Life is a Camera Bag

When working with Lowepro customers, the most common request I get is for the perfect camera bag.

If I ask for more detail, it goes something like this:

"I want it big enough to hold all of my gear, but it can't be too heavy. It needs to accommodate my DSLR kit, 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom, 15" laptop, flashes, tripod, and personal items, but it has to fit under the seat on the plane. I want to use it on the trail, in the city, and on the water. The bag needs to be comfortable, but I don't like a lot of straps. And if it could cost less than $100, that would be great."

"Hang on," I say, "I'll get back to you on that."

Camera bags are like life. You give up one thing to get another. You make priorities, and try for as many of them as reasonable. And in the end, you hope that a seam doesn't bust causing the whole thing to fall apart.

I've learned a lot through photography. I know how to travel. I'm better with people. And most importantly, I understand the necessity of compromise.

In fact, I'm glad there isn't a sublime camera bag. And I'm relieved that life isn't perfect either. Because if it were, there'd be nothing else to do.

And even worse, no new bags to try.

-Derrick

The Holiday Inn

They remodeled the Holiday Inn where I lodge while working in Carpinteria.

Marble counter tops, simulated wood flooring, fresh carpet - it's not homey, but I like it.

I'm one of those people who enjoys hotels (until I begin to miss my family). When I'm on the road, I'm focused on the task at hand, whether it's work or vacation. No chores, cooking, dishwashing, laundry, bed making, or answering the door, that is, unless its dinner being served.

On an average business trip, I work about 14 hours a day. Six hours for sleep and the rest is dining or exercise. When I return home from one of these adventures, I usually feel a huge sense of accomplishment.

This afterglow quickly fades once I tackle the pile of bills and the loads of laundry waiting for me. But I do love seeing my family and the cat.

Maybe next time I should bring them to the Holiday Inn with me,

and stay longer.

-Derrick

Being Nimble in San Francisco

I have a great workday lined up.

My first stop will be at Joby HQ in San Francisco (yes, the makers of the wildly cool Gorillapod). I'm in meetings there for a couple hours. They're a terrific group to hang out with... very creative and passionate about photography.

Then I have a couple hours free for street shooting in the city. I'm on foot all day or using public transportation, so I'm sure I'll see plenty of stuff to photograph. I'll be testing the new Olympus OM-D E-M10 micro four thirds camera with the very fun 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ zoom and auto lens cap.

I posted a short video of this tandem in operation on The Digital Story. It's definitely worth a look!

After that, I'm attending a Samsung Press Event down on the Embarcadero. There's a NDA meeting and reception, so I'm sure it will be enjoyable. (I'll probably keep my Olympus out of sight then.)

I'll leave the press event around 7pm and take BART over to Oracle Arena and catch the Warriors playing the Bucks tonight. Great way to finish off the day.

I'll have my camera and a couple lenses, plus the iPad mini and some accessories, in my Walking Man Shoulder bag. Such a nimble combination. I'll have everything I need with me, yet I'll be light on my feet and won't be attracting any attention.

At least not with my bag.

-Derrick

The Double Edge of Depending on Others

I remember a performance review I had 20 years ago.

I was the Communications Manager and lead photographer for a health care company. My director said to me, "You have to lower your expectations a bit when it comes to the performance of your staff." (She was a great boss, BTW.) "If someone on your team doesn't meet your standards, you can be a bit hard on them."

I've since kept her advice in mind and tried to be more patient. Sometimes that's worked better than others. But I'm much better today than I was 20 years ago.

That said, it's a double edge, isn't it?

One one side, we never know the things that people are dealing with in their lives. Many of these situations affect their work.

On the other side, I've learned that some folks just aren't very dedicated or disciplined. It's not their environment that keeps them from performing well. It's them.

I'm no longer a communications manger. I work for myself. I think my discipline has helped me survive all of the changes I've seen.

And when I work with others, I try to keep my former director's advice in mind. 

To a point...

In the end, we have to be able to depend on each other.

Otherwise, more change is going to come, one way or another.

-Derrick

The Balancing Act

The hardest part of my job is paying for content -- the stuff I create.

The Web has always been tricky this way. At its core, the Internet is a free information sharing service. That, along with its ubiquitous presence, is what separates it from many other types of media.

And like other information sources, the Web is wildly competitive. It's this wonderful mix of professionals and amateurs alike, with every topic conceivable fair game for discussion.

I began my move from print to electronic in 1997 when I built storyphoto.com in the wee hours of the morning. It's still online, now as a historical document. I was a hobbyist then. I paid the rent with my day job.

In all of those years since, I've never had a hard time thinking of things to write about. The balancing act has been generating enough revenue while I create that content.

With The Digital Story Podcast for example, I've resisted putting commercials at the top of the show. My reasoning is that people want to hear the news or a feature when they first tune in, not an advertising spot. 

Sponsors hate that. They want to be up front -- at the beginning of the show and at  the top of the website, like a toll booth you must pass through.

Instead, my approach is advertorial. I look for products and services that I think have real value, and I tell their story, hoping to educate along the way. Even if you don't buy the product, you learn something new.

Even so, I have to add this ingredient in measured amounts. A little too much, and the scale tips the wrong way.

Not enough, well, then I'm back in 1997.

-Derrick