Category : The Learning Center

After several straight days of gear entries, I was starting to feel guilty and thought I might share some of my personal favorite images.  Because it’s all about the image, we don’t  own cameras, and tripods, and bags, except to take them  out there and make photographs!!!  After you take a peek at these images I will offer some insights that came to me as I looked at some of my personal favorite  images…….

 

 

After looking through the images I pulled from my files at random, I discovered some interesting things;

 

1.  Gear didn’t seem to matter that much, the images were made with everything from an iPhone to a D800, and everything in between!!

 

2.  With the exception of one action football shot, made a long time ago, almost everything I photograph is not moving!!!

 

3.  My favorite images are all about color, light, shape, and texture…..

 

4.  I can remember what it was like, who I was with, and the joy of making everyone of these images!!!

 

5.  The last image says it all, the peoiple I’ve been honored to get to know, become friends, and have fun with, are the greatest joy of all!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

I promised to deal with waist belt systems so here we go.

 

First a Disclaimer:  I have a personal policy of never recommending something unless I actually use it myself, and have bought the product with my own money.  This protects you from being convinced something is great just because some manufacturer gave me one!!!  If you are a fan of;  Tenba, Clik, Tamrac, Kata, or many of the other bags out there this is not meant as a shot at your bow!  I just have never used any of those except Tenba and that was years a ago.  So I only report on Domke, Lowepro, and Think Tank.  Those are the only brands I currently own or have owned for some time.  This would be an appropriate place to tell a quick story.  For many years I’ve been friends with George Lepp.  In the very early days of my interest in photography George was known as the “go-to-guy” about equipment reviews, and recommendations,  this was long, long before DP Review and other on line reviewers.  George not only gave excellent information he also was very unbiased.  He was a Canon shooter, and was supported by Canon, but that did not prevent him from praising the products from other camera companies.  Being a  Nikon shooter that always made me feel great, I knew what ever I read from George was fair and honest. Later when we met and ran some workshops together I found that was the kind of guy he was, he called it as he saw it.  I never thought that I would be doing reviews, but when I started I tried to follow the great example set by George.  Now that I am approaching retirement from Nikon, I very much want to be that kind of reviewer.  I will have the freedom to do just that when I am a free moral agent, and I hope I can be as fair and honest as George was!

 

One more important point, I’m not a pixel peeper, not that there’s anything wrong with that (ala Jerry Seinfeld!).  I want to do reviews that talk about how effective any product is at making better images in the field, not on a test bench!  Is the product made well, does it work the way it is supposed to work?  Is a camera capable of high quality imaging, are lenses sharp, and well made, does the camera bag hold the stuff you need, and is it user friendly!!??  I hope come July that I can conduct these kinds of reviews here and be helpful to all of you, as we all make our buying decisions together!  Just always remember that I have no agenda here except to be honest and open in these mini reviews!  Should be fun and I expect to learn a lot myself!!!

 

O.K. waist belts.  I only own one brand, Think Tank, and I am very satisfied with their products!  I’ve never worn out a Think tank product and I use them hard.  My Airport Security 2.0 has hundreds of thousands of air miles and airport terminal  miles and all I’ve ever done was replace the handle!!!  And they replaced that free of charge!  (In fairness I’ve never worn out a Lowepro or Domke product either!)    Think Tank stuff is very well made and designed, and extremely user friendly, the zippers work great,  the interiors are easy to customize for whatever lens, flash or accessory you want to have quick access to.

 

I own two belt systems, one for a smaller mirror-less camera system, and one for my DSLRs both for FX and DX.  Below is my heavy duty model for DSLRs and lenses.  The way I use this belt is a way to carry around three lenses in addition a camera and lens that is over my shoulder.  The pockets and cubbyholes  in the three pouches can hold extra batteries, cable release, cleaning supplies and other accessories.  The one below includes the think Tank Pro Speed Belt, a large Lens Drop In pouch, trim changer pouch, and speed changer pouch and a lens changer 75 (for 70-200 and similar size lenses) and a very handy Bum Bag, to hold all the little extras you need in the field.

 

 

If I am going lighter, which I’m doing a lot more today my smaller Think Tank belt system will hold a full system of smaller Mirror-less gear.  With This belt I can carry one camera with a lens over my shoulder and have 4 or 5 additional lenses and accessories in the pouches.  It weighs less than half the big belt with lenses, quite nice when you have a lot of walking to do!!  The two extra pouches are for carrying a  flash or Constant Source LED lights which I’ve been experimenting with, more on that in a future blog post!!  The extra pouches are usually stored in the vehicle and not worn on the belt!

 

The bag in the very first image at the top is the Speed Racer fanny pack type bag that is great worn on the front and secured with a  shoulder strap for sitting in the open door of a helicopter, it keeps all your lenses within easy reach when shooting on such a precarious platform!!!

 

So there you have it, some more thoughts on  how to distribute the weight, keep your gear close, at hand, and work faster and more effieciently!  Hope some of these ideas may work for you!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

This is a wake up call for me, if it is for you, all the better, but please know this is something I’ve come to a conclusion about, for me!  Please read on with that understanding.  On the way back from St. Maarten I wrote a series of notes as I thought through some things.  I think they may be of value for anyone seeking to decide what they need.   I hope it is helpful for you.

 

So here is the drill…..”What do you really want, and need, and why.”

 

It’s really quite simple, first answer these ten questions:

 

1.  What do I do with  my images?  Do I sell them, do I do gallery shows, do I teach, do I use them on the web, do I submit them to be judged?  Do I make murals, cover walls and buildings?  Does it make sense to buy a camera that can make a file you will never need?  

 

I do most of theses things, but I’m light on the big prints. 

 

 

2.  Am I competing with people that I need to stay competitive with in terms of my equipment’s abilities? Am I in a photographic field that my competition drives what I perceive that I must have and use.  For instance if I was competing with Moose Peterson for the sale of wildlife images, you bet I would need lots of pro bodies and long, fast glass.

 

I’m not competing professionally with anyone so I’m not bound by t his concern. 

 

 

3.  How big will I print my files?  8X10?   13X19?    20×24?   24×36?   40×60?   8×20 feet!!!!  The size you reproduce your work will dictate the megapixels you need!  Shockingly, today with programs like Perfect Resize, you can make enormous prints even from modest files!

 

Only rarely do I print anything larger than 24×36, but when I need to I have enough resolution to do it.

 

 

4.  What kind of conditions do I work in?  What kind of light, plenty of light, very low light?  Do I need great High ISO, low noise?  Do I need high frame rate?  Do I make images in the pouring rain, blizzards, blowing sand?  Do I photograph dangerous animals or reptiles? What must my gear allow me to do?

 

 

I do work in very low light, so very low noise at high ISO is important to me, when the weather is extreme, I’m under shelter or by the fire side! 

 

5.  How much can I carry, or am I willing to carry?  At what point does the weight of your gear steal the joy of photography?  Do you climb mountains, trek in the wilderness?  Do  you mountain bike or kayak?  How much can you carry and preserve your health?

 

I’m not a hiker, climber, or outdoor athlete, probably never was!  The weight and compactness of my gear has become increasingly important with every passing year. 

 

6.  How much does the ultimate in quality mean to you?  Can I live with anything less than the best image quality that exists?  Would I spend $40,000. for a Phase One if I thought I might get me even slightly more resolution?  Do I pixel peep every file at 100%?  Do you use a tripod, a big heavy one, and a cable release and lock up the mirror for every shot?  Are you willing to?  

 

Quality is of a major concern for me, not enough to buy a $40,000. dollar medium format camera (weight is an issue as well), but I do want , within practical limits, the best image quality I can get. 

 

 

7.  Is it important that people be impressed with my gear?  Am I tempted to buy something because I think people will think less of me if I don’t own the latest and greatest gear? Do I buy gear because it is what  my friends have and use?

 

This is not a concern for me. 

 

8.  Is it important that people are impressed by my work?  How much am I driven by what people think of my work, or am I driven by what “I” think of my work????

 

I, like every other photographer I know, am pleased when someone likes and compliments my work, but that is not the overreaching concern I have for my work.  I am a  photographer because I love and enjoy the craft and art, and for no other reason.

 

9. Why am I making photographs?   Is it for profit and recognition of for the sheer joy of it?

 

The sheer joy of it!

 

 

10.  And now, the really important questions, can I answer all these questions with complete honesty????  How well do I know myself and how transparent am I willing to be to answer these questions???!!!

 

 

I have answered these questions with all the honesty I can muster. 

 

One last point!   I got a very good response from my friend John Gompf  about equipment collectors. My thoughts above were to help “us” as “shooters” sort out what we really need to own, to do what we need to!!!  For those of us, and I confess, I’m one, that love to collect gear for the joy of just owning it, all bets are off.  If you love collecting the questions above have little to do with your buying habits!!!

 

Having answered these questions, I now know what I need to do for myself!  I’ve now re-written my

 

Photography Mission Statement:

 

“I want to revel in the joy of seeing and capturing what excites me.  I want to openly share my vision with others, in hopes it will bring them joy, inspire them to follow their passion, and open their eyes to unseen wonders!  I want to strive to be the best craftsman I can without letting all the technical issues steal my excitement for capturing what I see and feel.  I want to challenge myself to make the very best images with the gear I have now!  I hope others enjoy my work, but I do not want that to be what drives me.  I want to find inspiration in the work of others.  I want to continue to share my love for photography with others…”

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

After a half dozen emails asking how I answered theses questions above,  I’ve added my responses in blue above….

 

 

I started this series yesterday with my doctors orders to reduce the weight of my gear.  We dealt with the tripod yesterday now how to cut back on camera gear or at least reduce the weight!!  First I’m a big believer in a system I call the trunk bag!! I own a medium size SUV, a Toyota FJ Cruiser and it has a lot of storage space in the back, and is easy to work out of, but when you have to walk things change! If I have to walk more than the length of a football field a new system is needed.  Reducing the weight of your bag or backpack can be done several ways!   The first is get a bag that rolls!!!  I own several and love them for airports, checking into hotels and on short walks over smooth surfaces, they don;t work so well on a trail in the woods!!!!  So for a carry system, wheels are out.  That leaves shoulder bags, back packs, and belt systems.  I’m going to deal with belt systems in a different entry, so lets look at shoulder bags and backpacks.  You can carry a lot more weight comfortably with a back pack than with a shoulder bag, but remember this isn’t about how to carry more, but how to carry less weight!!!

 

You have to start with your gear. How much is enough for general photography?  For the purpose of illustration, let’s plan an imaginary trip, actually lets take a trip I’m planning to go on next year; Italy.  Sherelene and I have always wanted to visit Tuscany and the Italian coast (seen Scott Kelby’s images from there, gotta go!!!)  I expect to be walking around enjoying time with Sherlene and don’t want to look like I’m on assignment for National Geographic.  So what do I have to have to not miss those once in a life time shots????  To keep weight down I want one body to carry, it has to be as small as possible, say a Nikon D7100 which being a DX sensor camera is pretty small compared to the bigger beefier FX models.  I need a lens that gets me from at least pretty wide, to midrange, and then a telelphoto zoom to reach out and some way to do close-ups!

 

As of today, my absolute minimum system would be:

 

D7100 camera body

16-85 AF-S VR f 3.5-4.5 lens (24-120 equivalent range)

70-300 AF-S VR f 4.5-5.6 zoom lens  (105-450 equivalent range)

A diopter to put on the lenses for close-ups and polarizers on both lenses, and lens hoods.

That is the bare minimum, if I weighed the bag and thought I could carry anymore, I would opt for the Nikon 10-24 AF-S f 3.5-4.5   (15-36 equivalent range)

 

Total Weight?

 

 

7 pounds!  With a mirror-less system it might be 5 pounds!  Now we are making some progress.  So how are we going to carry this new lighter system, here are some ideas!

 

Before we start let me share with you that I am not sponsored by any single camera bag company.  I couldn’t do that because I’m a proud member of the “Bag of The Month Club”  I love a number of bags as you will see in this entry.  I do have a long history with Lowepro, Think Tank, and Domke, and all of these folks make great bags and I have put them to the test, in-the-field, and they are all on my highly recommended list!  You can’t go wrong with any of these fine brands….

 

 

Let me start with one I love for the Mirror-less systems, the Lowepro Flipside Sports Series AW, they look like a hikers travel backpack, are extremely well made and very comfortable to wear, with great ventilation in the back and shoulder straps

 

 

The next is the popular Messenger type bag, from Lowepro.  This one is called the Lowepro Messenger 160 and it holds the DX system perfectly, with lots of extra space for accessories, but be careful, you can be load it up very easy and increase that weight!  It’s a very handsome bag, almost dressy!

 

Next the great folks at Think Tank have two wonderful messenger type bags as well, they have a great in the field, rougher look and as everything they make are top notch build as well,  they are the Retrospective 5 and 10.   The 5 is great for a very small mirror-less camera and a couple of lenses and the 10 can handle a bigger mirror-less system or the DX system we assemble above.  I got them in Pinestone, a color I love!

 

 

Well there are some ideas to chew on as you try to reduce the weight and burden of your camera system in-the-field!   I’ve been working lighter for a few months since that doctors appointment, and to be honest, the simpler system is helping me make better images!  A great bonus along with that is less shoulder,  and back pain!  Can’t beat that!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

FLASH – I already have gotten an email from a friend saying,  “Surely you’re not dumping all your FX gear, D800/D600 etc, etc, and all those juicy FX lenses!!!???”  Take a deep breath, nope, but I simply can’t lug them around in the field on my shoulder, or on my back anymore.  Just can’t do it. So I plan to own a FX body, still working on which one,  the 16-35, 24-120, and 70-300 still  have a special place in a Domke shoulder bag which will now become a trunk bag.  When my assignments, both self or otherwise, requires FX type equipment it will be close-by ready to go to work.  The truth is I’m finding the new D7100 and mirror-less cameras to be so good that I don’t think I’ll be reaching for the FX gear as much in the future, but it will stay around until that is fully confirmed in practice.  Please keep in mind this is a medical and joy decision.   I’m feeling less pain with a smaller bag, and getting better images when I feel great, late in the day!  Now before I get any alarmed responses, I’m not having a bout with any life threatening disease, and have not been diagnosed with anything other than too many birthdays pilling  up!!  I feel great,  I just need to take better care of myself so I will continue to feel like getting out and shooting up a storm!!!!