Fighting Thieves with Nimbleosity

I read a disturbing article today titled, Photography Team at Olympics Cycling Event Robbed in Rio de Janeiro. It said:

"Photography safety is a growing concern leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This past weekend, a group of photographers were mugged and had their expensive equipment stolen while covering a road cycling test event for next year’s Games."

These guys weren't mugged while stumbling back to their hotel at midnight from a seedy bar, they were working. And this isn't the only incident I've read about. More than ever, photographers are targets for thieves.

Once again, nimbleosity comes to mind.

I've written about how traveling light helps simplify your shooting, increases your energy, and promotes creativity. And now I think we should add safety to the list.

There's still the perception that a big camera with a long lens is more valuable than something that fits in your hand. Unless it has a red Leica dot on it, you're just another amateur with an inexpensive device.

Heck, you could probably hand your mirrorless to a thief for s portrait of you, and he'd most likely hand it back. I don't recommend testing this theory, however.

The point is, traveling with a discreet bag with minimal equipment is wise. And not insisting that you bring every optic in your kit probably isn't a bad idea either.

Figure out what you need for the day, pack only the essentials in shoulder bag, wear it across your shoulders, and keep it close to your body. Along with a bit of street sense and a dash of good fortune, this is your recipe for success.

I think Hill Street Blues Sgt. Phil Esterhaus summed it up best: "Let's be careful out there."

-Derrick 

Mom's 80th Birthday

She and I were sitting in the living room. It was well past 10 pm and everyone else had gone to bed, that is, except the cat who was perched on the coffee table cleaning herself.

Mom was 80 years old.

When you have a challenging life, you hope to make it to 60, maybe 70. But here we were talking about how she had left home as a young woman with my father, and all the changes she had navigated in the decades that followed.

I'm the oldest son. I was conceived in a duplex in Chino California and raised in a home with a $500 down payment and a mortgage of $80 a month. 

"We sold that place for $13,000," my mom said. "Made $3,000 that we put toward the new house. That was a pretty good deal."

Every time I sit with my mom, usually on hot summer evenings with the air conditioner rattling in the background, I learn something new about my life. How a mom can keep a family together through sheer will.

And how a world often seems determined to tear it all apart. Yet there she sat, still in her pretty dinner clothes, a great grandmother with her family intact. 

All of this comes at a time when my boys are getting ready to leave home. My wife is going to give them each a hug while standing at the threshold of their dorm rooms, then cry as we walk back to the car.

But her sons will come back, just as I've done year after year. And they too will probably sit with their mother on hot summer nights and discover just how powerful a woman can be, 

when there are children to be cared for and dragons to be slain.

-Derrick

Number 1 Question

I've spent a lot of time in the Rocky Nook booth here at Photoshop World in Las Vegas. Even though I'm there to help people learn about books and magazines, I end up spending much of my time talking shop. 

The Number 1 question I'm asked centers around camera purchases, specifically mirrorless and compact models. A lot of these folks say that they're shopping for their wives, but I'm guessing that they'll do the bulk of the shooting. 

"You're the Nimble Photographer. Maybe you could help me with a question." 

"Sure, what' on your mind?" 

"My wife would like a camera that she can carry around easily, yet it should capture in RAW and have high ISO performance." 

"Hmmm, your wife sounds like a pretty good photographer." 

"Not really." 

"Oh, I see. Well, I do have a few ideas for you..." 

We usually compare the virtues of Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Panasonic. But I feel like my comrades often had their minds made up before these conversations began. Maybe it's conformation they're after.

I enjoy these chats, however, and I do hope my thoughts lead to useful gear purchases... 

for whomever ends up with the new camera. 

-Derrick

Vegas, Baby!

"You kinda like Las Vegas, don't you?" Leah asked.

"Yeah, I do."

By most accounts, however, my Las Vegas experience is boring. I haven't placed a bet in 20 years. I breeze through the casinos moving from point A to point B without even a thought of stopping at the blackjack table. I do like the people watching, however.

I can't remember the last time I was drunk there. OK, that probably came out wrong. What I mean is that I don't drink much either. Cocktails are either too watered down if they're free, or too expensive if I have to pay. I'll have a Makers Mark Manhattan after work. I like the bar overlooking the NYNY Casino. But that's about it.

I don't go to shows either. I think I've been to one. I remember is that they brought me 3 beers before the curtain went up and placed them neatly on the little table in front of me. All I could think about through the opening act was that two of the bottles were getting warm.

So why do I even bother to get on the plane? Well, I have work there. This week, for example, I'll be attending Photoshop World. It's a good event. I'm looking forward to it.

I remember one reader commented in the past that Las Vegas doesn't like conference goers. "They're cheap," he said. So I'm wondering... then why do they keep having events there? Why not Portland, for example?

Anyway, I don't really care what they think. I have my favorite places to eat - they're good and reasonable. Then I'll go out for a couple hours of night shooting. Once the memory card starts to fill up, I'll treat myself to a Starbucks coffee and head back to the room to publish the day's work.

I think it's fun. Oh yeah, Vegas baby!

-Derrick

The Best Camera Is Not...

... the one you have with you. That's ridiculous. 

It's like saying the best woman is the one sitting next to you on the bus. Really? What would your wife think about that?

I mean, yes, I get the point of the cliche; I just don't agree with it. When a photo opp presents itself, I will capture it with what's available at the moment: my iPhone, OM-D, X-20, whatever I can get my hands on. And hopefully I'll get a good shot. But that's triage.

The best camera is the one that I've bonded with. It's the tool that I don't even think about operating. We've become one. I can solely concentrate on the subject before me without having to leave the creative side of my brain.

There's something to be said for really learning how to use your favorite device, regardless of what it is. If you're an iPhone shooter, then find an app that feels natural for image capture. Learn every aspect of it. Know that software and your smartphone inside and out.

In my case, it's the OM-D. I have a default mode for my settings, so all I have to do is turn it on and take the picture. No fussing. Just photos. If I need a bit more reach, I press the Fn2 button next to the shutter to double the magnification. If I need exposure compensation, I rotate the knurled collar next to it to lighten or darken the image. I don't have to pull away from the viewfinder to do this. It just happens. I'm in the moment.

The best things in life are those we invest in. I put energy into learning my craft. I know my camera, the software I rely on to process the images, and the audience to whom I present the final product. I know this sounds odd, but I even have a feeling for who you are and what matters in your life. 

I'm not settling for the woman on the bus. I'll wait a bit longer to see my family. I know who they are. I like them. And they make me better.

-Derrick