Accessorize for Passion

Years ago, a peer remarked to me, "the basic outfit is nice, but you should focus more on accessories."

She was talking about my wardrobe.

It's true that a stylish belt, contemporary watch, or handsome pair of shoes can transform jeans and a black shirt into business meeting attire. Accessories can also spruce up your photo kit (which is what I thought she was talking about in the first place.)

If you have a camera you like, but don't feel that you're shooting with it enough, accessorize.

I've noticed that a new case, strap, filter, lens hood, or heaven for bid, optic, reignites the embers of shooting passion and gets that estranged camera back in my hands.

As for my wardrobe: I was going to buy these great looking Italian shoes.

But, you see, there was this lens...

-Derrick

City Day

I'm ready to head to San Francisco for a day of meetings.

In my opinion, SF is one of the friendliest cities for Nimble Photographers. Yes, I do have to drive the hour south and go across the majestic Golden Gate Bridge on the north end of town. But after that, I park my car and am on foot, riding BART, or catching a cab for the remainder of the day.

I love not having to drive. Personally, I think navigating a car in a congested metropolis is a waste of time, money, and patience. Save that task for the cabbies.

When I'm on foot with my Urban Reporter messenger bag slung across my shoulders, I feel like I have all of my options available. I can stop for a coffee. Take a picture. Grab a bite to eat. People watch. Walk to my next meeting. Do nothing.

When driving in the city, I basically only have the last option. Although I do manage a little people watching too.

So it's time to put on a good pair of shoes, don my sunglasses, and head to the big city.

I'll post a shot or two on Instagram.

-Derrick

The Magic Lens

Many photographers want perfection.

Perfect exposure, spot-on color, exquisite detail - and some want these attributes under all conditions, at all times, and with equipment that weighs very little.

The problem isn't their desire to defy the laws of physics. Science is science, and there will always be tradeoffs in photography. 

The issue is striving for perfection instead of emotion. Great photographs make you feel something. At the moment you're lost in an image, you don't care about resolution, aperture, or ISO. (On the other hand, you can look at an picture with perfect edge-to-edge sharpness and not give a damn.)

You can't buy the magic lens that renders perfect images. You already have it. It is your vision connected to your heart.

What I desire in cameras are tools that make me want to take photographs. I want to carry them with me, pull them out of my bag, and hold them in my hands. At that point, I'm already feeling something.

Then all I have to do is raise my eyes to the world.

And find a subject that touches me.

-Derrick

The Long Drive

I think it's crazy that I can drive 450 miles in roughly the same amount of time I can fly there.

But it's true.

Air travel being what it is these days, I have to drive 90 minutes to the big city airport because my local landing strip doesn't service my destination. Then I have to be at the airport 90 minutes early to deal with shuttles, security, and standing in line.

I'm at the 3 hour mark, and I haven't even boarded the plane yet.

Once I'm on the plane, there's no guarantee that it's actually going to take off. Seems like the smaller aircraft have more challenges in this area. I usually factor in another hour.

The flight itself is only 90 minutes. We land. I'm now at the 5.5 hour mark.

Next the rental car. There goes another 30-60 minutes. And finally, the 1 hour drive to my final destination.

If everything goes relatively OK, I can be there in 7-7.5 hours.

In my car, I can make the drive to Southern CA in 7-7.5 hours.

I can put as much gear as I want in the trunk. I don't have anyone telling me what to do. I can take pictures along the way. I can eat real food. And I don't have to sit next to someone with a contagious disease.

Yes, it's a long drive.

It's worth it.

-Derrick

Table for One

There's this great scene in the Steve Martin movie, "The Lonely Guy" where he walks in to a restaurant alone with a spotlight on him and everyone is staring.

It's not quite that bad for me when I travel. But eating alone is definitely part of the gig.

I just posted a piece on The Digital Story titled, Take Your Camera to Dinner. It's not instead of an eating companion - because it looks weird  playing with your mirrorless in a restaurant. Rather, the article addresses the photo opportunities before and after the meal.

When we dine with others, we're appropriately focused on interacting with them. But when when alone, I see things around me that I might miss otherwise. And in fact, a table for one can be good for my artistry.

Generally, I prefer the company of others. But I'm also comfortable flying solo.

It's not like there's a spotlight on me.

Just a camera by my side.

-Derrick