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Photos provided by thinkTANKphoto.

Since it is taking me some time to configure my thinkTANKphoto component systems so it could be perfect for my use, I thought that I would take it for the team and do all the hard work and let you now which configuration works for certain situations.

When configuring your setup of the thinkTANKphoto component systems you need to reply your past photoshoot experiences and look back to what you wish you had easily accessible and the type of gear you wish you had on the field but just didn’t have anything to carry it without a big bag.

For this how-to, I will be using the thinkTankphoto Steroid Speedbelt V2.0, Pro Speedbelt V2.0, the Skin component system and Modular component system.

SITUATION 1: For my event or urban shoots, I usually have a lighting assistant that sets up and/or holds the lights. There were times where I needed my assistant to attach a light modifier to the strobe for a quick shot but the bag with all of the light modifiers was on the other side of the set so there wasn’t enough time for the shot. Now with the thinkTANKphoto component systems, I can have my assistant equipped at all times.

STEP 1: Identify the items needed at all times for the situation. (Basically Strobes and lighting modifiers for this scenario) Since these items are light, the component system will be attached to the thinkTANKphoto Pro speedbelt V2.0.

• TWO – Nikon SB900
  TWO – Gary Fong Lightspheres collapsible
  TWO – Gary Fong Powersnoot with powergrid
  ONE – Sekonic L-358 FlashMaster
  TWO – Gary Fong  White Domes
  TWO – Gary Fong Amber Domes
  TWO – Gary Fong Chrome Domes
  TWO – Gary Fong  Gels (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green)
  TWO – Pocketwizards
  TWO – Color filters from Nikon
  TWO – Nikon  SW-13H
  TWO – Nikon SZ-2
  TWO – Joby Gorillapods (Focus and SLR-Zoom)
  THREE – Bottles of Water
  TWO – AA battery holder that holds 8 batteries each holder
  TWO – Strobe Sync Cables

STEP 2: Review the items needed and determine which thinkTANKphoto components can hold these items.

thinkTANKphoto Skin Double Wide (I can’t believe how much items I can fit in this component)

• TWO – Nikon SB900
• TWO – Gary Fong Lightspheres collapsible
• TWO – Pocketwizards
• TWO – AA battery holder that holds 8 batteries each holder
• TWO – Gary Fong  Gels (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green)
• TWO – Strobe Sync Cables

thinkTANKphoto Modular LC 75 Pop Down

• TWO – Gary Fong Powersnoot with powergrid

thinkTANKphoto Modular Lens Changer 35

• TWO – Gary Fong White Domes
• TWO – Gary Fong Amber Domes
• TWO – Gary Fong Chrome Domes

thinkTANKphoto Modular Lightning Fast

• ONE – Sekonic L-358 FlashMaster
• TWO – Color filters from Nikon
• TWO – Nikon  SW-13H
• TWO – Nikon SZ-2

thinkTANKphoto Modular Large Lens Drop In

• TWO – Joby Gorillapods (Focus and SLR-Zoom)

thinkTANKphoto Modular Lens Changer 50

• THREE – Bottles of Water

As you can see, we were able to fit all of the items for my lighting assistant in 6 components and it fits perfectly. Now my lighting assistants can effectively and efficiently complete his/her designated tasks without moving off set.

SITUATION 2: For this situation, I will go over my experiences on set as a primary shooter. There are times where I have to leave the set and slow down my rhythm during a shoot. If I don’t have two assistants (one lighting and one all around assistant), then I need to have all the items I need with me. Thanks to thinkTANkphoto, I have

STEP 1: Identify the items needed at all times for the situation. Since, I have two camera bodies with one attached to a Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8 VR2 and another attached to a Nikkor 14-24mm 2.8, I will not be carrying heavy lenses on transport and mainly when I change to my specialty lenses. (Items needed at all times for  a photographer) Since these items can be heavy, the component system will be attached to the thinkTANKphoto Steroid speedbelt V2.0.

ONE – Hoodman right angle Viewfinder

• ONE – Hoodman Hoodloupe 3.0
• ONE – iPAD with Otterbox Case
•  ONE – Lensbaby Composer
• ONE – Nikkor 50mm 1.8
•  ONE – GIOTTO Rocketblower Large
• ONE – Microfiber cloth
• ONE – Lens cleaning solution
• Lens caps
• ONE – iPhone
• ONE – Android
•  Apple connector kit
• ONE – iPAD cable
• ONE  – Pocket wizard
• THREE – Nikon batteries
• thinkTANKphoto pixel pocket rocket with compact flash cards
• Sunglasses
• ONE – Two way radio
• ONE -  Hoya Circular Polarizer 77.0 size
• ONE – Nikon MC-30 shutter release
• ONE  – Manfrotto RC2 quick release plate

STEP 2: Review the items needed and determine which thinkTANKphoto components can hold these items.

thinkTANKphoto Modular Speed Changer

1. • ONE – iPhone
   • ONE – Android
   • ONE – Lensbaby Composer
   • ONE – Nikkor 50mm 1.8
   • ONE  – Pocket wizard
   • ONE – Microfiber cloth
   • ONE – Lens cleaning solution
   • ONE – Nikon MC-30 shutter release
   • ONE – thinkTANKphoto pixel pocket rocket with compact flash cards
   • Lens caps
   • ONE  – Manfrotto RC2 quick release plate
   • Sunglasses

thinkTANKphoto Skin Chimp Cage

• ONE – iPAD with Otterbox Case
• ONE  – Apple connector kit
• ONE – iPAD cable
• ONE – GIOTTO Rocketblower Large

thinkTANKphoto Skin 50

• ONE – Hoodman right angle Viewfinder
• ONE – Hoodman Hoodloupe 3.0
• THREE – Nikon batteries
• ONE – Two way radio

thinkTANKphoto Skin 75 Pop Down

• ONE – Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8 VR II
• ONE -  Hoya Circular Polarizer 77.0 size

Again, these component systems are amazing. I don’t think I will do an urban or event photo shoot without using at least one of these thinkTANKphoto component systems.

Let me know how you are configuring your thinkTANKphoto component system with a comment below and maybe if you are lucky, we can get a random person a thinkTANKphoto bag that is configured to work with your component system.

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