How many cameras do you pack when you go on a road-trip/holiday/vacation/adventure? If you’re not a photographer, you might pack one camera. Or maybe you just pocket your smartphone and use that for all photos?
In my previous post, I was thinking aloud about what camera gear to pack for our impending road trip. In the comment section, another blogger, Disperser Tracks, asked me why I’d pack as much as I’m planning to if the goal is to pack light? It’s a great question and one that has often crossed my mind.
If my ultimate goal is to pack lightly, why not just pack the smallest and lightest camera I have and be done with it? Why bother packing anything else? Why cram gear into bags that are bursting at the seams?
- Is it about ego and vanity? Am I trying to look impressive in the field? I don’t think so. I rarely meet other photographers on my travels. I’ve used all kinds of cameras, crappy lenses, and pieces of plastic when standing near photographers with expensive lenses and cameras. I’m interested in what they’re using and what they’re doing, but I don’t think about how I look next to them. Feeling insecure was an issue when I first started with a DSLR, but not now. I’m comfortable with my photographic approach. I make vast efforts to be aware of my inner world, my motivations, my reason for doing something, my intent, and my beliefs.
- What about being prepared? Photo opportunities on the road are often last-minute stops. There isn’t much time to swap lenses and fiddle about. Having two camera bodies with different lenses mounted allows me to choose the best option quickly. Do I need a fast prime lens? Got that on my Nikon Z5. Do I need a telephoto? Got that mounted on the Nikon D3400 today.
- It’s about the game of mounts. I actually don’t have a telephoto lens for my Nikon Z5 in the native Z mount but I do have one in F mount for my older Nikons. It makes sense to use the right lens for the right body. Likewise, I have a wide 20mm Z mount lens for my Nikon Z5 but not one for my older F mount Nikon cameras.
- Yes, I’m a bit of a novelty seeker. I love cameras and I love photography. I enjoy all of my cameras and like to have options when on the road. Sometimes a Nikon Z5 will serve the moment and other times a Nikon D40X will bring me joy. If something makes a photo, I’m interested. I’ll also pack the Campsnap for some lo-fi fun.
- Unfortunately, cameras have failed on me. Last year, I had my amazing Sigma Foveon camera fail me in the field as the shutter mechanism malfunctioned. Several years ago, my Olympus EM5 Mark 1 failed me on a day-trip. Call it bad luck, I guess. I pack other cameras just in case something breaks. Call it paranoia!
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I’m trying—but failing—to get a feel for the type of photographer you are.
Pro? Probably not. (although you had one post where you implied portrait photography)
Semi-Pro, with some paying gigs but not main source of income? Maybe.
Serious Amateur (the fabled “Prosumer” or Enthusiast)? Could be.
Hobbyist? Seems “more-than” given your posts.
Casual knowledgeable user? Too many different products and shooting methods.
I’m also hampered by not seeing many images in your posts and the posts themselves bordering on Spartan even as they appear to give lots of information (neat trick, that). And, you don’t specify what exactly you’re packing for (leisure or work). I would assume that if you worked as a pro, you would have a portfolio (and perhaps you do), but also higher-end cameras (maybe).
Me? I just shoot like mad, plan little, save all my images, post way too many . . . I’m more of a Casual knowledgeable user, but less than a full-fledged Hobbyist (most of my stuff is off-the-cuff, hey-look-at-this type stuff with little thought to the technical aspect of photography (although I can fake it).
FYI, I’ve never had any of the cameras I own (Kodak Reflex, Nikon N8008, D100, D200, D7000, P900, D7500) fail. I suppose it could happen.
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Interesting question. Honestly, I don’t think about it because it’s not important to me. I’ve sold photos, paintings, and other creative endeavours. Have done some paid photo sessions, but it’s not a stream of income, nor my job. So, as it’s not my job, I’m not a paid professional or careerist. I don’t taint my interests with the pressure of making them businesses. That would suck the life out of it, for me. My day job is entirely different from my interests. So, a serious hobbyist, I suppose? If the label matters at all and it doesn’t to me. That’s for other people. I enjoy cameras. I enjoy photography. I enjoy seeing the world. I’m not in a race. I don’t specialise in a genre for marketing purposes. That doesn’t interest me. Any “work” that comes my way is completely haphazard. I’m always happy to help someone out if they see value in anything I do, but I don’t chase it. I simply enjoy getting out there with the camera, in any capacity. As for Spartan? This place isn’t a portfolio. It’s a journal. A series of connected essays, some long and some brief, that are threaded through with photos to break up the word count. It’s me thinking aloud. Sometimes, I’ll even go back and edit old posts because writing is also my thing. Part of that is communicating as much information as possible in a succinct, and hopefully interesting, way. I hope that gives you helpful context! Sincere regards and thank you for engaging.
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I agree that self-labeling is not something of primary importance. For instance, my blog is primarily for me. The fact a few people stop by for some of the content is (usually) a plus and has resulted in rewarding interactions without worry about the personal details about a person.
That said, most people — consciously or not, and whether they admit it or not — are geared to form impressions about people they interact with. Dare I say, “need” (in a general sense) to know who they are dealing with.
On social forums, words written and content posted are the metrics one uses.
I’m fairly open about my public persona (my About page). One might say too open, and might even label the content of my About page as confrontational and off-putting. That’s intentional and geared toward avoiding potentially unpleasant or contentious conversations.
I suppose my tagline offers a good descriptor for someone to anchor to, especially the “I make no claim to expertise in any of the arts or of insight into the human condition” part.
That’s the outbound lane of the social forums highway. The other, the inbound lane, spans a wide range of traffic (information). To that end, your About page is camera equipment . . . one almost envisions a curio cabinet with various pieces of photographic paraphernalia.
And no, I don’t need to know much (or anything about you).
But it does mean each comment is like wading into a potential minefield. I’ve been burned before by people taking sudden offence at something, or not liking what they perceived as trespassing into an assumed familiarity I wasn’t entitled to (rightly so; I used to assume most people are open to conversation and discussion when most aren’t).
I suppose I should practice withholding comments or restricting myself to “that’s nice”, and “uh-hu”, or just clicking on “like” and moving on, but it makes for a sterile experience, almost like one not worth having.
Wow . . . look at the length of this comment! Almost as long as your post! I must really like to hear myself talk . . . er . . . write. Certainly not succinct. More like verbal diarrhea, some might say.
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Love all the colours going on in the first pic. I’ve many more posts to catch up on, I see, and I will get to them later! As for packing light, I wish i could get better at that ( not specifically photog stuff- just in general, lol). Having not much gear to begin with makes it easier, I suppose! Not having a home right now means that I can’t accumulate stuff- even if I wanted to, so I guess this is a plus, in a way! Because I know if I had the room to collect and store more things, I would! When you have heaps of gear it must be very difficult to decide what to take when travelling!
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