Coffee Shop

A key development in the evolution of nimble urban photography had nothing to do with camera gear. Surprisingly, it is the modern coffee shop. 

I'm talking Starbucks, not Denny's. 

These warmly lit cafes provide outposts in the urban jungle. We need a place to rest, get something quick to drink or eat, upload our photos, then continue our adventure. I think Starbucks was created for the nimble photographer. 

First, the essentials.  Coffee. Strong coffee. And just as important, a the clean restroom. You can't have one without the other. 

Then there's the atmosphere. I like the mishmash of tables, stools, and overstuffed chairs. I feel like I have options to match my mood. I enjoy the music too. It's usually  perfect for sorting through pictures and posting to Facebook. And finally, where would we be without free WiFi? 

I buy my coffee at Starbucks with my iPhone. When I wave my device in front of the scanner at checkout, the purchase amount is deducted from my account. It's fast and far less pedestrian than using a credit card, which feels glacial for those waiting behind in a long line.

I'm not sure how many photos a year are posted online from a Starbucks. But I'm willing to bet the number is in the millions. Happy, caffeinated, relieved, toe tapping, nimble photographers reporting on metropolitan life, from one coffee shop to the next.

- Derrick 

So Far Apart

I knew September was going to be a crazy month. 

Apparently tech manufacturers don't consult one another about the timing of their product launches. Case in point: I've been invited to a "secret behind the scenes" camera event in New York on Monday, Sept. 9, then Apple has scheduled their big iPhone and "who knows what else" announcements on Sept. 10 in San Francisco. To make things even more interesting, the NYC event is in the evening.

Even in my most nimble mode, I would have difficulty working in NYC Monday night, then catching a flight back to SFO to attend the Apple event the following morning. So I'm going to have to choose.  

I always hate that. 

-Derrick

NDA Meeting in San Francisco

One of the perks of my job is being invited to NDA meetings (non disclosure agreement)  where I'm introduced to new products before their official release. The goal is to help us prepare our content, so when the product is debuted, news and reviews about it are immediately available.

Last Thursday, I was invited to a hotel in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf area for an NDA meeting about an upcoming camera that I'm quite interested in. The gathering was scheduled for the afternoon, so I planned my day with business stops along the way to work as efficiently as possible. 

When possible, I like to arrive early and save some time afterwards so I can wander the streets with my camera. I may be there on business, but I want so time to enjoy the setting too. I think this is a key to business travel in general. 

As it worked out, I have a fun shoot that day. I posted a couple of the shots on The Digital Story in the article titled, Street Shooting with the Olympus OM-D and 14-42mm Zoom.  As for the NDA meeting itself, yes it went well too. But I won't be able to talk about that until mid-September.

- Derrick

Nod to Galen Rowell

When August rolls around every year, my thoughts eventually turn to Galen Rowell. He more than any other photographer, influenced my nimble ways.

Galen died in a small plane crash on Aug. 11, 2002. He was born on August 23, 1940. Galen was an outdoorsman who climbed mountains and photographed what he saw. At a time when large and medium format photography dominated fine art galleries, he proved that 35mm film could produce images just as compelling. He often explored nature with just a DSLR and a couple lenses.

August is a charged month for me. It's a time when I find myself outdoors with a camera, immersed in the beauty of nature. It's also the month my mother was born, and the same month when my mother-in-law passed away. There's a lot to think about this time of year.

But right now, two days before the anniversary of Galen Rowell's birthday, I want to say thank you. It meant the world to me when you appeared at that camera club meeting in Santa Rosa and helped me understand exposure. You introduced me to the graduated filter. But most importantly, you fueled my courage to push beyond "the accepted way of doing things," so I could find my own path.

-Derrick

Not wanting to part ways

I received a note today from my editor at Macworld Magazine. She acknowledged receiving the draft of my assigned review of the Ricoh GR compact camera. Good news of course. I'll soon be paid. But that also means that she'll soon be asking me to send the camera back. I really don't want to.

I receive equipment for testing and reviewing from different sources. In some instances, I have a contact with the manufacturer or the PR agency representing the company. Those are the best because, if they like you, they tend to be more lenient about loan duration. Even when they ask for the product back, I can negotiate a stay of execution for a few more weeks. (Of course some gear I can't wait to send back and get it out of my sight.)

These same agencies send gear to publications for review. In those situations, everything seems to be more by the book. In large part, the publication, such as Macworld Magazine in my case, wants to maintain an image of journalistic professionalism. And rightly so. 

But it also means that I will soon have to say good bye to this beautiful compact camera with an APS-C sized sensor. It's such a joy to shoot with the Ricoh GR. It feels like it was designed by serious photographers who understand how we think.  I call it the little camera with a big heart.

Maybe the loan will slip everyone's mind for just a bit longer. 

-Derrick