6?  Chang's Bistro or McDonalds?  You deserve the best of any and all but you're a frugal man.  Hopefully the Huddle will cough up what you need for the Superbowl.  Hopefully there's enough kitty money to get you to the next one.  Have fun, my friend.

 

Arriving at 12:30 tomorrow. Cross your fingers for no flight delays.

[YourMomsLover]

Good stuff man. Thanks for sharing

[Montsta]

You really are an artist man. I've seen Panthers players on Instagram use your pictures so many times. If they are posting them, you know they like the way you captured the moment. I am also a fan of your preference to get a little bit wider of a shot. It tells more of the story in my opinion. Like getting a celebration of Tre Boston is one thing, but capturing Tre and seeing Josh Norman trying to do a jumping chest bump and fly past everyone is something else entirely.

You are to sideline photography what SCP is to pooping, and that's really the best compliment I could give you.

Well done sir.

[!stUp]

The black and whites are awesome.... none better in any national publications IMHO.

[Carolinaboy1979]

Love your photography! My wife is a photographer. She uses a Canon 6D...(not comparing, I know nothing about photography). The Cam pic above and the Luke pic in the rain are my all time faves. My wife's website is LYLSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM (shameless plug)..Check her out. 

[Jase]

All zooms?  I understand the versatility, but is distortion ever an issue with any of them?

[Lumps]

How did you drop the backpack in a swimming pool?

[KJ89]

I've always wanted to know what's in your bag..

I knew you didn't shoot anything like 600mm but knowing your lenses now, I have even more respect for your shots. I've always preferred your more composed, distant style over the tight magazine ones too.

Thanks for sharing..

[Nick_81]

Show me a photographer without duct tape on his equipment, and I'll show you a photographer that frequently misses shots.

What's the reason?  Just being curious... I know zero about photography.