Curious About Your Process

[EckoZero]

My camera is a bit too bulky for me to carry everywhere with me and as I work for a financial institution I could be fired if I had it with me at work... I normally only take it if I'm going out somewhere either deliberately, for the purpose of photographing, or somewhere where I might take photos. Better to have it and not use it, than not have it and want to.

I have a flashgun in my bag at all times but prefer shooting in natural light. I'm not afraid to break out the flashgun if I have to though.

My tripod hangs in a pocket thingy on the back of my bag so it's always there. I use it if I want to avoid camera shake or for long exposures. Also, if I want to take a picture of myself or with myself in the frame.

 

[ausemmao]

1. Do you take your camera everywhere you go? Yes, but I always pound 3 shots of Rye before the camera comes out of the bag. It's mandatory.
2. Do you shoot primarily in natural light or is a flash always close by? A lot of photographers prefer to use flashes off camera fired with radio triggers. I, however shoot a bit differently. I prefer to use an array of small explosives that are detonated via a radio trigger when I actuate the shutter. I find that it not only adds light, but also: danger, shrapnel, excitement, bodily harm, and dramatic shadows.
3. Is a tripod necessary for shots other than when shooting in lower light and slow shutter speeds? It's not necessary, but it helps if you have the ability to turn into stone like Kirby and position the camera on top of you so that it remains stationary.

I guess that is one way to be a photojournalist in the right place at the right time... make it happen in front of you

 

[Overread36]

1. Do you take your camera everywhere you go?

Nope - I mostly find it a little too bulky to carry everywhere with me, especailly with the kind of photography that I enjoy doing (wildlife/macro). So it tends to come out only on specific trips or if I'm going by car somewhere (cause then the car does all the heavy carrying). It is an area, however, where a good quality bridge camera is an ideal solution and something on my "to get oneday" list.

2. Do you shoot primarily in natural light or is a flash always close by?

Natural light - flash - reflectors - It all depends what I've packed/carried and what I am shooting. If its macro its almost always flash, wildlife half and half etc... Again it depends; but the key is to understand how to work with both natural light, flash, reflectors, blockers etc... so that you can, when the time comes, make the choice to use one over the other rather than (what many) do which is try flash once - get a bad result and give up on it.

3. Is a tripod necessary for shots other than when shooting in lower light and slow shutter speeds?

Yes and no - it kinda depends again. You can do really good wildlife shooting handheld at really fast shutter speeds; but if you're sitting in a hide all day you're not going to hold that lens long before your arms fall off - tripod is very handy (or heck a monopod!).

 

[OrionsByte]

1. I take my camera with me any time it's feasible.
2. I almost never shoot in natural light, mostly because I spend too much time indoors, and when I finally do have time to head outside, the sun's gone down.
3. Tripods are a necessity. Even with shots where motion blur isn't super-obvious, you'll get sharper photos when you use a tripod.

 

[adversus]

1. I have "a" camera with me at all times, just not my DSLR. It's too big to bring with my normal bag that goes back and forth to the office (also, security in the office is another reason)

2. Natural light, but I always have at least one flash with me

3. I keep my tripod and mono pod in the back of my SUV. If needed my monopod can be tethered nicely to my ThinkTank Retro 30 satchel for walking around.

 

[DerekSalem]

1. I don't take it everywhere I go, but if I don't have it in my car I'm usually close enough to home to go grab it should I need it.
2. I try to shoot in primarily natural light, but I have my flash unit in my photo bag just in case.
3. I'm not sure I understand this one...you say is a tripod necessary *other than* for lower light or slow shutter speeds...but those are pretty much the only reasons for tripods. The only other thing would be if you want standard shots (all from the exact same place). With a good IS you can drop down to 1/5 of a second without shake. That plus a higher ISO (I can use ISO12,800) means you can shoot in *VERY* dark scenes without a problem.

 

[kasperjd4]

1. I usually take my DSLR with me, if I don't have it then I have a little point and shoot, or my film SLR. So I always have a camera on my body.
2. I keep 2 flashes, light stands, softboxes, and reflectors in my car. in my camera bag I keep another flash, and a big silver/gold reflector.
3. I rarely ever use my tripod. Mainly for wildlife/landscape.

 

[AustinPhotographer]

1. I have a cheap point and shoot that I take everywhere with me. Having my SLR in my car at all times makes me a little nervous and really inhibits my offensive driving techniques.
2. When I do a shoot, location or in the studio, I try to start out with natural light and use flashes when necessary. I have a backpack of Canon 580s and 430s, a bunch of batteries and a couple Ezyboxes (Lastolite). I have a ST-E2 IR transmitter, which kind of sucks at times since it's line-of-sight, but is portable and easy enough to make up for it most. I really like being able to change ratios on the fly from my camera. If I'm shooting an event, I'll pack a small bag that I always have on me (camera, long lens, wide lens, 580exII & ST-E2, diffuser, cards, batteries.)
3. I've found it's really nice to have one when shooting events. I shoot commercial photography and often photograph conferences and mixers in very dim lighting. I'll leave the tripod and walk around with the camera in one and and the flash in the other, then I'll use the tripod and put away the flash when I'm photographing speakers or other people up on stage to try being a little less distracting.

Justin Wallace Photography

 

[mscarmelc]

Thanks everyone for your input. I was just wanting to know how you all operate. As most of you said, it all depends on what is being shot. Thanks for your help!

 

[c.cloudwalker]

1. Do you take your camera everywhere you go?
No. Photography is work and I don't take work with me everywhere.

2. Do you shoot primarily in natural light or is a flash always close by?
90% of my work is in the studio with strobes. As for the other 10%, I use a mix of natural and strobe light. My personal work would be all natural light but I don't have time for it right now.

3. Is a tripod necessary for shots other than when shooting in lower light and slow shutter speeds?
I don't use a tripod. I use a camera stand. But a tripod can be used for other reasons than the ones you mentioned. For example, while waiting for a shot to happen. Set the camera on a tripod, compose, set your exposure, wait for the elements you want to show up/happen and, when everything is good, trip the shutter.

 

[WesternGuy]

I am new to the forum and digital photography as a whole. I have worked with film in the past, and am now starting to get into digital. I have a few questions about the process you all may have. I have a kit lens 18-55MM and 85MM f1.8.

1. Do you take your camera everywhere you go?
2. Do you shoot primarily in natural light or is a flash always close by?
3. Is a tripod necessary for shots other than when shooting in lower light and slow shutter speeds?

Thanks in advance.

1. No, I do not take my camera everywhere I go, only when I go out on drives specifically to take photos, but then I am an amateur hobbyist, not a photojournalist. It always goes on holidays and visits to friends and family, etc.

2. I shoot primarily in natural light as most of my images are done for nature and landscapes. I do use flash for family snaps and maybe for fill light in some outdoor closeup work, but while it is almost always in my bag, it gets little use because of the nature of the images I take.

3. A tripod is necessary in a lot of situations other than low light and slow shutter speeds. A lot depends on the type of photography you like to do. I use it for HDR imaging, panoramas and some of the macro work that I do. I also use it when I am taking images of waterfalls at slower speeds to get that "flowing" look in the water. I also use a monopod when I need that extra little bit of stability and don't want to carry a tripod, or I need to work under conditions that do not allow the use of a tripod.

Cheers,

WesternGuy