I think weight is the least important consideration in this question.
Time, budget and focus of the trip are more significantly affected by the desire to take photographs:
- time to research places, plan ahead, go at the best times of year for photographs, work out what you are going to take, talk to locals, get to know people, gain their confidence, tramp up hills at daft times of day, time to go exploring off the beaten track etc etc
- budget - to get the best results you need to consider being in places when others are not there, paying for guides and transport to get you there, paying for models to pose, staying in places a lot longer than you would otherwise etc etc
- focus - perhaps the most important. Using a camera and aiming to get good photographs can really destroy the experience of being somewhere or with someone. Everything and everyone turns into a possible image, not a real thing. Conversely, it does push you to go to different places and to try to meet different people but what's the point if all you do is take some pictures, pack up and then leave?
Clearly I at least need to consider compromise ;-)
If you are good with people you can get great pictures with the minimum of equipment. Clearly for some things kit is needed - low light a tripod is useful and maybe a good flash .... underwater, at least a plastic bag with a rubber band, lions and bears a long lens or a course in jiu jitsu etc ...
Mid-point ... take an entry-level DSLR with a good wide-angle to mid-range zoom and maybe a light/cheap telephoto if you really must (or maybe a 6/7mp compact with a long zoom instead of the telephoto - then you've got the option of a compact available as well - particularly if one breaks or gets nicked).
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