Ken Rockwel - How to spot an amateur

[kombat]

Hey there. I just read Ken Rockwell's article, "How to spot an amateur," and I had to comment. He lists several factors that categorize a photographer as an "amateur," and I was curious what others thought of his conclusions.

"Backpack - Photographers don't carry their gear in backpacks because they can't shoot out of them."

I carry my gear in a huge backpack (Lowepro Vertex 300, to be exact), because it's one single container, able to carry everything I need to a job (specifically, wedding photography). Needless to say, I don't need to "shoot out of" my backpack while I'm on my way to a job. I just need to get my gear to the job, then shoot while I'm there.

"Carrying too much stuff - Never try to bring more than a camera and lens or two anyplace at once."

Obviously, as a paid pro, I'm expected to have backups of everything. That means 2 bodies, 2 flashes, and a healthy amount of overlap with respect to focal lengths. According to Ken, that makes me an obviously-spotted "amateur."

"Polarizer over UV filter, or polarizer used all the time"
"Midrange zoom"
"Camera worn directly over the neck"
"Clean gear"

I agree with Ken on these points. Pros know when to use a polarizer, and eschew a midrange zoom for a pair of wide-to-mid and mid-to-long zooms. Additionally, they wear 2 cameras, one over each shoulder, instead of wearing 1 camera around the neck, and their gear typically shows a little wear.

"New DSLR"

Pros use what works. That could be a pair of last year's models. I agree.

"Lens caps and cap keepers"

Again, no argument. Once I mount the lens hoods, the caps get left in the bag.

"Using a tripod in daylight"

Again, pros don't have time to carry a huge tripod when it's not even needed. I agree.

"LCD magnifier

Digital cameras don't have LCDs with enough resolution to justify magnifying them. There's nothing more to see when magnified."

I agree that pros don't carry around an LCD magnifier, but I don't understand his follow-up comment. Digital cameras don't have high-res LCDs? Huh? You can zoom in, Ken. You zoom in and check focus. This is one of the main reasons I upgraded from a D70 to a D300. Zooming in on the LCD on a D70 was painfully slow. It's thankfully much faster on a D300, so I can quickly check to see if sufficient depth of field/adequate focus was accomplished. I disagree that "there's nothing more to see when magnified." Indeed, there's a great deal more to be seen when magnified.

"Camera brand strap showing logo"

I'm a pro who uses the "stock" straps. Why would I pay extra for non-branded straps when the included straps work just fine?

"Hood on backwards"

I agree with the headline, but in the expansion, he goes on to state that if you can't store the lens with the hood on, then you should leave the hood home. "Do not store the hood in the reversed position. It takes too long to right it when you need to shoot.", he says. I disagree. It takes me less than 2 seconds to unmount, flip, and remount a lens hood. If I were to store the lens in my bag in the "mounted"position, I'd be giving up valuable bag space (especially since Ken's #1 "sign of an amateur" point was "carries a backpack"). As a pro, I can deal with storing a lens with the lens hood flipped. When I mount it to my spare body (which I have, because I'm carrying a backpack), it stays mounted until I'm done with the shoot.

Interesting article, but I wonder if Ken has actually spoken with any "pros" in researching it.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by kombat

Hey there. I just read Ken Rockwell's article, "How to spot an amateur," and I had to comment. He lists several factors that categorize a photographer as an "amateur," and I was curious what others thought of his conclusions.

"Backpack - Photographers don't carry their gear in backpacks because they can't shoot out of them."

From a Pro -- I've seen other pros carry their gear in a backpack, which also holds their laptop, and other stuff. They might have two cameras, one body with a 16-35mm and the other with a 70-200mm. WIth maybe a 14mm, 24-70 and a 300mm in the backpack.

I carry my gear in a huge backpack (Lowepro Vertex 300, to be exact), because it's one single container, able to carry everything I need to a job (specifically, wedding photography). Needless to say, I don't need to "shoot out of" my backpack while I'm on my way to a job. I just need to get my gear to the job, then shoot while I'm there.

"Carrying too much stuff - Never try to bring more than a camera and lens or two anyplace at once."

Pro a pro - that's pretty narrow thinking. I carry two to three bodies depending on the assignment. One body with a 16-35mm and the other with a 70-200mm and one with a 300mm, or one body with a 14mm, one with a 24-70 and another with the 70-200, with the 300mm hanging off a shoulder.

Obviously, as a paid pro, I'm expected to have backups of everything. That means 2 bodies, 2 flashes, and a healthy amount of overlap with respect to focal lengths. According to Ken, that makes me an obviously-spotted "amateur."

From a pro -- yes, flashes. I carrry a 580ex, but have four 550ex's and my Speed light transmitter ST-E2 in a bag in the car, incase I need to set up studio style lighting.

"Polarizer over UV filter, or polarizer used all the time"
"Midrange zoom"
"Camera worn directly over the neck"
"Clean gear"

I agree with Ken on these points. Pros know when to use a polarizer, and eschew a midrange zoom for a pair of wide-to-mid and mid-to-long zooms. Additionally, they wear 2 cameras, one over each shoulder, instead of wearing 1 camera around the neck, and their gear typically shows a little wear.

From a pro - Yup.....above points are true.

"New DSLR"

Pros use what works. That could be a pair of last year's models. I agree.

From a pro - I use the EOS1d;s from 2002 - 208. They are the best cameras for taking sports action. Now, I use the EOS MKIIN's, but I wish they had the focus tracking system the EOS1d's had. As for the EOS MKIII's they are do-do, a piece of crap as Canon still hasn't been able to work out the focus issue when they are used taking sports.

"Lens caps and cap keepers"

Again, no argument. Once I mount the lens hoods, the caps get left in the bag.

From a pro ----yup...caps are kept in the bag in the car.

"Using a tripod in daylight"

From a pro ----I might use a mono pod in the daylight for my 300 or 400mm f2.8 lens, but only use a tripod during dawn, dusk and night shots.

Again, pros don't have time to carry a huge tripod when it's not even needed. I agree.

From a pro - Agreed

"LCD magnifier

Digital cameras don't have LCDs with enough resolution to justify magnifying them. There's nothing more to see when magnified."

I agree that pros don't carry around an LCD magnifier, but I don't understand his follow-up comment. Digital cameras don't have high-res LCDs? Huh? You can zoom in, Ken. You zoom in and check focus. This is one of the main reasons I upgraded from a D70 to a D300. Zooming in on the LCD on a D70 was painfully slow. It's thankfully much faster on a D300, so I can quickly check to see if sufficient depth of field/adequate focus was accomplished. I disagree that "there's nothing more to see when magnified." Indeed, there's a great deal more to be seen when magnified.

From a pro - now why hell do you want to wear one of those things around your neck, it makes you stupid looking and folks think your blind as a bat.

"Camera brand strap showing logo"

I'm a pro who uses the "stock" straps. Why would I pay extra for non-branded straps when the included straps work just fine?

From a pro - I use straps made by Domke, I found the stock straps actually slip apart. I've seen too many pro cameras hit the street because of stock straps. And they wear out faster.

"Hood on backwards"

I agree with the headline, but in the expansion, he goes on to state that if you can't store the lens with the hood on, then you should leave the hood home. "Do not store the hood in the reversed position. It takes too long to right it when you need to shoot.", he says. I disagree. It takes me less than 2 seconds to unmount, flip, and remount a lens hood. If I were to store the lens in my bag in the "mounted"position, I'd be giving up valuable bag space (especially since Ken's #1 "sign of an amateur" point was "carries a backpack"). As a pro, I can deal with storing a lens with the lens hood flipped. When I mount it to my spare body (which I have, because I'm carrying a backpack), it stays mounted until I'm done with the shoot.

From a pro - Yup....sure sign of amateur.........lens hoods on backwards.

Interesting article, but I wonder if Ken has actually spoken with any "pros" in researching it.

From a Pro -- I'd take anything that Rockwell writes about with grain of salt.

[LoveDSLR]

I doubt any experienced photographers take Ken's stuffs seriously.

Nevertheless his writing is easy to read and entertaining.

[dcclark]

Ken has his tongue firmly in cheek.

You, on the other hand, do not.

[Jamesc359]

kombat's first post is potentially a controversial one... *sniff* ... *sniff* Ewww, is that troll I smell?

[crazzy88ss]

rockwell's an idiot.

"Carrying too much stuff - Never try to bring more than a camera and lens or two anyplace at once."
Ask David Hobby or Joe McNally what they think of that.

"Using a tripod in daylight."
Uhh... tack sharp? Don't want composition changing? That's a stupid point.

"Camera brand strap showing logo."
Yea exactly, why pay for another?

[morts]

Sound the troll alarm!!

[praline3001]

AS a newbie I don't think I even qualify as amateur LOL

So got a question about this one:

"Camera worn directly over the neck"

Now I find most of the things on the list personality driven (I have seen National Geographic photographers with backpacks and tripods in daylight!)

BUT what's up with the camera around the neck? Will it blurr your shot more or something? Should I be carrying my camera a different way? As a mom of 3 I like having free hands to grab a kid if I need to and still have my camera at the ready.

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by praline3001

BUT what's up with the camera around the neck? Will it blurr your shot more or something? Should I be carrying my camera a different way? As a mom of 3 I like having free hands to grab a kid if I need to and still have my camera at the ready.

Cool, then you have a good reason to keep yor camera around your neck. I find that Ken Rockwell's stuff should always be taken that way -- if you have a good reason to ignore him, then do so! He often talks about stuff that people do without good reason -- just because "everybody's doing it".

I personally have my camera slung around my shoulder and hip all the time, because it protects the camera from swinging branches and brambles, and makes it easier to move in the woods. You have a totally different set of problems, and have solved them in a different way.

(I also usually find that a camera directly around my neck hurts my back, due to poor weight distribution... you might discover that as well. I'm more sensitive to that sort of thing, since I hike a lot.)

[windrider86]

Cool, so that backpack I got from national geographic from the photo of mine they used must be thier way of saying, I'm sorry you suck". Or the $250 bucks I spent on the Expedition backpack means I'm on my way to grade school.
I always carry a backpack, its convenient, easy to carry, I can put all mt camera gear (as much or as little) my laptop if need be and even have room for some clothes and food if I am hiking in the back country. Lets see you carry that in a bag.
I dont use stock straps, but nor do I have any that has a huge logo on it. After market is fine with me, as long as they are sturdy.
I keep a tripod in the car, but rarely carry it with me.
Carrying too much stuff, I generally bring 4 lenses with me, a flash, extra batteries and a cleaning kit. On bigegr shoots I bring 2 cameras and all the goodies. It sucks when you need something or something runs out and you dont have a spare.
Depenind on the size of the lens and if it is mounted on the camera, I do put my lens cap on backwarrds to save space, but turn it around the second it comes out of the bag.
He is too funny. But you know, we all have out own opinions on how things should be, so with that said....................................