Just print this out.

Checklist of fieldwork items to bring:

1. A tripod with a 'ball head'.   Notes on the right kind to get are further down- make sure you get the right one for your needs.  If needed, low priced rentals are available from Michael.

2. Tripod bag, but not necessarily for this particular class if it's the weekend one only, we will shoot the whole time and not put it away sometimes like we do for the one week classes.

3. Camera and preferred film (does not matter which kind) or your digital memory card.

4. Camera instruction manual.  NEVER leave home without it.

5.  Spare batteries.  If you don't have them, get them- and make sure they are charged up.  Who wants to be making a possible award winning image and then miss out because of this lack of preparedness?  It's a good idea to have the charger handy for an emergency charge up.  It's pretty easy to find a shop worker that will let you 'borrow' an electrical outlet and most re-charge fully in less than an hour.

6. Small note pad and pen or pencil for making field notes.

7. Hat and suntan screen. Especially if you are fair skinned. 99% of the time it's very sunny here. For your northerners flying in: even if it's overcast, fair skinned people tend to get sun burnt due to our southern location in So. California, closer to the equator.

8. Polarizer filter.  It screws on the front of your lens- (for most lenses, but not all).  If you have an 'auto focus' camera, you will need the 'circular polarizer', if you don't, a regular 'linear' one is the type you will need, and those are less expensive.  They run about $50 -$60, depending on brand name/style needed.  The best money you will ever spend, besides taking a Seewald class or getting the right tripod and ball head ;/) . 

Most of the 'low end' digital cameras will not have screw-on filter capability, but you can hold your polarized sunglasses over the lens for the same effect in many cases, or buy the filter and just hold it over it too, as the ear piece from sunglasses are hard to work around.

9. Rain gear/ layered clothing. (Umbrella and rain poncho) change of clothes or layering of clothes (you can leave it all in your car if it not threatening or at home if it's not in the forecast at all- if you trust them that is).  Michael always has a small, fold up umbrella he sticks in his vest pocket (most pro-jackets have a place for them) and a rain poncho folded up and stuffed in the back pocket of the jacket.  If he knows it will rain, he puts a 'golf umbrella' in with his tripod in his tripod bag to make sure shooting in the rain is actually fun.  You see, rain is your friend if you stay dry (as you can make spectacular photos in it when everyone else is cowering under door entryways or inside).

10. A photo backpack.  For those of your real serious shooters with many lenses (and if you are you probably already have one), if not, we suggest you do.