Must have camera gear: Joby Gorilla Pod

If there is one thing I never leave behind, it’s the Joby Gorilla Pod. This is about the baddest, lightest, and cheapest camera gear you can buy. I hate carrying around my Manfrotto tripod (although I still use it often). I know the purists say “real” photographers carry their tripod everywhere. Call me big baby, but I think tripods are a clumsy heavy burden, especially while on the road. They are best used for accidentally hitting old ladies over the head while in crowded public places. With the gorilla pod, you can secure your camera on just about anything. Make sure you get the ball head too or it’s an extreme pain in the ass to use.

About the photo: Trolley warp

Hong Kong will blow your mind. I’ve never seen so many lights, people, and concrete crammed into one place. One of my favorite experiences was riding the HK street trams or trolleys. They are double deckers – not enough space so everything must go up. To take this photo, I sat on the top of the car and attached my gorilla pod to the railing in front of me. My settings were 4 seconds at f/18, ISO 200, 18mm. The long exposure gives the light streams and creates the warp effect. The trolley in front appears frozen because it was moving at the same speed I was on the tram behind it. Give it a try!

Would you like a Limited Edition print of this picture? Get one here.