Winter travel can certainly add the extra luggage, (depending on where you are heading) with a lap blanket, coat, sweaters, and boots for outdoors and of course all the comfy things for indoors. Soon your luggage adds up to three or more suitcases or one gigantic case with a tote you hope someone will help you load and unload. Now summer travel is not as difficult, and can easily be accomplished, with just a couple of suitcases. Regardless of season, traveling is a real hoot and probably a strange sight wheelers might make, after adding a briefcase or laptop hanging over the handles on the wheelchair, squishing the backpack beneath, and camera equipment dangling from the side. Whatever you do, just do not get out of your wheelchair until someone starts unloading your "equipment," because the extra weight could tip the wheelchair over backwards once you leave your seat.
Using lightweight luggage will help and not forgetting to ask for help (if needed) will avoid awkward situations, unless you start your travel with a great sense of humor. Indeed, asking your bags to be removed, (before you are removed from the wheelchair), brings quizzical expressions, but several helping hands, and perhaps adding a little fun before entering an aircraft to reach your destination. If traveling on the road, it is also a challenge for a porter or bellhop who will typically stand in front of you for a few moments, before untangling your pre-arranged assortment of small bags from your wheelchair. Whoever assists you, remember to tip generously, because you may well need services from the same person again and besides, your tip will help the next person who comes through the doors using a wheelchair.
But what about traveling with camera bags and equipment for the photographer on wheels? Add a laptop, so crucial to view digital photography, and maybe even upload to a website. What about the wheeler with limited arm strength, tripods, and other apparatus' necessary to do a photo shoot, and the bag containing irreplaceable directions and maps to nearly secret destinations, a notepad, and possibly a tape recorder? The wheelchair must now become an automobile with converted "trunk" space, creative imagination and thoughtful consideration for loading and unloading equipment, while remaining readily available to the user (especially when not using an assistant).
Whether a professional photographer or journalist, whether a novice wanting to engage in conquering a moment, believe it or not, this seemingly awkward scenario can be accomplished, and there are even a couple of choices! First, there is the awesome trunk in an automobile or rear storage area of a van; second, there is the wheelchair. The difference between the two is simply whether or not a person can use the wheelchair to carry only necessary equipment and still enter and leave the vehicle, (going through doors and into restrooms), without having to remove anything from the wheelchair. The later will depend on the size of the wheelchair and the increased width after adding camera bags or other items. Remember, the wheeler must be able to access everything needed for the photography he or she seeks while using the wheelchair as a device to carry equipment.
The vehicle storage area should be large enough to carry an average sized footlocker in which all camera equipment would be stored, including tripod, camera bags, notebook, etc. Upon reaching the destination, the wheeler has only to open the door to the storage area, and then remove items needed for the photo session. The major problem with this scenario will depend on how often an individual plans to stop and whether or not the photographer does a double take and decides to capture a scene while on the road. While the footlocker is an excellent idea for travel on an airline to a particular destination, it may not be the greatest idea for on-the-road travel, with just a few exceptions.
If a person searches hard enough, camera bags can be found with Velcro straps enabling attachment to the side armrest of a wheelchair, and nearly all camera bags contain an adjustable shoulder strap which can easily be hung over the back of a wheelchair. Suggestions for wheelers' photography equipment include making certain their camera bag(s) are secure to wherever attached to on a wheelchair, to avoid falling and theft. The easiest solution for individuals using manual wheelchairs without armrests for this scary thought is to simply place the shoulder strap of the camera bag around the backrest of the wheelchair and under the straps of the backpack. In other words, the backpack will actually protect the equipment, unless leaving the camera bag wide open, exposing the camera, and leaving it available to someone's hand.
If an individual is using a standard or power wheelchair with armrests, the wheelchair becomes a magical piece of equipment because of dual usage. One armrest, (left for right-handed individual), becomes a carrying apparatus where a decent sized bag (6 to 8-inches wide) is hung, containing cameras with one-inch soft foam (or other protection) surrounding each camera or other separate pieces of equipment. The bag should be at least the same depth as the width or deeper, and the length of which is (typically 12-inches or longer) both comfortable for the user and the wheelchair. The strap of this "camera bag," which could well not actually be a "camera bag," is hung around the rear handhold of the wheelchair and stretched around the front of the armrest. The adjustable strap allows the bag to hang at the correct height and angle for use. Ideally, this bag contains a zipper and buckles that lock over the zippered lid, but you will most likely not find this type of bag in a camera shop.
Before buying any carrying containers or camera bags, measure the width of the wheelchair to determine the "extra" width allowable to enter doorways and getting in or out of a vehicle, then check out your best sporting goods store for a Thermo bag to fit the purpose, and take a measuring tape to the store. Thermo bags are also available with pouches to carry a bottle on one end, and a small zippered section on the opposite end. The interior of a Thermo bag additionally helps protect cameras from heat and cold weather, and provides extra padding. A camera bag of good size is approximately six-inches wide, eight-inches deep, and at least twelve-inches long, but no longer than what would be comfortable for the user. It is important to remember this bag will carry many items, including the prized camera, a 5 by 7-inch notepad, batteries, flash attachment, cleaning equipment, tape recorder, etc.
Small cameras (such as digital cameras) typically remain in a camera case with a shoulder strap and small hand strap. The shoulder strap is hung over and around the back of the wheelchair, under the backpack, with the smaller hand strap affixed to the "push" handles of the wheelchair, with the zippered opening facing outward so the camera is readily available. Slipping the shoulder strap around the back of the wheelchair prevents theft, and most wheelers can either see or sense someone touching their wheelchair, especially if attempting to open a zippered bag. Digital camera bags are available in most department stores and are relatively inexpensive. The perfect digital camera bag contains a compartment for extra batteries, flash cards, small notepad and pen, the indispensable battery charger, and of course the digital camera.
If a standard wheelchair backpack is currently attached to the wheelchair, consideration should be made to swapping it out for a regular double zippered, two sided, larger backpack with added front storage compartments easily reachable that contain snap type locks. (These backpacks are not expensive at department stores such as Wal-Mart.) Important items to carry in the backpack include a spare camera in the event of an emergency failure until the "prized camera" can be repaired, extra camera film not kept in the camera bag, cleaning equipment for cameras (if not stored in the camera bag), a thin roll of paper towels and packets of tissue, medical supplies (including labeled prescription containers with medication), cushion pump (if using a ROHO or other inflatable cushion seat), one set of clothing (in case of emergency), at least one bottle of water (several backpacks have net compartments located on the side of the backpack for containers), and any other items that may be needed during a single day of travel.
Persons traveling with a service animal must not forget items so important for his or her continued dedication. Suggestions include a 25-foot lighweight leash that can be rolled and hung within easy grasp over the handle of the wheelchair to allow your service animal the respect of not having to discharge near the wheelchair and in a location dedicated for canines. Carry small plastic bags in case you need to clean up after the service animal, and if need be, a "reacher" clipped to the side of the wheelchair. Never forget to add a plastic bowl to the backpack for his or her water, treats to reward your pride and joy, and a 5-foot leash to keep your best friend near you at all times. Additionally, even though it is against Federal law for anyone to ask for certification of your service animal, so long as the service animal is wearing a harness (and often wearing a vest) it is a good idea to keep a copy of the document to prevent confrontations.
Note: You can always present the document and explain the Federal law at the same time: Persons may ask the service provided to you by your service animal, but cannot restrict you from entering any facility so long as the animal is indeed a service animal.
The front storage compartment of the larger backpack often contains sections and is large enough to carry the US Department of Justice, Code of Federal Regulations (28 CFR Part 36) for non-discrimination, a standard tape measure, antibacterial towelettes, and other personal necessities such as casino cards! DO NOT leave money or a wallet in this compartment! Collapsible tripods are easily stored in the backpack or if using a power wheelchair, depending on the frame of the wheelchair, it is possible to have a good camera equipment distributor assist with finding the perfect clamp to fit the framework of the wheelchair, to hold a telescopic column with a plate attached to hold a favorite or heavy camera.
After over a decade of "lightweight shutterbug travel," the discovery is not what a person can physically carry, but rather how much ingenuity is used to carry items. Often thinking, the wheels in the brain move too, and the end result are two digitals, two 8mm cameras with zoom lens, a camcorder, one emergency camera, and all the necessary equipment stated above. Still, not looking like a gypsy, sun glasses are never forgot, and emergency car keys kept in a safe place within the creative packing on the wheelchair. The full picture is hands-free movement, most often nothing on the lap, readily accessible equipment, and the shot is ready and waiting!
The major problem is not with the shutter, it is getting to the best location on wheels for the perfect picture while enjoying lightweight shutterbug travel.
