15th Anniversary Story
What is your first memory of f-stop or f-stop bags?Being introduced to Druid (f-stop CEO and founder) through a mutual friend at Arc'teryx who had a deep respect for quality product design and thought I needed an outdoor specific camera pack.
What benefits do you get from f-stop bags you can't find in other bags?
They are extremely weatherproof, lightweight for their feature set and they can easily carry my camera gear while also accommodating my outdoor equipment like ice axes, skis or avalanche equipment.
What is your favorite f-stop bag?
The Ajna. This is my daily driver for an outdoor adventure. This one pack does it all. From skiing to hiking and I even take it alpine climbing as my system makes me more efficient. We go everywhere together in all kinds of environmental conditions and this pack is tough! Whether it's being hauled in and out of heli baskets, caked in mud or dragged up cliff faces, the fabric is so durable. The pack looks as solid as the day I got it. If I had a BFF camera pack, this would be it.
Tell us something you discovered about your f-stop bag(s) you didn't know until you got the bag into use or in the field?
That it can carry 2 ice axes on AND there is a handy little key clip inside the top lid to attach your truck keys. I can never lose them if they are attached!
Which bag and ICU combo do you use most frequently, and what do you carry in it? (you can send a photo of your loaded/packed ICU)
The Ajna and the ICU Pro Large. It depends on the sport but I usually carry one camera body. 3-5 lenses and accessories like batteries, memory card etc. Food. Extra clothing. Equipment for the activity (helmets, avy gear, harness etc). Emergency kit. InReach. Water and small extras like headlamp, cleaning kit etc.
What is your favorite project you've worked on in the last few months, and why?
I just returned from Alaska shooting ski touring accessed by plane in the Wrangell St Elias National Park. Every morning we would strap our skis to a Super Cub bush plane and get flown to a set of monster mountains to go backcountry skiing. It was truly fantastic! I know photogs that love big crews and love to be ‘on set’ but nothing can beat being with a small crew, having your skis strapped to the plane and being dropped off into a ski mecca with your camera pack. Fun fact: to aid take off and landing in these tricky zones pilots trim off any weight they can from the plane so most of the time I was using the engine cover as a seat and my F-stop pack as a back rest!
Photographer BIO:
Adventure and justice are the two threads that make up Angela Percival’s creative DNA. Evident in her photography is a deep love for wild places and a genuine concern for people.
Relentlessly curious, with stamina to match, she doesn’t shrink from storms or suffering: in fact, that’s what pulls her closer. She’s drawn to where the drama is – in light, landscapes, or the human quest to sidle up to the insurmountable and tap the joy that can be ridden there. National Geographic called her one of the planet’s top nine female Adventure Photographers who are pushing the limits.
As the Senior Outdoor Photographer for global brand Arc’teryx for over a decade, spearheading logistically mindbending expeditions in remote locations, Ange has been documenting rad humans having adventures in landscapes that dwarf them since 2009. She operates in two modes: full throttle, and off… in either mode, no matter what longitude, altitude or temperature she’s in, she’s going to get her shot, relish the adventure, and let her heart open wide.
Explore Angela's Gear:
Images from one of Angela's recent adventures