If you’re not careful, photography can become a black hole of never-ending accessories and camera gear that you can never escape. You don’t always need to bring along an entire studio’s worth of gear to get a great shot, and Betabrand is making it even easier to travel light with a new camera bag featuring a reflector built right in.
Is a reflector a perfect substitute for a well-placed flash when trying to snap photos of a poorly lit subject? Definitely not. But opening the Flash Bag reveals a foil print under the flap that will help you redirect some additional light onto whatever you’ve got in frame.
You don’t necessarily have to use it with a fancy DSLR, either. The bag can be just as useful at improving the quality of the Instagram-bound dinner photos you’re snapping with your smartphone. It’s also useful for carrying stuff, with eight pockets inside that can be further compartmentalised using Velcro dividers, enough room to hold a 15-inch laptop and a water-resistant fabric on the outside to keep everything dry.
The bag is being realised through Betabrand’s own crowdfunding system, with a possible delivery of sometime in December assuming it reaches its funding goal. You can help it along, and pre-order the Flash Bag for yourself with a contribution of around $US80 ($104). Just keep telling yourself you can justify as the last piece of camera gear you need to buy — at least for this week.