What We Leave Behind

There are always decisions involved with leaving.

The starting point is figuring out what to take. I usually start with gear, because those are the more complicated decisions. It doesn't do any good to bring your favorite camera on an extended trip if you forget its battery charger. It's like a puzzle, and you need the right pieces.

Weight plays a critical role. For example, I love the functionality of a laptop computer. But relative to the other things I bring, it's heavy and bulky. If I can get by without it, I will. Tripods fall in to the same category.

Then we get to the suitcase itself. Here too, I only pack what I think I'll actually need. My thinking is that if I forgot something, I can always buy it on the road. One of my favorite sayings is, "It's not like we're going to Cuba." I might have to modify that for my departure this Thursday.

For my trip to Havana, I need to have everything I need. I can't go to the corner drugstore and buy insect repellent or Ibuprofen. That has to be with me. So, in the same fashion as packing my gear bag, I have a checklist, and I'm starting the process early.

This next part is closer to home. Every time I walk out the door, I leave my family behind. To be honest, I would prefer that they come with me, especially my wife. But that's not practical for them. I'm the one who wants to explore. They have their jobs, school, friends, and responsibilities here, not there.

I realize the risk that comes with adventure. Something could go wrong. I try to comfort myself by saying that things could go wrong anywhere. But even if everything runs smoothly, I'm still disrupting the rhythm of daily life.  And even while visiting the most beautiful places on the planet, I think of them.

The fact of the matter is, what we leave behind

is more valuable than what we bring.

-Derrick

If I were a Lightbulb, I'd be Glowing

I try to temper my expectations before stepping through the doors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. 

What I'm hoping for is innovation that will make my world brighter and more fun. But it's really a copycat's paradise. For example, in the realm of photography, it seemed like everyone felt that they needed to offer an action or 360 degree camera. So in 2015 we'll see dozens upon dozens of cameras that you can clip to a helmet, position in the nursery, or dangle overhead while crossing the river via a rope bridge - because that's how we all get to work in the morning.

Photography in general was disappointing this year. Basically, what we saw were reconfigurations of existing technologies. New cameras by Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic felt more like product cycle releases than innovations. 

"What are we going to release at CES?"

"Hmmm... let's look at the product roadmap. We could push up these compacts."

"Perfect, let's do it."

What was interesting to me was the world of home automation. It's finally coming of age. And many of the announcements were both clever and useful. Things like the OORT SmartSocket, the Smarter coffeepot, the netatmo Weather Station, and the entire ecosystem building around Nest Labs is truly interesting. 

Being able to better control my home environment, save energy, and possibly protect what's inside my house is good stuff. Along with the development of Bluetooth related technologies and the evolving car, I felt that this was the area of CES that met my expectations.

My final thought probably won't surprise you. I love lighting. And what's happening with the common lightbulb is fascinating.

These were my shining knights in Vegas.

-Derrick

Second Doubts

Right now, I'm really missing my OMD-E-M10 with its beautiful 17mm f/1.8 prime. Here's why.

I'm logging a lot of miles on foot in Las Vegas right now covering the CES show. For this type of work, I like a small messenger bag with a camera, extra lens, iPad mini, and a nano tripod. That's all I need.

Backpacks are terrible at trade shows. They are just too damn big. And their owners don't factor in the added girth as they cut in front of you and swing around a few times. So I need cameras that fit easily in a messenger... like my E-M10 with a prime lens or two.

The reason why I'm lamenting this is because I fell in to the "I'm a professional photographer" trap and brought the wrong gear for this trip. I have the largish E-M1 (by mirrorless standards) with the PRO 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom lens. Great camera. Fantastic lens. Too big. Too heavy.

Already, just after one day here, I'm reaching for the Samsung NX3000 with its diminutive 30mm f/2.0 prime lens. The tandem is as light as a feather and fits easily in my shoulder bag. It's what I'm shooting with.

What I should have packed also is the smaller E-M10, 14-42mm power zoom pancake lens, 17mm f/1.8 prime, and 45mm f/1.8 telephoto. But alas, they are back at the studio in the lens safe.

It's funny, I do great work when I'm not being a pro. I'm free of gear pretenses and just shoot with what I want.

Something to keep in mind as I prepare for Cuba.

-Derrick

Las Vegas, Ready or Not

Every year I know CES is just around the corner, and every year it surprises me.

This Sunday I'll board Southwest Airlines in Oakland and touch down in Las Vegas 90 minutes later. By 4pm, I'll be at Mandalay Bay for the first press event of the week.

Aside from the usual suspects, CES (short for the Consumer Electronics Show) will highlight home automation and wearables. Of course, the biggest wearable of the year, the Apple Watch, won't be present. So that feels weird. How can I get excited about anything else until that shoe drops?

As for home automation, well, it has been a slow train coming. I think 2015 will be the year, however, where some of this stuff becomes practical for the average, somewhat nerdy, consumer. To be honest, I would like a coffee pot that I can turn on from my smartphone. 

There will  be lots of news about drones in every shape and size. Lots of them. I might write a story on the latest and greatest quad-copter. Or I might not.

As for photography, which is our collective first love, there will be some news. I'm just not sure how much of it I'll be able to report right away. I have a handful of meetings with nondisclosure agreements, presumably about new products in the pipeline. I'm hoping that I'll be able to discuss some of those in January. I like new photography announcements. 

CES will also be my final dry run before stepping on a plane to Miami later this month for the Cuba assignment. I'm feeling confident about my gear selection. If my final test goes well, I'll publish a report with the kit I've packed. There'll be some surprises in there. And I think you'll enjoy the post.

Until then, it's Las Vegas time. You'll hear from me there. And I promise,

there won't be one article about 4K televisions.

-Derrick

A Short Pause in the Program

I'm already thinking about 2015. I can't help it.

In my line of work, which is flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants entrepreneurship, I constantly have to think ahead. A perfect example was earlier this year. When I felt my days were coming to an end at Lowepro, I started a search for a new client. As it turned out, I lost one and gained three. (It doesn't always go that well.)  

My crystal ball is still a bit foggy about 2015. On the plus side, there's the trip to Cuba, two fresh titles for lynda.com, a new photography workshop in June, and for the most part, my clients seem happy. On the negative side, there's all the stuff that's going to happen that I don't know about yet. And to be honest, there's probably not much I can do to prevent it, especially right now.

So I should take a little break. Visit with my friends and family - share a few stories, have a beer or two, and give thanks for an amazing 2014. 

I don't think it makes any difference what particular holiday we celebrate. There's a theme that runs through all of them: be thankful for the blessings and share them with others.

2015 will be here soon enough. And when it arrives, I'll be ready. But for now, I'm going to press the pause button and think about how darn lucky I am.

Then go spend the evening with my family.

-Derrick