I’m off on holiday in the morning and there’s been some frantic packing going on to get everything ready for our 5 hour trip up to the Lake District. That said, my toy selection and camera gear has been (mostly) prepared for days! So, hot on the heels of Shelly’s awesome ‘What’s in my bag?’ post last week, this week I’m sharing what’s going with me on holiday (and hopefully on several hikes during the week if the weather’s good!)

The kit

First up, the non-toy items!

What's in my bag?

How much do I need to carry?

  1. A light reflector! Not something I used to carry but I learnt the value of it over the last few toy safaris!
  2. Lights. I have an envue cube and a mini-Aperture light. I haven’t travelled with the cube before but the mini-led from Apature is a brilliant size for the travelling toy photographer.
  3. An Exped waterpoof sack. This is new, so I can’t vouch for it’s effectiveness, but I plan on keeping it handy in case of (likely) torrential downpours to protect my camera gear. Will also be useful for putting wet toys and towels in! Speaking of which…
  4.  A towel! Such a good thing to take with you! I bought this small quick dry towel for Kendo, but proves a great size for travelling. Can also be used as emergency picnic blanket!
  5. Maps! We’re hiking in places we’ve not been to, so will take a paper OS map with us. Obviously this may not be required, depending on where you are planning on taking your photos!
  6. First aid kit and emergency whistle. I would argue that everyone should have some kind of first aid kit when they are out photographing, but as we will be out in the fells, it’s a must have. As is the whistle. Just in case we get completely lost.
  7. Tripod. OK, I’ll admit that most of the time I carry it and never use it. But the day I don’t carry it will turn out to be the day I want it. So into the bag it goes.
  8. Hair tie. Every bag should have one. Even blokes. You can be that guy that saves the long-hair day!
  9. Lens cleaning brush and toy cleaning brush. Good for removing dust.
  10. Polarising filter, just in case.
  11. Camera remote for all-important selfies.
  12. Lighting cable SD reader, so I can back up my photos onto my phone (and share!)
  13. LEGO tape. Not used this out and about before, but could be useful?
  14. Joby camera sling and security attachment (the last time I took my camera on the sling without the safety, it fell off whilst walking down Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh! Not something to repeat!)
  15. Spare battery and SD card. NEVER, EVER go without a spare battery if you can help it!
  16. My camera and lenses. I’m still in love with my 40mm for toy photos, but I want to learn to use my 35mm so it’s coming with me as well. Plus my kit lens for any other use case. I might not take these all out everyday though!

The toys

So that’s the regular kit that will be in my bag. What about the toys though? A week away from home without being able to pick and choose might be tough, but I don’t want to take too much with me! It’s also hard because at the moment, the weather could change at any time!

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First up, we have mostly non-LEGO items (bar the disassembled TARDIS! It will be in one piece before we leave, if I can locate the instruction manual!) I’m taking some of my favourites (new and old) to play with. I’m really hoping I can finally get a good shot of the Mummy bear this year. Grumpy Snape is coming with me as well. Just because his grumpy face makes me endlessly happy. The toy dinos are coming so I can get a few ‘Toy Dino Tuesday’ photos sorted in the woods.

After this, it all kind of descends into ‘how much LEGO can I cram into a box’ territory! (Don’t ask me how Rex made it into that photo as well! He gets everywhere!) In all, I’m taking a box of minifigures and a box of accessories. You never know when that all-important accessory is the one you left at home so I’m covering my bases and taking a whole lot! And on the off-chance it snows again, I’m bringing skis!

Thankfully, despite having quite the collection to carry, it does all collapse down rather neatly! Now I just have to get in the car without adding anymore to the collection!

LEGO hiker figure in the woods

I guess now is the time to learn to read a map!

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks (assuming I don’t get lost in the woods). Until then, have fun photographing!

P.S. I didn’t forget blue-tac! I just need to go buy some more so couldn’t take a picture of it!

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