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You've Got To Carry That Weight...

A spine is a terrible thing to waste, and you can certainly lay waste to yours if you carry heavy camera equipment around a lot. So try to minimize the strain.

Most photographers (like Cary and me) use shoulder bags. These are great because they’re just hanging there by your side at waist level—readily accessible so it’s pretty quick and easy to change lenses, get a new card, reach for your flash, or whatever. The problem is that all the weight is hanging from one shoulder and you get all tilty. I know one long-time photog whose right shoulder is permanently lower than his left.

The trick is to carry only what you need (please see the “What’s in Your Bag” Actual Info and TipsFlick). It’s tempting to take everything because, “I might need this.” But if you get tired and your back aches, it won’t matter what’s in your bag. You’ll probably be too exhausted and/or sore to capture those fleeting moments.

An alternative to shoulder bags is a backpack camera bag. Great if you are trekking, climbing, etc. You can carry long lenses and other gear that won’t fit into a shoulder bag, and they distribute the weight evenly, so both shoulders can sag. Problem is that they’re so big it’s even more tempting to put everything in them and they get really heavy. And they are hard to access when you are running and gunning.

So think carefully before you set out. Do you really need that extra body or that 300mm lens? Take only what you need—for most of my street shooting, I carry one body, a wide-angle zoom and a short telephoto zoom. I find it quicker to move closer to or farther away from a subject than to be encumbered. Okay—I miss a few shots. But after all these years I can still stand up straight and walk.

Of course, if you are setting out to the back of beyond where there are no roads, a llama (or a horse, donkey, mule, ox, yak, or some other animal) can be most useful. They are, after all, beasts of burden. Let them carry yours.

If you’re gong on a really long trek, several horses might be useful.

And one more thing: I once asked ace National Geographic photographer Bruce Dale for some photo tips. The first thing out of his mouth was, “Wear good shoes.”

All Actual Info and TipsFlix