Photography Notebook: My Camera Utility Kit

When I go out to take photos, I pack a utility kit containing basic items I might need. The idea is to keep this kit to a minimum so that I never hesitate to pack it (actually, just leave it in a pocket of my pack). Here is a photo:

The kit contains (left to right):

• Left: the box to hold the kit. This is a Snapware® rectangular container, 0.48 liters in capacity (Contained in Modular Organized Durable Storage (MODS) Food Storage Containers by Snapware).
• Left, inside box: an extra strap cord for attaching to my camera strap and going around my neck for use of the camera on the tripod. I use this for additional assurance that the tripod won't fall over. I often work near the river or lake, and I take my hands off my tripod for the exposures (to prevent tripod shake). I often use a different camera strap extender, but I often forget it, so I have this one in my kit.
• Upper center: camera lens and camera caps. One of these goes over any of the back ends of the Canon EF-S/EF lenses I have, the other goes on the camera, over the opening for the lens. I have these in case I want to transport the camera with the lens and body separate.
• Upper center underneath camera and lens caps: 1 liter plastic bag that can serve as a rain cover for the camera.
• Upper right: extra camera battery. I rotate this out with my other batteries periodically to keep it freshly charged.
• Middle center left: 3 extra 8 GB SD cards. (My plans are to get more 16 GB SD cards.)
• Middle center right: 3 Lens cloths.
• Lower center left: extra CR1220 battery cells for camera remote.
• Lower center right: Canon Wireless Remote Control RC1 for Digital Rebel.
• Lower center right underneath camera remote: silk lens cloth.
• Lower right: lens blower and brush.

Packed, the kit looks like this:

I have a business card taped to the inside front cover and an address sticker affixed to the side. The lens cloths keep things tightly packed and prevent rattling. The result is a sturdy, waterproof kit that fits in a pocket on my pack and stays there until I need it. This has supplied me with basics--spare battery, cover for rain, extra strap cord, remote, extra SD cards--many times while out in the field. It is nice to know I always have it--I don't have to think about packing this stuff.