Taking the chance for some rare down time. Greek Creek, Gallatin Canyon, Montana. Image by Dry Fly Media.
Not directly photography related, but this has been on my mind for a while now. Please humor me.
Working with several very different groups of people over the past few months has made me think about self responsibility on a very basic level. I’ve watched men and women drop in the heat because they were not drinking enough. Backpackers have to stop midway through the first day because they neglected to break in their boots and therefore were facing massive blisters.
As photographers we are expected to be ready to go when the opportunity arises for a good photograph. This often means waiting for hours during set up or down time, camera at the ready. For every five hours I spend on location, probably less than half an hour is actually spent making images. The rest of the time is spent scouting locations, checking light, and talking to subjects, helping them to relax and feel at ease with the camera.
A DSLR shoved in one’s face will make almost anyone uncomfortable.
Coming back to self responsibility. It is my responsibility as a photographer to assure that, when the time comes to take the pictures, I am ready to go. On hot days this means staying hydrated and keeping my energy up. Cold weather? I need to keep my batteries warm, next to my skin, and the camera body in the cold weather to prevent condensation and fogging when it’s time to shoot. Fingers need to be kept warm enough to adjust camera settings. Gear needs to be field tested and ready to go.
In the big picture, it’s my job to make certain that I am fit enough to deal with whatever situation I find myself in. This means lots of 5 or 6 AM gym sessions. So be it… that’s become my quiet time in the day and I look forward to it.
If I am on an assignment and am supplied with food and drink, so much the better. But it can never be counted on. I always carry electrolyte tabs, a few protein bars, and a bottle of water. A small first aid kit and a headlamp have taken up permanent residence in my camera bag.
When the time comes, be ready to shoot, no matter what the circumstances. The best images are often made in the roughest conditions.
Tags: Techniques
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Military thought process. Keep tracking. Most civilians never get this far.
Hope to see you in the field, nina de fuego.