It’s Friday morning before a race weekend. You know what that means.

Time to start packing. As a mountain bike photographer, the day that is generally the end of most people’s work week is just the beginning of mine.

Looking at the bed of my Toyota Tacoma, I tuck everything I will need for a weekend away from civilization, enjoying trails away from home and shooting as many race day photos as I can, both on the trail and off.

Camping gear? Check. Food for the weekend? Check. Bike and riding gear? Check. But something is still missing…

Oh right - the camera bag! Can’t forget that. How else would I do my best impression of a teenage mutant ninja turtle on a mountain bike?

If there’s one thing that all photographers have in common - whether you’re into action sports or portraits, hobbyist or pro - it’s an addiction to our gear. In the same way that having the right bike for the right trail can drastically change the way you ride that trail, having the right camera gear for the job can mean the difference between taking a couple of good shots and leaving with an SD card or two full of great photos.

So what exactly goes in the ninja turtle-esque bag? How do I decide what to take with me and what to leave at home? In this post, I am going to break down exactly what goes in my bag and why.

Load the Canon!

First things first: the camera body.

My Canon EOS R6 is my pride and joy (well, at least until the Canon EOS R1 comes out). The R6 has been nothing short of a game-changer for me. Making the switch to a mirrorless platform from my old Canon 80d brought with it a list of new valuable features that I almost find hard to live without now.

Forewarning: I’m about to nerd out about its features a little bit. Canon is not sponsoring this post, I promise.

One of the things I love about the R6 is the dual SD card slots. This allows me to take pictures and save them to both cards. That way I always have a backup of the shoot in case one card fails. It hasn’t happened yet, but frankly, I like having one less thing to worry about.

Next, is the the R6’s electronic viewfinder. This kind of changed the game for me. In short, this lets me preview the settings on my camera so I can get a good idea of how a shot will come out. This makes adjusting my settings as I move around to different spots on a trail much simpler. No more taking test shots to review exposure!

The camera also has a full-frame sensor and incredible low-light sensitivity. Of course, for mountain bike races, this doesn’t come into play very often as those usually take place in the middle of the day. But I recently had the opportunity to work some photography magic at a concert, which taught me a lot not just about working in environments with low light, but also taught me a lot about what this camera is capable of.

And finally, the eye detection autofocus is just… *chef’s kiss*

On the trails, I typically have just a few seconds warning before a rider comes barreling down the trail at full speed. This does not give me a lot of time to make sure the rider is in focus. The eye detection in the R6 does exactly what it says - it detects eyes and faces and automatically tracks them as they move through the frame and helps keep my shots crisp and clear, no matter how fast the action. Most of the time - nothing is ever perfect every time.

The Glass

Having a good camera is all well and good, but the single most important choice to be made for any photo shoot is which lens to use. They are also often the most expensive things in the bag and the ceiling for what you can pay for one almost has no limit.

There are two lenses that go with me to every single shoot. Chances are you find them in most other action sports photographers’ bags as well.

Let There Be Light

Although most mountain bike races take place in the middle of the day, there are some occasions where a little bit of light goes a long way.

Flash is something I have only recently added to the bag and started experimenting with. I have not used it trailside yet - mostly because I’m afraid of flashing lights and distracting riders when they’re trying to focus - but I have used it for family shoots and weddings to help eliminate unwanted shadows. I usually pack it just in case it's needed, but it generally gets left in the truck come race day to reduce the wait I haul it around the trail

When I am in desperate need of extra light on the trail - like at the DFW Series at Erwin Park in McKinney, Texas - I turn to a set of LED light panels. I usually keep these at home because they are pretty bulky, requiring a separate bag all of their own and a way to power them, but they have come in handy. They provide a steady stream of light that I can position just right to brighten up my subject or gently light up the trail. This way, I can get shots of the rider without blinding them as they fly down the trail.

LIMITED POWER!

Remember how I said my Canon R6 was my pride and joy? Well, all those extra features come at the cost of a lot of battery consumption. Thankfully, extra camera batteries don't take up much space or weight, so one or two extra battery packs usually see me through a shoot with no trouble.

That said, I usually have to camp when I go to races, so I have to plan ahead and bring my own power source to recharge everything overnight. For that, I have grown very fond of my Jackery. While this 200w portable battery system does not fit in the bag, it has a permanent home in the backseat of my truck, where I can easily plug up everything I need.

In an extreme circumstance, I can even get one full charge on my e-bike with it!

What About the Bag?

That’s pretty much it as far as the gear itself, but what do I actually put it all in?

I recently upgraded to the EVOC CP-26L (I know, the name just rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it).

Despite its not-so-sexy name, the bag is a beast with 26 liters of storage space and was designed with outdoor photographers in mind. It’s got a hydration pocket (definitely key for being on the trail for long hours), straps for a tripod, high-quality padding for gear protection, and a quick access pocket for the camera so I don’t need to look like I’m setting up a full-fledged studio. Just whip the camera out and take the shot.

Switching from my old bag, this feature in particular has been a real time-saver and I honestly believe I’ve been able to capture more shots because of it. I’m telling you, it’s the little details that make all the difference.

As someone who's had a few rough encounters with gravity while carrying all his camera gear, take it from me, this is an area you want to thoroughly explore based on your needs and gear. If your first big spend is on top-tier lenses, your next one should be on a solid, protective transport system for them.

All Zipped Up

Okay, bags packed with the essentials. Anything else?

Other than what's already been listed here you can also find lens cleaning wipes, business cards (which I need to get better about handing out), ear pods, and other items you would expect to see in just about any daily use bag.

Also snacks. I tend to stay pretty busy during race weekends and don’t get much of a chance to stop and grab a bite to eat during the race, so having a few quick snacks tucked away in my bag is essential. Cliff bars have sustained me through more shoots than I can count.

Some of the gear does change depending on the shoot I have planned. Sometimes I'll add some additional lenses or bring some extra lighting, but for the most part, this is my personal setup.

I hope you found this post entertaining and or informative. Better yet, maybe you want to talk gear! Hit me up on social media or if you happen to see me trailside. Always love to talk tech and see what cool shots you’ve captured with it.

See you guys at the next race - I’ll be the guy cheering you on from behind the lens!

What’s in the Bag?