Are you new to nature photography? Are you struggling a bit with the huge selection of equipment surrounding nature shooting? Are you overwhelmed by the cost and quantity of high tech gizmos you find in photography magazines like Outdoor Photographer and others? Don't worry, you aren't alone. I think one of the greatest initial challenges any newby to nature photography struggles with is dealing with what to buy first. Sure the standard advice always applies--"buy what works best for your style of photography". But being new means you don't have your own style let alone even knowing you can have one--"is that one of the first things to get?" No, that'll come later. I had my share of mistakes when I first started. In our business that usually means I wasted my share of money--more than my share, actually. Being that I'm never the "keep a secret" type of guy, here are some of my suggestions on when to get certain key pieces of equipment. Hopefully, you'll get to avoid the same mistakes I made.

Step 1 - Your first step.

The first and initially most important acquisition you can make is the first camera. Sure going out with you dads old Pentax k1000--by the way, this camera is noted by some as the most perfect blend of simplicity, capability, and cost ever combined in a camera. No, you have to make your own purchase, buy your own thing, take ownership in your own equipment. Borrowing someone elses equipment works fine initially. However, once you start hanging over high cliffs, shooting towards tumbling rapids, putting the other guys gear in danger you have to get out and get your own gear. Shoot, you have to if for no other reason than to have your gear around whenever you want it.

Picking an initial camera isn't an easy task and that topic has to honestly be covered in another separate article. For now, we'll assume you know what you want but are only wondering what else to buy during that initial purchase. Along with getting the first camera, you need a lens. Which lens, you're asking? I personally like wide to short telephoto lenses like a 35-70mm f/2.8. Others might want you to get a "normal" lens to which I depart in their logic. The problem is a "normal" lens is too inflexible for those new to photography. Since you're probably on a budget being flexible gives you more bang for the buck. The f/2.8 aperture size may seem a bit large but consider I don't ever recommend getting place-fitter equipment. As in, "I'll buy this lens for now because I can get the real McCoy later when I have more money. Buy like you're going to keep the stuff forever. Taking that attitude will eventually give you a complete line of gear with very little or no overlap between the lenses and in the shortest possible time. It's a good thing.

What else should you initially get? How about a flash? While nature photography rarely requires you to use flash, the times you do use one you will definitely feel you need one. More importantly, having a new camera, you'll be roped by your supposed friends into shooting various family events like Joe's 50th birthday, Anne's graduation... Inevitably these events happen in the darkest/dankest locales, far exceeding any cameras natural light capability. Anyway, you'll want to practice using flash on these "cooperative" subjects before getting really serious with "uncooperative" natural subjects. Like lenses, I recommended getting the best you can afford for the whole idea of avoiding getting something that's just "temporary". Usually this means your camera manufacturers top of the line flash like the Nikon's SB-800 for the Nikon faithful out there.

What now? You need something to put your new gear into. You need something to store and protect your investment when traveling to and from those exotic locations like the local park. Unfortunately, if you're like me--and I'm not that bad compared to many of my photography friends, oh by the way--this means purchasing the first of many camera bags over a career length. Good thing because there's hope for us all. Camera bag makers have recently learned to make modular bag systems meaning you can buy components that either stand alone or can be combined with other components to make a better camera bag. Lowe Pro or Kinesis Gear are two companies that build these kinds of system. Buy something that fits your needs now but can be easily combined or upgraded when you eventually get a better system.

Synopsis - Camera, Normal telephoto zoom, dedicated flash, camera bag...

So ends step 1.

Step 2 - Basic support.

You now have a perfectly working camera and been shooting away with your normal sized zoom lens. What now? Regardless of what type of photography you're interested in you need a tripod This is probably the only area I might depart from my basic philosophy of not purchasing something for temporary use. For many, many reasons, lots of the best intermediate, dedicated photographers shoot with carbon fiber tripods. They're great but they're expensive. Without getting into the benefits of CF tripods over their more conventional aluminum versions just know CF tripods are awesome. But, for the initial level of photography you're probably shooting at, a CF tripod is a bit over the top cost wise. So what now? I like the Bogen 3021 or 3221 for many reasons. I started with one years ago--still have it in fact. It easily supports most cameras adequately--certianly equal to the weight of the gear you have now. And, it costs just over a hundred bucks compared to about $500 for an equivalent Gitzo CF tripod. While it's not perfect, it will give satisfactory service for many years.

Next, you need something to connect your tripod to your camera or the other way around. This means a tripod head of some type. There are two basic categories of tripod heads--pano and ball heads. Which do you want? I suggest the ball head for many, many reasons, not the least being they're so easy to use. Now, if you're following my recommendation, the following challenge becomes choosing a tripod head. There are many, many out there on the market. It seems like the top two makers are Gitzo and Kirk Photo--Okay, sidenote, Really Right Stuff makes a great ball head which I haven't seen let alone touch but for sure it's out of the price range of any normal beginner. Which one do you want? That's a great question. It's my experience the difference the two is practically nothing. There are many, many more things to worry about than letting this simple decision drive so much enjoyment. I practically have to say just pick one... as in E-ni Me-ni My-ni Mo. Regardless, picking either one will cost you almost $400 dollars. But, that's not all. You have to have a way to attach you new tripod to your camera. Enter the Arca style lens plate.