Drive by Shooting

I suppose this post could sound a little ominous or graphic, but we’re not talking about turf wars here, we’re talking about driving around like and idiot trying to find something to photograph…

I went out for a drive around the Helena Valley last night trying to get out out and shoot a little. It’s been hard being laid up with a bum foot and not being able to get out like I want to.

In addition it’s a sever pain in the ass trying to carry around a tripod, so my shooting setup has been broken down to one camera, two lenses, small backpack, and I’m good to go.

One positive thing about traveling light and simplifying your gear is, at least for me,  is it really makes it easier to focus on what’s at hand rather than fumbling around with multiple lenses and other pieces of equipment. It helps me focus my concentration much easier.

Shooting from a car may be one of my least favorite things to do, but it doesn’t mean that great photos are out of reach.

A couple things to remember when shooting out of your jalopy. Make sure to turn it off if you can. You can use your door for a rest and that added vibration of the engine running doesn’t help. If you’re inclined you can take a bean bag or other similar setups they make for laying your lens on to further help dampening vibration and steadying your shot.

Another good tip is to remember to look in your review mirror if you’re on a well traveled road. I think I may be guilty of stopping in the middle of the road a time or two and holding up some traffic without realizing anyone was behind me in order to get that shot I had to have.

Like I have posted before, shooting out of your normal routine and comfort zone is one of the greatest ways to learn to improve your eye and style.

I routinely travel with a lot of gear and am a stickler for using a tripod when I can. I also prefer hiking to my destinations and traveling on foot when possible. So shooting out of the car with minimal gear has been out of my norm, but a fantastic lesson in being versatile.

I think for now I may leave the 50lb pack at home and keep it simple with a  couple lenses and a body or two.