One Lens Photo-walks

I admit it, like most photographers, I have really bad GAS. Gear-Acquisition Syndrome. My backpack style camera bag is so overstuffed with lens, filters, a tri-pod, reflectors, a tablet and other gadgets and accessories, that the stitches are separating in some spots. And worse yet, most of this stuff, I don’t recall the last time I actually used them. I just keep throwing them in the bag thinking I’ll find a potential shot where I will want to have it. And some of this stuff is actually good stuff. For example: my 50mm, f/1.4 lens. (side-note: everyone should have a 50mm prime. Even the cheapo f/1.8 is a fantastic lens). Every time I do manage to pull that lens out of the bag and mount it on the camera, I’m so impressed with the results. I should use it more but most often, it never leaves the bag. And on top of all this, I have more than one bag. There are bags for lights, stands, mounts, clamps and straps and more. On longer road trips, there can be a dozen bags in the back seat.

After some recent trips (NYC, Maine, etc..), I realized carrying around a 35+ pound camera bag often prevents me from getting some of the shots I would like to get. First, there is security. Not so much an issue when hiking in Maine, but when in the city, I take it off and set it down to take a shot, consciously, I’m still paying attention to the bag, making sure I’m not creating an opportunity for someone to grab it. I even have to be conscious of not leaving bags in the car, I drive a Jeep Wrangler (no trunk and a soft top in the summer months). It’s a pain which leads me to the next issue. In the main camera bag, there are also bottles of Advil, Aleve and water to wash them down. I have CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease) which in recent years have damaged my knees to the point I can no longer kneel without thick knee pads (also in the bag). And when I plan these photo-walks, I typically plan out a full day of places to shoot. However, I’m finding myself coming home early because I’m physically shot by mid-afternoon, due to all the weight.

I remember something fabricator Jessie James said on one of those motorcycle building shows in TV. “If it doesn’t fit in a pocket, it doesn’t go!” This year, I resolve to do more one lens walks and leave the bags home. Pick one for the day and make it work.

Procrastinate Later

I almost always have my camera with me and on those rare occasions when I don’t, I still have my phone which still takes a pretty decent image. I frequently will see something that I think would make an interesting photo but don’t always take a moment to get the shot. Usually, I’m in a hurry and think I’ll come back for it another time. However, I’ve come to realize, that rarely happens and sometimes when I do, the opportunity to capture what caught my eye, doesn’t always recreate itself.

For example, for many years, there was an old, and very elaborate, carriage house full of old cars, that I frequently passed by. The property was overgrown and the building was in really bad shape. I always thought it would make for some great photos and put it on my mental list of places to go back to. Unfortunately, I never did and one day discovered the building and cars were all gone. An empty dirt lot was all that remained. Another photographer, that I am familiar with, had a handful of images of it, but I missed the opportunity to shoot it myself .

Abandoned Cars & Building

Photo by Marc Fitzsimmons via Flickr. This was just one end of the building, it went back about another 80 feet with bays on both sides, each with an old car parked within. I could have spent days shooting there.

Another time, I was walking around the city with my camera, shooting some street photography. I walked around a corner onto a side street and immediately notice about half a block up, a collage age girl sitting on the sidewalk, leaning up against the wall, looking down at her cell phone like many kids do these days. What really caught my eye was a sliver of sunlight coming between the buildings, fell directly on her and she was dressed in what appeared to be a light gray plaid, school girl type uniform partially covering a large, vibrantly colored tattoo on her leg. It would have been a great Street Photography shot, not up close but back from the corner. The girl with the vibrantly colored tattoo sitting on the sidewalk of what was a dull, low contrast and somewhat empty street.  Background Note: there turned out to be a Harry Potter themed Pub Crawl event occurring and there were hundreds of college aged participants wandering around downtown, in costumes.  This time, I was uncomfortable approaching her to ask for permission to take her photo so I didn’t get the shot when the opportunity presented itself. Come on, an older guy approaching her with a camera asking to take her picture just seems creepy.  I’ve often thought back and wished I had stopped and asked. I’ve since starting carrying business cards with my various online profiles listed (Website, Instagram, Flickr, etc. ) I’ll introduce myself with a card, show them my IG feed, explain what I’m doing, and politely ask if I can take their photo, offering to send them a copy. I’ve gotten a number of Instagram followers this way. A simple technique I learned during PhotoWalk with New York Photographer, Charles Chessler. He has a great photo series called “Agreeable Strangers” where he does brief, impromptu portrait photos of random people he met on the street. Many people will be open to having their photo taken if you just sincerely ask. If they say no, no harm, thank them and move on, but at least try.

The point here is to always take the shot, when you discover it. A photo missed is just a memory. Photographs are proof that just once, even for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.

Vincent

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Vincent

I met Vincent today, while on a Photowalk with @charleschesslerphotography, @agreeablestrangers, in New York City, as part of the 2019 Adorama Inspire Photography Conference. Vincent had on this cool rugged looking, outback style hat, and was just about the right age to immediately make me think of a technique by Polish portrait photographer, Andrzej Dragan. Dragan developed a special style which not beautifies the models, but instead creates a sharp, dark and contrasty image to evocative dramatic expression. Thanks to Vincent for being a good sport while I experimented making him look rougher and older than he really is. Thanks also to Charles who gave a very educational lecture on street photography with agreeable strangers.

www.charleschesslerphotography.com/