To shoot skateboarding, there’s a mixed bag of photography gear you’re going to need. Snapping onto your camera body, your lenses (long lens and fisheye) are where you’ll start, but what else do the seasoned skate photographers have in their bags and in the trunk? Read on and we’ll let you know what we’ve seen in the streets.
Nikon Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth on REI
This should be your fist purchase at the camera store, don’t leave without one. You’ll be out in the streets getting dusty and dirty. Keep your gear clean. Dust on your camera’s sensor is mad annoying. BUY HERE
Nikon
Lens Blower
Hand in hand with the lens wipe, an air blower will help a ton when you’re pulling out your gear, changing lenses, etc. Filmers on the session will be hyped too when you let them borrow it.
Amazon
Tripod At B&H
From time to time, you’ll want to put your camera on a tripod if you’re getting a long exposure, or maybe you want to shoot a plate to later take some stuff out of the photo. For low-pro placement, they make these handy sandbag/tripod mounts that come in clutch. BUY HERE
BandH
Related: 8 Most Popular Cameras Used to Capture Skateboarding
Film Canister
Yes you can put your shot film back in these for protection until you drop them at the lab, but did you also know these canisters are water-proof? I’ll let you think of good alternative uses for them.
Related: 8 Must-Know Skateboard Photographers Who Define the Culture
Lens Protector
PolarPro has a pretty rad and rugged lens cap/protector for different size lenses. This comes in handy when you’re switching lenses fast and maybe putting them down on hard surfaces. The ridges will keep your lenses from rolling off the table, and there’s a stash spot inside!
PolarPro
Filters
Some other tricks you can mess with—try some filters you can screw onto the front of your lens. Filmers swear by ND (neutral density) filters that lower light during the day. If you shoot outside in daylight a lot, try a polarizing filter that will bring some color into those blue skies and cut some of the glare and reflection. Black Mist filters are popular with fashion photographers and portraiture as it softens the light and smoothes out blemishes. PolarPro has a pretty rad ShortStache filter that actually combines a Black Mist filmer and a Polarizer.
PolarPro
Gels
These were big in ’90s skate photography. Get a mixed pack of colored gels, they won’t take up much space in your bag. Experiment with some colors on your strobes: Backlight or even your key lights. Rules were made to be broken!
Amazon
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Shoelaces
Keep a pair in your camera bag—you can use it to tie a strobe to a fence, tie trees or bushes out of the way of a spot, can swap it to replace a broken belt or an actual shoelace.
Hat
Sunburn sucks. Keep a big-brimmed hat in your bag or car. Long sessions in the sun suck when you’re just sitting there getting broiled waiting for the skater to land his trick.
Pen
You might need to write down settings and developing instructions on rolls of film, sign autographs, or I one time saw a photographer make a grid for his strobe with a vinyl drink coozie that he stretched out and punched holes in with a pen. True story.
