- long handled umbrella
- wide putty knife
- sharp knife
- spray bottle of water
- whisk broom
- stiff brush
- terry cloth rags
- newsprint paper
- oil pastels
- used bread bags (for debris)
I would say the best time to go out is an overcast day with no rain or storms in the forecast. If I don't like a picture, I go back and do it over, especially where the morning and afternoon lighting is concerned.
I realize that some people are submitting photos that they have traveled a fair distance to do, so that's not always a viable option, which is where the umbrella can make a world of difference. You can use it to completely shadow a flat stone that has glare on it, or block a lot of the glare when you have to shoot into the sun. I hate any stone that has a north face on a sunny day!