A friend recently asked me to travel to India.

© Hans Hendriksen

Practically, this seemed like the wrong timing, but I couldn't resist.

India is a place I've never been yet heard so much about. So I'm dusting off the old hiking boots and off to place myself in the thick of a new (to me) culture.

It's also an opportunity to get in some serious travel photography. The question is, what to pack for a trip which will invariably throw up all kinds of photography challenges and opportunities?

I’ve decided to break down my pack to the bare essentials, and have it on me every second of the day. My 35mm camera body sits at the top of the gear list. With this I'll include a 24mm - 80mm telephoto lens, and an 80mm - 300mm lens for isolating distant subjects.

A good way to double your lens focal length without the bulk of a 600mm, is to add a 2x tele converter to the camera. This is also a lot cheaper than buying a larger lens, however you will need to work on your exposures, as results are often underexposed.

Because camera movement is amplified with larger lenses, it’s important to pack a tripod. In fact I’ve used one with almost every landscape I've taken. Something compact and light is, obviously, best. If you can't fit one in, try to stabilise your camera on what ever solid structure is available at the time (a wall, a ledge, a rock, a post, a tree, a car) and try to find something that is level with the horizon if you can.

Two filters is all I'll use. Firstly a polarizer (a photographer’s best friend) to enhance colours and cut through haze and reflections, and secondly an 81a warm-up filter. As the name suggests, this creates a slightly warmer tone to an image, and comes in handy in colder, overcast conditions: like the higher Himalayas in India.

I’ve also been convinced to pack a panoramic camera – not the usual traveller’s equipment – so to fit this in, my macro gear will unfortunately be left back at home. I’ll also include a shutter release cable just to make sure each image comes back sharp.

For those who don't have a camera with built in flash, make some space for an attachable one. A small amount of ‘fill flash’ is often needed to illuminate a foreground, or bring out detail in shaded areas, giving your images a more professional look. Try experimenting with your flash in daylight, too. Learning to control the intensity of your flash creates subtle improvements to an image.

Lastly, the most important thing: film. If you're like me and get the most from photography using traditional methods, then you're going to need plenty of this. My advice is to purchase your film prior to traveling, as in some countries you may have difficulty finding your favourite brand – or even dodgy film that is still in date!
A lot of rumours circulate about airport x-rays fogging certain speeds of film. A general rule has been to carry film under 800 ISO only to avoid film damage, however I've travelled with much higher speeds and found it safe. If uncertain, buy slower film, and push the rating a stop or two to your required speed once there. Don't forget to label each roll once exposed to avoid being processed incorrectly.

As I've always said, Fuji Velvia is unsurpassed, and even though it's preferred rating is 50 ISO, I can rely on pushing this film at least two stops to 200 ISO, and still get more colour and sharpness than any other. In a nut shell, I'll be filling every bit of spare space with rolls of it!

If I was travelling to India to shoot landscapes, some of this equipment I could do without. This time I've chosen focus on the culture (no pun intended).

If you study photographs you’ll be surprised at how often you can recognise a country by looking at the people in the images. I've found most people don't mind having their photographs taken. Approaching them in a polite manner is the key. Capturing people at work is a great way to show the spirit of local activities, but my favourite is through play. Remember, though, in some parts of the world photographs are not advisable. I came across many Aboriginal communities across Australia where their belief is that their soul is removed if photographed. In my opinion this must be respected.

On my travels through Australia I came across several photogenic pubs. All with walls full of detail and history typifying the classic outback lifestyle. One, however, just had to be photographed. Named the Lions Den Hotel, and on the track to Cooktown, this dwelling was unique and the cattlemen at the bar completed the picture perfectly – the only thing standing in my way was their permission to shoot them. It was early in the afternoon, but these blokes already had a few under their belt, so my approach had to be thought out. I didn't want to put a halt to their fun and laughter, or furthermore, become it! I decided to go straight to the top and ask the publican, but his answer was to personally ask each of them, fair enough.

As a self confessed expert in the field of approach, I knew there was only one way to do this: join them! I slowly swaggered over to the bar and ordered a beer to help provide inspiration, and after a short period of laughing at their jokes, found myself involved in a conversation. My confidence was high and I bought the next round for the bar, then, timing it perfectly, suggested I take their picture. All of a sudden I was their own private photographer, them wanting a shot "over here", and "one with Baz and Jono" and "can you send these to me? Here's my address". Just as well I came with enough film. At the end of the experience I had the image I was after, plus a new group of mates who still get the odd postcard every so often.

I admit that in this case I may have created a drama that needn't have been there. I now know to ask everyone politely, and offer them a drink which is always effective and saves having a hangover the next day.

Like most things, the more you do it, the better you get and my plan while in India is to grow as a travel photographer. For me this is far from a vacation, it is a professional decision to educate myself in the culture and emotion of such a spiritual land.

Am I convincing? Ok, I admit it, I'm having a holiday...can't wait to show you the results!