Andrew Eaton

PHOTOGRAPHER, DAKAR PRESS TEAM

AUSTRALIA

“I always had a dream to go to the Dakar Rally, then in 2019 life changed and I was given the chance to work on ‘Le Dakar’ with the Dakar Press Team. To do the Dakar as a photographer will change your life, and from this point on it changed mine, as well as the way I live life.”

Andrew has several AMP backpacks, but for his photo assignments he primarily uses the AMP10^TM.

WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

“The places, the landscapes, the varied environments and the diverse range of people you meet, is something very special and I developed a passion for off-road motorsport photography (no weddings for me, adventure only!). But off-road motorsport photography isn’t a walk in the park! There’s very long hours, terrible conditions for camera gear and lots of walking. But when you get that shot of that moment in time, for me that’s what keeps me passionate about chasing dust.”

WHAT DOES "BEING READY" OR "BEING PREPARED" MEAN FOR YOU?

“ ‘Being ready’ for me, it’s about being ready to go at short notice, being able to respond to a request to stay out overnight, or being ready to be left on a photo point in the desert, due to helicopter being diverted to race emergency and having gear to still operate without support. It’s being organised, not asking to borrow gear because you left it behind. It’s being professional and portraying that image to others so they have confidence in you (e.g. Having your Shit together!)”

WHY DO YOU HAVE A GO-BAG AND WHEN DO YOU USE IT?

“I have my go bag always loaded ready for photoshoots where there will not be any vehicle support or dropped off in a location, either by chopper or vehicle. Or when out on foot on a race I know that everything I need is in that bag. I don’t use a 5.11 backpack to carry camera gear, apart from some lens cleaners or spare filters. I run two cameras on slings, that’s it, so it’s purely survival gear, food, water, First Aid and chockie biscuits and snakes (FYI Australian sweets called fittingly “Snakes“!)”

WHY IS YOUR 5.11 BAG/BACKPACK IDEAL?

“I love the AMP 10! These packs are a great size, in fact the whole range of AMP’s are great, not bulky and most of all the AMP10s fit under the seat of a small helicopter without getting caught up, with external pouches and bulky items and also stop me carrying the kitchen sink! But! You can add external pouches if needed. They are just right.”

WHAT ARE YOUR 3 MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS IN YOUR GO-BAG AND WHY?

“The most important bits of kit, first off is a radio, I have UHF and also a VHF this way I have comms to vehicles, other photographers I work with or safety vehicles, and the VHF if needed for monitoring the helis.

Now this may sound a low priority but, a fly net, yes I carry two, the Aussie flies can drive you mad when trying to take photos so these are certainly up on the priority list!

Now yes you may laugh! But the 3rd item on the priority list is my ‘Battle Brolley’, a small umbrella, no it’s not very tactical, but when you are stuck out in the middle of nowhere in summer, no shade sitting on a hot rock, you have your own portable shade. Or its good for rain…… whenever that happens ;)”