Born in Philadelphia and raised all over these United States Alex Federowicz currently resides in Columbus, Ohio while pursuing graduate studies in photojournalism at Ohio University. Never taking a moment of his time on this planet for granted, he covets his camera as a vehicle to understanding the subtleties and nuances of our human experience. Engaging the world in such an intimate discourse as photography is how Alex wishes to create a visual narrative that challenges our generation’s perceptions of ourselves, will hold us responsible for our future and references where we came from to get here. In the meantime, however, he enjoys Irish whiskey, the smell of the ocean, his Kindle and the company of his fiance, Cassie, and their two small cats, Orson and Charlie.

Any photographer on the move has encountered that epic quest we are all familiar with, how can we get all of our gear from A to B with the least amount of effort possible? Once again, the folks over at Think Tank Photo have brought us all another step closer to logistical nirvana. I recently had the opportunity to test drive the Airport 4-Sight rolling camera bag from the Airport Series of cases. While the 4-Sight conforms to all domestic and international carry-on restrictions, the bag is just as useful and versatile outside of the airport. On my proving grounds of New York City in the sweltering July humidity, I was able to move a terrific amount of gear, in a small package with reasonably little effort. The four wheels allowed for the case to be effortlessly ushered along right next to me instead of in tow, thus not upsetting my fellow New Yorkers on overcrowded streets already tripping over enough Euro-tourist’s roll-aboards. Not only did the four wheels allow for maneuverability while toting closely enough to make me feel like I was as small as I would be with a backpack, but kept the weight on the ground instead of my shoulders, a key detail when the C train is running late and you’re in the 105 degree subway without a breeze to be found. While the bag itself is a mere 8.9 pounds (and too be fair I was surprised to read it was actually that heavy after picking it up for the first time) the amount of gear one can fit into it can weigh drastically more. For my test drive I ended up fitting in; two 5d mark II’s, one Speedlite, a 70-200mm telephoto, plus extender, two tilt-shift lenses, a 16-35mm zoom, and four more primes. Still, there was plenty of room left over for various smaller accessories one might find themselves in need of on a shoot. However, the flexibility provided with the velcro inserts and dividers allows for any infinite amount of configurations and customization to any photographer’s needs. The bag also includes two inside, zippered pockets, a separable mesh pouch for quick access to smaller accessories, batteries, etc., a couple of outside zippered pockets for passports, boarding passes or other such thin items, and, as with all Think Tank bags, the all important rain cover. The only thing that the 4-Sight left me longing for was a place for my laptop. However, with bags like Think Tank’s Retrospective 7, recently reviewed by Robert Caplin, so easily integrated to rolling cases like this one, it’s not such a huge deal. Besides with my shoulders freed up for another bag I can easily carry a backpack with additional supplies for an assignment.

Overall, I found Think Tank’s 4-Sight to be a killer little bag with great big capacities to help me and my gear get around. Its understated, clean and simple style allows for a professional look while not screaming “look at how many tens of thousands of dollars worth of gear I have with me!” Most importantly, though, the case’s rugged construction helps my gear stay safe even if I were to be forced to gate check the bag on an overbooked flight. In a nutshell…highly recommended.