by Matthew Busch

Hi Think Tank community! If you've ever stood at an airport gate wondering how you're going to fit thousands of dollars of gear into an overhead bin, we already have something in common.

My name is Matthew Busch, and I'm a documentary photographer turned cinematographer with over a decade of experience traveling the world to tell stories about people and places. My work has taken me from the American Midwest to Europe and India, covering subjects ranging from mental health and immigration to politics and environmental issues. 

My projects have appeared in publications including TIME, The New York Times, Interview Magazine, Texas Monthly, among others. 

For every project I’ve worked on, I’ve probably spent too much time debating which pieces of equipment to bring, and how I’m going to fit them all into something I can actually carry with me.

That problem is what led me to Think Tank Photo.

When I graduated from The University of Missouri’s photojournalism program, the first bag I bought was the Airport TakeOff V1. I needed something that could survive constant travel, fit in overhead bins, and adapt when airports turned into long walks or rough roads.This roller bag did exactly that. It rolled when it could, converted to a backpack when it had to, and fit overhead even when packed to the edge.

At the time, it held all of my Nikon DSLR gear: a D3S, a couple of prime lenses (35mm and 50mm), and whatever else the assignment required. Over the years, the cameras have changed, the kit has evolved, and the projects have grown, but the bag has stayed reliably the same.

The wheels still work great, the plastic pouches inside the front flap haven’t torn, and the zippers move just as easily as they did on day one. It has remained my go-to travel bag, even as my kit expanded and my work took me to new places. Along the way, I’ve added Think Tank backpacks, modular belts, and pouches for different jobs that demanded different setups.

When I reached out to Think Tank Photo to share how long I’ve been using their gear, and how much I have relied on it over the years, they offered to send me the newest version of the Airport TakeOff V2 so I could compare the two. 

This past year was a busy one. I co-directed and filmed one project in Antarctica, Chasing Whales, which will premiere this April on LA Times Short Docs, and began another project in Italy. For a recent shoot in the Italian hillsides, I decided to bring both Airport bags along.

The Airport TakeOFF V2 is on the left, with my original V1 on the right. It’s still the same great bag, and I brought both on this trip because we had enough cameras and lenses to warrant it. 

The differences I’ve appreciated so far include the front skid plates, which see plenty of use, the added pockets, and the smoother extension of the rolling handle. I’m always a little nervous when these bags are packed to the limit that they won’t fit overhead, but the only issues I’ve encountered have been on very small aircrafts with limited overhead space.

Here’s my bag prepped for a shoot. I’m always a little surprised by how much gear I can roll through airports and cities, then throw on my back when the road runs out. I’ve highlighted some essentials here, including an emergency instant coffee pouch and my RED multi-tool, both of which come with me on every multi-day shoot. 

Here’s a still from our latest film, shot partly in the hills of Umbria inside a medieval chapel. I’m looking forward to sharing more once it’s finished!