access as success
I was talking with a friend recently about the success ratio of photographs and how to improve that. He works as a ski guide in Canada and uses a point and shoot to nab images for clients while he’s working. The kicker is that his images are quite good. Why? He keeps the camera in his front pocket and it literally takes him a second to pull it out – there’s no room for doubt.
Why do I mention this? I think this is THE largest detractor from shooting any shot – how much perceived trouble is it to access one’s camera. This doesn’t solely apply to pros but across the board. If you can improve access to your camera then your shot ratio will definitely increase as you have little trouble to overcome, no reason for hesitation. And the more you push that button the more the images improve.
For me access was everything. When I began to sink my teeth into photography I was living in Japan. A friend sent me down to Denki Town in Osaka where anything and everything electronic is sold. In preparation for a half year adventure in Southeast Asia I nabbed a Tamrac courier style camera bag (still have it too). This move alone vastly improved my photography as my camera was never buried in a bag, at the bottom of a backpack or stuck in a suitcase. Not that every shot from that trip was a winner but my ratio definitely went through the roof.
A current parallel for me has been the Canon G9. Great camera and though heavier than I’d like you can keep it with you a good chunk of the time and end up with great images. And when I’m on location, particularly an active hands on job, I’ve developed my own bags and systems to make sure that I can easily access my gear regardless of the weather or my position. It’s an ongoing process this picture business but finding a way to keep access to your tools is one of the most effective changes you can make. My friend the guide, he’s shooting more than ever with his pocket point & shoot and as you can see it’s working.
