Not an area I have had any real interest in before, it occurs to me I have a decent kit built up to try this.

The H1n was a good start, H5 even better, the H5 with LCT 040 Lewitts better again, F1 with those or MTP 440 etc (possible now with the EXH-6) are genuinely field grade.

I used to struggle to see the point, but like most things, the more you learn the more intriguing it becomes. I learned that with spiders. My father in law is the local expert and through him I have shifted from simple loathing to interested weariness.

Maybe the cure for a frustrating day chasing birds with a camera, might be stopping and just recording where you are, eyes shut, ears open. My habit, and I doubt it is just mine, is to close my eyes when I am somewhere quiet and peaceful, enjoy the sunshine, feel the breeze and listen to the sounds. Sometimes even when you are somewhere that seems quiet, if you count them, there are an amazing number of sounds.

After recording the place what do you do?

Offer it as a stock sound recording or maybe just play it back to remind you of where you were, what it felt like. A sleep aide maybe? Visuals have always been my thing, but apparently smells and then sounds actually trigger your memory better. Can’t record a smell, but with both sound and vision at my disposal, the two could possibly support each other.

An idea (literally came as I wrote this), would be to offer a picture or series of pictures, with supporting sounds (The old fish market in Tokyo would have been awesome, bamboo creaking in the wind or rainy days in Kyoto). My next trip to Japan was possibly going to be a video based one, but now I am thinking all three disciplines need to be explored.

This also creates a stop and listen dynamic, which may be a very nice addition to the journey.

Kit?

Panasonic cameras, maybe the OSMO, my Zoom F1 and XYH-5 or the H1n so I can record separately from or to the camera. Recording linked sound into the camera for video is likely not as relevant as recording supporting sound. Grab some stills where I can and I have a multi faceted offer.

If I was going fully sound guy, it would be the OSMO and my F1 with EXH-6/040 Match rig. More sound than video, the OSMO just supplying context.

Something I have noticed also, is the field recorder exponents* fly further under the radar than street photographers. Recordists are a curiosity, not a threat like photographers can be. Maybe one can distract from the other?

Free To Use Sounds https://youtu.be/27LaMUzxgWw is a great one.