Camera accessories can mean the difference between good and great photographs.
Photography involves a lot more than simply buying a camera and taking pictures. A camera needs to be stored properly, photographs need to be managed, and there are a wide range of accessories that can help a photographer turn his effort into a work of art. Camera accessories are not absolutely necessary, but they make a photographer's job easier and can help bring photographs to life.
Camera Storage
Use a camera bag to transport your camera equipment. A shooter bag, or small camera bag, is good for short trips. Use a waterproof camera bag or heavy duty plastic storage bag to protect your camera from moisture if necessary. Keep camera and lens cleaning supplies in your bag in case your equipment needs cleaning on the go.
Photograph Storage
Carry at least three or four memory cards in your camera bag, or, if you are using a traditional camera, carry numerous extra rolls of film. Memory cards are small, so store them in a larger container, such as a film canister or plastic bag. An external hard drive for your computer can come in hand for storing photographs without cluttering your computer's main hard drive.
Lenses
A standard lens, with a focal length of 35 mm to 70 mm, can be used for most photographs, and is the most versatile of lenses. Use a telephoto lens, with a focal length of 70 mm to 300 mm, or longer, for extremely long distances, a wide angle lens, with a focal length of 35 mm or less, for a wide field of view, and a macro lens, with a focal length of 35 mm to 50 mm, for close-up shots.
Filters
UV protective filters protect your camera lens from harmful UV glare; polarizing filters can deepen the intensity of color and are especially useful in outdoor or landscape photographs; neutral density filters reduce light without affecting the intensity of color; warming and cooling filters adjust light to add mood or atmosphere to a photograph. For special affects, use a colored, split field, rainbow spot, dual image, softener, fog, infrared, or portrait filter.
Flashes and Flash Diffusers
Inexpensive cameras often come with a built-in flash, but high end cameras often have a mounted flash. For studio photography, the flash can be an entirely separate piece of equipment, mounted on its own tripod. Flash reflectors are useful for directing the light of a flash, or for directing natural light if not flash is used. Flash diffusers, usually mounted on the camera, soften the harsh effects that some flashes cause in photographs.
Tripods
Tripods will prevent your arms from growing tired when taking time-lapse photographs, panoramic landscape shots, or multiple pictures of one subject. Use a tripod to keep the camera still as a photograph is taken. Tripods are available in a wide variety of sizes and adjustability; sturdy tripods work well for studio photography, while lightweight and collapsible tripods work well for travel or landscape photography.
The Camera
Purchase a camera that is durable, easy to use, and fits your budget. Technique is more important than an expensive camera; photographers have been creating award-winning work for decades without digital technology or hi-tech cameras. Choose a camera with features you can understand, that you feel comfortable with, and, especially if you are a travel photographer, that you easily can transport. Camera features and resolution definitely can improve a photograph, but technique and creativity play a more important role in good hotography than the equipment.
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