Photography, especially digital photography, is innately a technology-based endeavor. Try as you might, you can’t avoid it. While I am better than many in resisting GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) urges, I openly admit that I had no qualms about diving into the deep end of the gear pool. Come on in . . . the water is fine!

While Ann may be comparatively new to photography, there was absolutely no transition period needed to fit into the gear thing. Face it, it just might explain how she so quickly improved her image-making. Anyway, Ann’s ability to find great gear is unmatched and her eclectic gear interests are enough to appeal to any gear hound!

Getting to your photographic destination is almost as important as what you bring to use once you get there. Especially for the types of places we try to get to and the fact we live in our rig once we get there. Beast was our first off-road travel van, specifically designed to support our photography trips. She wasn’t our last!

It doesn’t end with cameras and off-road vehicles. You have to figure out where you want to go, plan your trip there, figure out where you are and how to get around once you’re there and, when you finally get back home, you have to organize and develop all of the images you made. Call this stuff the back-end support gear for the vehicle and cameras!

This is the category that really sneaks up on you. You simply can’t have enough knives, flashlights, hats, photography vests or gloves to keep you from thinking you might just need one more . . . for extra back-up. And of course you need those water boots, rain shells, thermal layers and winter parkas because nobody wants to be wet and cold. It all adds up!