Last fall, I showed you a simple way to keep your field bag light with a simple colored pencil holder. Here is another solution that works well. This is a small, compact and waterproof watercolor pallette. Although you can carry a small amount of watercolors in any size container - an altoids tin, for example, a waterproof pallette can't be beat because you can open and close it anywhere, and not worry about spilled paint.

Also, I collect different sizes of drinking straws, which are great in protecting your brushes in travel. I keep the brushes right in the pallette to shave weight and space, and I seek out shorter brushes, which are easier to stow while traveling.

What's in your field bag?

Although I carry a daypack with my large format camera system and some other travel necessities, I also usually keep a smaller bag, which I call my field bag. This is a small, lightweight collection of my essentials - whether I'm traveling by plane, in a city cafe, or in the field.

Here are the essentials of my field bag:

- A lightweight and waterproof Nike 10x25 binoculars, with the strap removed and replaced with much longer Domke straps. This allows me to wear the binoculars around my back.

- Moleskine sketchbook, where I keep all of my travel plans, confirmations, notes, interviews, maps & directions, sketches.

- A small leather case by Global Art, which houses 24 watercolor pencils, a pencil sharpener, 3 Copic pens and 3 watercolor brushes.

- A field guide if necessary.

What to carry in the field bag is one of my favorite subjects. Email me your thoughts about your field bag.