Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

Things were tough during the Stone Age. No camera bags; no photo backpacks, either. Some citizens were so starved for visual stimulation that they resorted to painting stick figures on the walls inside their caves. Others just bided their time, waiting to evolve.

"Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury." These words come directly from NASA, and they ought to know. Don't take chances. Be informed. Read what NASA says about annular eclipse safety.

If 2020 taught us nothing else, we collectively learned that things can go wrong. Terribly wrong. If your photos and video footage are important to you (and, as a photographer, they should be), then you need to buy a trusty storage or backup device pronto.

Labor Day is in the rearview mirror, and for many of us who enjoy four seasons, summer has ended. Oh, sure, she’ll linger for a little while like a damp firecracker that spurts one last courageous spark and then sits there threatening to pop—but she’s spent, and she’s truly unable to produce another bang. Soon she’ll simply whimper and limp away, gray and exhausted, same as last year. She has been worn out by too many rainbows and too many long, warm, peaceful nights full of stars and hopes and dreams. Summer doesn’t fade—she steps into the shadows to catch her breath.

If you’re interested in matching two or more pieces of your camera luggage, or even if you’re not, Think Tank’s Retrospective line, version 2.0, includes seven (7) separate pieces, including a 15 Liter photo backpack and a set of shoulder bags in sizes for everyone.

Prominent camera bagmaker NYA-EVO has introduced their popular Fjord 36 camera backpack with its main fabric made of Econyl, a sustainable material manufactured from nylon waste that would otherwise be part of the world’s solid, non-biodegradable junk pollution.

Is that your shutter snapping or your teeth chattering? If cold weather is bad for your body, it’s even worse for your camera body. Moisture of any kind is a camera killer. And freezing temperatures contribute to everything from internal condensation to diminished battery performance. Herewith, then, are my seven favorite cold weather tips and accessories.