5 Reasons to Take Your Camera Everywhere in 2008
1. You’ll begin to see the world Differently - with a camera in your pocket or bag you’ll find yourself looking for opportunities to use it and when you start looking at the world in that way you’ll start to see if differently.
2. You’ll take more pictures - it sounds obvious - and it is - but the result of more pictures is that you’ll improve your averages of taking a good one!
3. You’ll be more likely to get out of Auto mode - the more you use your camera and see your results the more you’ll find yourself wanting to stretch yourself out of auto mode into using the full potential of your camera.
4. You’ll get to know your camera - the more you use your camera the more familiar you’ll become with it and what it’s capable of. I find that after an intense week with my camera that changing settings becomes second nature and much faster.
5. You’ll miss less ‘Kodak moments’ - you don’t realize just how many opportunities you miss to capture moments photographically until you start carrying your camera around. While I’m a big believer in not relying upon your photography to ‘create’ memories - I think that images are a wonderful way to help remember stories and celebrate life.
Images are good for the soul - don’t miss the opportunity to create them in 2008. Take your camera everywhere!
Image by carlosiuis
Read more posts like '5 Reasons to Take Your Camera Everywhere in 2008'
January 9th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Really looking forward to this year. T have learned a lot since I purchased mye DSLR last year, using the winter to catch up on photo lecture. Now I’m anxious to put theory into practice.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:00 am
I agree that it is important to have access to your camera as you will really never know when an exciting photo opportunity presents itself.
If you have a smaller Point and Shot (P&S) type camera this will make it easier to carry around and therefore take more photos. If you own a DSLR it becomes a little more bulky and awkward as it is now not only larger, probably need a camera bag, but which lens or 2 should I take. This make the bag even bigger.
IF you are doing mainly street type images and some close-up work than I suggest a generic lens in the range of 18mm-70mm (27-125 1.5x crop factor). The vast majority of images will fall within this range.
I also recommend that if you only have a DSLR then purchase a mid-quality P&S to carry with you always. I decide to get the Sony Ericson K790 with a 3.2mp Sony Cyber-shot camera built in. It now makes it easy to always have a camera ready.
In one of my Camera World Blog I posted about using the camera phone to capture downtown images. Back in November see ‘A Photo Walkabout – A Low Cost Method’
This week there are some suggestions on how to improve your creativity.
Niels Henriksen
January 9th, 2008 at 1:03 am
It’s completely true. I’ve been reading many of the articles here lately and have really become re-interested in photography. It is a lot of fun. It’s making me want to buy a DSLR so that I can do some more fun stuff and throw my compact digital camera in the carry bag!
January 9th, 2008 at 1:17 am
I’m still quite the noob but I have already attached mine to me permanetly..lol. In fact, my husband said the other day, “I hope your not bring that to bed”.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:31 am
More than once have I been walking in the street, and stumble upon something that could be a great shot, and think “dang I wish my camera” I just use my fingers to “frame” the shot in my head and keep walking…
January 9th, 2008 at 1:35 am
It’s a good trick to keep your point & shoot camera even if you get a DSLR. My SLR isn’t always practical to carry around (but I bring it if you can), while my old FinePix ALWAYS fits in a bag or a pocket.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Also, it will annoy friends who do not understand why they have to stop every few minutes so that you can potter around looking for things to photograph :D
January 9th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I just feel weird carrying around a camera w/ me. I would love to get a messenger bag and throw my camera in it; but, I’m just not going anywhere that would require a bag. I guess I feel kind of weird just taking out my camera and snapping off a few pictures. I guess I need to overcome this “weirdness”.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:08 am
for 2007 i carried my camera everyday and i learned tons about exposure, composition, light, etc.
so im thinking i learned in a year that would have taken me 3 years !
January 9th, 2008 at 2:08 am
Yep, I’m trying that too! I have my D80 with me today. I’m going to take a walk at lunch and take advantage of the freakishly warm Northeast weather.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Great points to remember. My own photography didn’t rise to the next level until I started following the basic principle of having my camera with me everywhere.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:24 am
I carried my point and shoot everywhere with me. It was small and fit fine in my purse. It’s been an adjustment to do the same with my bigger Canon Rebel. I now have another bag to lug with me, but it’s worth it to be able to take photos whenever I want.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I got my Nikon D40 a couple of weeks ago. Can’t wait to get outside and start experimenting! Been taking pictures indoors for the most part.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:11 am
I agree whole-heartedly… I’ve been taking mine almost everywhere since I got it in November, and it’s really helped. Missed a couple of those ‘Kodak moments’ though the few times I’ve left it behind…
January 9th, 2008 at 3:29 am
This is something I need to work on. I am always worried it will get stolen or something. I just need to relax and take it…along with everything else I need for my one year old. LOL
January 9th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Having a camera with you also offers alternatives when a group is doing something you’d rather not be part of (like souvenir shopping). Instead of getting cranky you can say “Take your time. I’ll be out here taking photos.”
January 9th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Those 5 points are very encouraging thoughts. Thank you for that!
January 9th, 2008 at 4:38 am
I will be taking my camera everywhere. And you should take your camera everywhere, just remember to take good care of it. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard of people leaving behind equipment.
Someone I know even left their camera while we were on a trolley. She did get it after she realized it was missing.
=O
January 9th, 2008 at 4:54 am
Another word of caution - get a good bag. I’ve had my bag take the brunt of some nastiness. Splashed sauce at restaurants, spilled drinks, tumbles from chairs. I cringe at the imagined possibilities whenever I see a “naked” camera sitting in a dangerous place.
And when you have kids, anyplace but in your hands is dangerous. Even there …
January 9th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Me again.
thanks to you this is my new desktop-wallpaper:
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/2587/takeyourcameraeverywhersc6.jpg
:-)
January 9th, 2008 at 6:14 am
As I was taught, the first rule of photography; carry a camera, otherwise you’re just a pedestrian.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:38 am
I traded my purse in for a camera bag last spring, and haven’t regretted it since! It’s great practice, and a great way to make sure you’re always ready for a great capture.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I’ve been carrying my camera for the past 208 days - I take part in a web-site challenge Picture a Day. You look at the world much more thoroughly and carefully when you have a camera in your hands. My photography is improving by leaps and bounds as I am working at it all the time. Family think I’m mad!!!!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:22 am
YA I really want to take my camera everywhere i go but first off it is kinda weird and embarrasing for me. I dont know why. Also i have a pretty large camera and there is no way it will fit in my pocket and having a bag with me all the time would get annoying and knowing me i would probably loose it. I am in a predicament! AGH!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Great Post! Exactly what I needed to hear. I’ve been struggling with just how to lug around my Nikon D40x. I have the 18-135mm lens and it’s such a great all round lens. Bought a new bag so I could have a handbag/camera bag with me always. But now my back aches……sigh….
My next question is - what bags work best for this, a camera bag or a padded messenger bag?
January 9th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Arrrrgh! This is so frustrating. At my last job, I took my camera equipment everywhere; I was a manager and could get away from the facility for lunch, or use flex-time, and I took my D80 and kit with me.
My career choice has led me to a position working for a major insurance company, but I am a grunt. I leave my house at 0600 and get home at 1800. Cameras are not allowed on-site; cell-phone cams are verboten.
PAD? PESO? How about *PEOWIMWDHAP?
*Picture Every Occasional Weekend If My Wife Doesn’t Have Another Plan
January 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I am participating in Project 365 where I have to take one photo a day. I carry my Semi Pro DSLR around with me in my everyday bag (my bag is fairly big so its easy).
January 9th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Reason 6: Terrorists! Yes, photographers are all potential terrorists and are regularly being stopped and searched whenever they so much think of taking a picture in a public place at the moment, but when there’s an actual crisis, the first thing police do is appeal for eye-witness evidence in the form of amateur stills, footage, etc. Also, if any military dictators get executed in 2008, you can be sure there’s at least one camera phone in the room to capture events.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I carry my Canon 40D as often as possible, but always carry a smaller Canon in my purse for emergency photos!!
I still remember the shot I missed around 1975, and it haunts me. I vowed then never to leave home without a camera!
January 9th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Seems like a no-brainer but a camera integrated into one’s mobile telephone makes this quite convienent. You can get some with higher resolution and better optics but at a higher cost than the standard. Improvements are being made all the time while costs are coming down.
Bilka
January 10th, 2008 at 12:08 am
I find that having my camera at staff functions and other boring parties means that I get to play while everyone else is forced to make small talk! But seriously - I haven’t got a new year’s resolution yet and carrying my camera around everywhere will be it :)
January 10th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Over the years I have missed so many good photographs (potentially) because I had forgotten my camera. And it is really annoying!
So this is a great reminder for me to make sure this year I do it differently, and make sure I do take it everywhere with me!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Fully agree. When I moved from 300D to current 30D i thought on selling, but price was too low, that I decided to kept.
Now, I carry the 300D with a 28 mm lens all the time with me.
Sure, 30D with the 24-105L produces better quality, but the old 300D + 28mm gets better real time shots.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:53 am
what is the name/model of the camera in the image of the post? (leica?)
January 10th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I just purchased the Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens for my 30D. I absolutely LOVE it. It is SO small and lightweight and has now become my general purpose “carry everywhere I go” lens. I still keep my other telephoto lenses in my car but I find that the 50mm lens is good for a vast majority of street photography and the 1.8 speed is FANTASTIC for those low-light situations.
January 10th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Thanks for this site it was a great find! These are some great tips and I am going to start carrying my camera around more!
Thanks!
January 10th, 2008 at 5:12 am
I have a Canon SD 800 IS which is super light and compact. It fits easily in my purse and equally well in my husband’s pockets. Though we have a DSLR at home, we do carry this most of the time with us and it takes pretty high quality shots too. :)
January 10th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Good post and good advice. I love the title picture. Any way to get a large version?
I have carried my Canon SD550 S&P with me nearly every day since I got it in 2005 and have put about 5000 shots on it. It lives in my “man bag” that I always have with me, which has helped me get some nice shots that I otherwise wouldn’t have. I recently purchased a nice, compact 50mm f1.8 for my D80, which has allowed me to take it with me much more often than with the heavy (but really nice) 18-200mm.
But in the winter time I am rarely out of the office when it is still light out, so my photo-ing has been slacking.
January 10th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I own three digitals: a Canon Rebel with various lens’ and other gear; a Fuji s602 Zoom for backup and situations where smaller is better; and recently added a Lumix point and shoot which I carry in a small Crumpler belt pouch. It is about the size of a large cell phone and I hardly notice it on my belt. At 7 Megapixels it takes decent (not fabulous) pics. Besides, it’s the photographer, not the camera. Now I always have a camera close at hand.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I could “Kick Myself” for not having my camera with me all the time. I miss so many great Kodak moments because I forget my camera when I drive somewhere and see something really cool, odd, interesting or unbelievable.
http://www.donssite.com
January 11th, 2008 at 4:50 am
I find this post extremely motivating, and just right. Thank you for sharing your joy of photography and pushing the rest of us to become better photographers. I will bring my Leica everywhere in 2008 and the outcome will be beautiful!
January 11th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I carry my camera with me everywhere. It’s usually in my backpack along with one, sometimes two extra lens and even my video cam. I have become so used to slinging it over my shoulder whenever I go anyplace that I never think of the bulk or weight. I never feel self concious when pulling out my camera to take pictures because I have done it so many times before and no one really cares or pays attention to you anyway. You just think they do. I make sure everything is ready to shoot right out of the bag and that means setting it on auto for a quick on and shoot. I can always switch to manual if time permits. I have taken so many memorable shots by having my camera with me at all times and will never be without it.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
you’ll more likely to get out of auto mode…
this is true. as i use and use my camera, i get the chance to know how to use it more. even my friends’ cameras. and thanks to this site, i get to learn more and know the functions of each :)
January 12th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Very good article; keeping a camera with me is something I’ve done for years, but I am surprised how many other photographers are ill-prepared. I’ve written an article titled 8 Tips for the On-Cue Photographer, in which I give praise to and build upon what’s here.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
This is one reason why I purchased a Nokia N95 last year. It is as good as some of those cheap P&S cameras from Kodak.
This way, I don’t forget to carry my camera anywhere.
January 13th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I carry mine everywhere. I have a lowepro slingshot and it sits right my by shoes and coat. Its become second nature to throw it over my shoulder as i walk out the house.
Sometimes I take it and don’t even think about the fact Im just running out to get some take out!
My wife has come to terms with it finally!
I was carrying a P&S but soon got frustrated with the quality compared to DSLR. I liked the control of the shot instead of the corssing my fingers hoping the auto works in this situation type of shots.
January 15th, 2008 at 12:22 am
To the people worried about have your camera stolen… buy a bag that is not obviously a camera bag and it will be less likely to be stolen. Anything with a ‘Lowepro’ logo on it makes it obvious what’s inside.
January 20th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Took my camera everywhere during 1 month in 2002. Got a winning shot that has made me over $15,000 over 5 years. All because I didn’t leave it in the bag at home.
January 20th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Took my camera everywhere during 1 month in 2002. Got a winning shot that has made me over $15,000 over 5 years. All because I didn’t leave it in the bag at home.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
I just purchased a Canon SD870IS(P&S)cam, found my old cellphone belt-holster, and found out that the cam fits perfectly into it.
=)
So I’m planning to take it with me as often as possible because it’s a rather small camera and doesn’t cause much of a hastle as …say a DSLR(even though the image quality is beyond comparison, I’m not a professional photographer, so I don’t need one yet)
Oh, and I recommend the Canon G9(12MP) for those who love manual settings, but can’t carry around a DSLR.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Because I carry my camera with me everywhere with me I no longer use auto mode and very seldom use my flash any more…I do my best not be intrusive with my photography and when you learn to use your camera in all situations it means you must have your camera with you in all situations
January 29th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Because I ALWAYS take a camera with me I was able last year to get the only picture of the first time my first grandchild stood by himself! It was awesome! And really a picture to be treasured by me and mom!
February 1st, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I always have a camera with me. Either my Canon 400D, my Kodak point and shoot and then theres my phone. You just never know.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:18 am
#5 is so true. There are so many times that I will be driving home and wish I had my camera on me to take certain pics. One day i saw the sunset from 3 diffrent places and it looked sooooooooo lovely and I was just vex for not having my cam. People were even talking bout de sunset the next day.