Adventure Photographer’s 5 Favorite Tools

Traveling by canoe, plane, boat, train, on foot (and even hitching a ride on the occasional dump truck), David Heath crossed remote terrain to capture the images found in the pages of his book, “Burma: An Enchanted Spirit.” Tattooed faces of tribal elders, gold pagodas, markets, devout monks, sea gypsies, and ancient candlelit temples are the subjects that fill the mesmerizing pages. We asked Heath about his camera gear, what he carries in his kit, and why.

1) Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR Camera — I love Canon’s colors, they’re a little warmer, which I prefer. They have intuitive menus and you can use a higher ISO, making it great for use in low light. The L lens line has fluorine coating, eliminating chromatic aberration and making the lens easier to clean. Canon Professional Services (CPS) and its customer support system are awesome and open 24/7.

2) Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens — I prefer this lens because it gives focal flexibility options. The speed of the auto-focus is top notch and it provides effective image stabilization.

3) Benro Travel Angel — This tripod is light, compact and durable, which is important when traveling. I use a Really Right Stuff ballhead with it — great design. It locks solidly and moves smoothly.

4) iPod Nano 16BG— I’m also a musician, so listening to music while traveling is important to me. Some of my favorite artists are Nick Drake, The Beatles, Kings of Convenience, Neil Finn, Porcupine Tree, Elliott Smith, Doves, Blur, Spoon, Gomez, Brookville, early Doobie Brothers, and early Fleetwood Mac (pre-Buckingham Nicks). I also like various Brazilian, jazz, and 60s music.

5) Lowepro Backpack I’ve had my Lowepro for eight years. It’s on its last leg but held up through all my travels; from Papua to the Amazon to Indonesia, my trips to Burma, hiking up mountains and crossing rivers. It’s been everywhere with me.

-See Heath’s work in “Burma: An Enchanted Spirit.”