Through the Lens Today — July 21, 2009
Through the Lens Today — July 21, 2009
Ann Arbor, MI, July 19, 2009: Behold the mess I’ve created on two desks, in slightly longer than a month since moving back to Ann Arbor. Bits and scraps of photography gear can be seen here, such as a lens tripod collar, battery grip and Canon 40D. National Geographic magazine is a must-read. On the right, water, tea, phone and stylebook make up the non-camera-related half of the junkyard.
Are photographers made to be a mess? Not necessarily, considering we have to put considerable thought and brain power into composing the next best photo. Light must always be measured, calculated and then applied to your desires. It’s almost a science (though not a complete one), so there has to be some order around.
I’ll admit that I’m acquiring more gear than I can even carry on my own, and if there is to be a successful business, I have to get the logistics right on. That means packing the gear into the right bags for travel and storage. My Lowepro Fastpack used to be a behemoth for transporting all my gear, but now it’s probably bursting at its seems. If I have to travel abroad (and I know eventually I will), another solution will have to present itself.
Unfortunately there’s no ultimate solution. Backpacks can carry the bulk of gear, but the weight and inaccessibility will just wear you down during outdoor adventure shoots or during a news assignment. Hard cases and large roller bags fit the frame for air travel, but is nowhere ideal for day-to-day work. Sling bags do that well, but there storage capacities are limited. With all that in mind, it’s hardly surprising to hear photographers having 10 or more bags, each with their own specialization.
Bags aren’t a priority purchase for me now, but if I had only one choice, it’d be a roller bag, since I already have two camera backpacks and refitted sling bag for low usage. Those roller bags can easily fit all my gear. But once again, these aren’t a priority, so it’s just a mental note for the future.
Till then, the gear will live all over. The desk won’t be spared.
