Published December 13, 2018 12:00AM
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Why This Photographer Won't Travel Without This App
Michael Clark follows world-class athletes to the far reaches of the earth. This is his go-to gear to get him there.
Michael Clark photographing Red Bull Air Force team members B.A.S.E. Jumping off the Fisher Towers near Moab, Utah.
With all the gear he needs to shoot his subjects—elite mountain bikers, climbers, whitewater kayakers, and big-wave surfers—photographer Michael Clark can’t exactly pack light when he’s traveling to some of the earth’s most far-flung locales. While his kit varies by assignment, there are some essentials he always brings to make his life easier, whether he’s working in Patagonia’s mountains or New York’s urban jungle.
Peak Design Everyday Messenger 15 Inch ($250)
“This bag fits a camera and lenses, but I often take out the padded dividers to use it as a regular shoulder or laptop bag. Plus, it’s a decent size, so it could be all you need for a carry-on.”
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Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II ($350)
“They’re kind of pricey, but if you’re flying a lot, these over-ear noise-cancelling headphones really cut down on hearing loss, so you don’t show up at your destination half-deaf.”
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Goal Zero Venture 30 Power Bank ($100)
“There are like a billion little charging sticks out there. This might not be the smallest, but I use it because it works for my smartphone and my cameras. It’ll do about two and a half full charges of my phone, and at least one charge of some mirrorless cameras.”
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LowePro Toploader Pro 70 AW II ($80)
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“If you need a camera-specific bag, the LowePro Toploader Pro has been one of my go-tos for years. Bigger and heavier-duty than some other brands, it’s great for larger cameras like DSLRs. It’s also way more protective and has a built-in rain shell.”
Sun Seeker App ($10, iOS and Android)
“This app helps me figure out where the sun is going to be at any time of day, wherever I am. It uses GPS and knows which way I’m pointing the phone, to show me the exact path of the sun, which is pretty cool.”
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Eagle Creek Pack-It Original Garment Folder ($29)
“I don’t have many nice shirts, but this packing cube comes in handy when I have to dress up to give talks in front of a bunch of people. It has four flaps and an internal piece of plastic to keep it rigid, which makes it easy to fold and stack shirts.”
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Platypus 1-Liter SoftBottle ($9)
“They’re wicked light and pack down tiny when they’re empty. I’ve also found them to be super durable, and they don’t leech plastic flavor into the water, so it always tastes great.”
