What Camera Acc should I look at getting both short and long term?

I have a camera bag other than that, any suggestions?

Get yourself a model. After all, the key to any skill is practice, so anything that will encourage more practice is a good thing.

A model, like my cat, or like mendhak's Danbo?

A model like this one.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8618/cindyi.jpg

Way outside my budget unfortunately :(

A tripod and a monopod can be very helpful, if you've got giant hands you might find a battery grip very helpful too.

The other essential is a UV filter for your lens, if only to protect it from direct damage to the glass if you drop it etc.

There's a site called ModelMayhem.com which lets you hire models. There's a short phrase that they use on flickr for it, but it comes down to "We model for you, you give us the photos" as they add the photos to their portfolio. However, most people who do use the site often have a studio with the umbrellas and the strobists and the flash and the walls and all that stuff. It also helps to have photoshop skills because airbrushing is almost mandatory now.

A UV filter or circular polarizer for the lens. A tripod of some sort - either the usual size or a gorillapod.

Depends what kind of photography you are doing.
* For landscape stuff a polariser is useful.
* For close up stuff a gorillapod and remote shutter release.
* For people / indoor a decent flash is a must
* For B/W an amber filter (or green for B/W portraiture)

For all of the above a well paying job and an understanding partner/family/bank is the first requirement :-)

LENSPEN!!

Very good for cleaning the lens.

Cool, I'm making a list... Cheers so far guys..

A remote shutter release is useful. I am still looking for a bargain.

Yeah those and lenses are sickeningly expensive

A Canon.

You could sell the alpha on eBay.

Lenses. What kind of a camera do you have presently? Also what kind of photography do you have in mind? Depending on that you may have to invest in lenses. Mind you, they may cost you more than the camera.

Then if you are going to become a pro, you would have to look at the lighting solutions such as flash units.

.

Cheers guys, how do you carry your tripods? Is there properly collapsible versions?

You need a gorillapod.

are they not little small jobbies?

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Originally Posted by DeanMc

Cheers guys, how do you carry your tripods? Is there properly collapsible versions?

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All tripods are collapsible. Some of them come with cases. You carry the case like you would carry a tennis racket case.

Graduated ND filter. Stops sky burn outs & saves hours of post-processing.

A spare pair of lens caps (for both ends). You only really appreciate them when you have to change lenses in the wilds, and the cost is next to nothing.

Toilet paper, or if your ass is really big, kitchen roll.

Cheers guys, what about water proofing?

I assume you don't mean taking the camera under water ?

Have you seen what the news hacks use ? - clear polythene bags & masking tape.

EDIT: forgot - cling film too.

No no just in case, cling film seems good!

I'd say a proper full-sized tripod is more vital than a small one like gorillapod. Manfrotto are a very good maker of tripods, I have one myself and it's tough and stable.

One with independant legs is much more versatile than one where all 3 legs are linked together.

I'd definitely recommend a UV filter first though, that acts as an extra layer of protection for your valuable lens. Better to break a £15 UV filter than to break a £150 zoom lens! That's actually the only reason to get a UV filter for a digital camera, all digital cameras have a low-pass filter built-into the sensor assembly anyway. I have one UV filter (and one CP filter) for each of my lenses. The reason for that is that it removes the hassle of transferring the filters from one lens to the other.

Yeah it can get expensive but it's certainly worth it in my opinion.

Any suggestions on where to buy them? Argos does them but only in the extra stores which are pretty far from me, is there a reputable on line store for things of this nature?

Jessops:- http://www.jessops.com/?tduid=81adc4...ww.jessops.com

I also use the "Top Rated" sellers on ebay as these are generally the major stores under a pseudonym. Also "Argos clearance", "Littlewoods clearance", "Comet clearance" and "Aldi Special Buys" etc

Long term:- Not strictly for the camera - more for your own wellbeing. If you're going to be out of touch (in a forest or up a mountain) for more than a couple of hours, get a backpack & some basic survival gear - even if the weather looks fine. It doesn't have to be complicated, but things like a leatherman multi tool, waterproofs, drinks, chocolate bars, torch, first aid kit, spare thick socks (can double as mittens) etc.

Oh, and a bog roll.

I'd love to go to Preikestolen Norge and look over the edge, but I'd take 2 bog rolls as this picture alone is enough to make me poo my pants...

http://p8yoaw.blu.livefilestore.com/...olen_Norge.jpg

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Originally Posted by DeanMc

Cheers guys, what about water proofing?

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Shower caps from hotel rooms do the trick. ;)