Way Too Many People Make the Same Dangerous Mistake With Fancy Cameras

Any professional photographer can instantly tell what the person in this picture is doing wrong. Can you?

The quickest way to tell an amateur with a fancy DSLR from a pro before they even begin shooting is to watch where they hang their strap.

When I was just a baby photographer in college, I hung my strap from my neck and an older, wiser student named Ray Whitehouse nearly jumped out of his skin setting me straight. Pros hang their straps from their shoulders for some very good reasons.

Amateurs put it over their necks, like the woman in the photo. Now every time I see shooters with their gear dragging on their necks like medieval torture devices — which is pretty much anytime I see anyone with an expensive camera — I wince.

The first and most important reason for this is back pain. Cameras are heavy — especially when they have top-tier lenses attached. And they're a lot to haul around even if you're carrying them properly. If you carry them wrong, however, they can do real damage.

Amateurs put it over their neck

Isn't that the point, they are amateurs and amateurs do things differently than professionals, that is what makes them amateurs.

I have on many occasions made darn sure the strap was around my neck for the security and peace of mind when taking pictures under less than desirable conditions.

This is all so trivial. When you get a camera you may or may not use the strap that came with it. I choose not do because the strap says “D800” on it and I don't want every Tom Dick and Harry knowing I have an expensive camera to steal.

That being said I have a custom strap that is long enough to use across the shoulder with a second strap around my chest to keep it from flying around as I walk. The camera is always just below my waist on the right side where I can easily grab it and take a shot.

Now all that being said, I have learned since I started photography in the early 60’s that style is unimportant. What you get when you shoot is all that counts.

Technology has changed. I remember when I thought I was pretty cool pushing ASA 800 film to about 2000 in the dark room using warm baths and extra time and strong solutions. Yeah the grain wasn't good but the contrast was OK. Now taking pictures is so easy anybody can do it with the right equipment. A large sensor with good low light sensitivity and great glass will allow anybody to do well. My D800 is a bit slow on burst rate but I could have really used it taking pictures at basketball games in college. Back then you didn't even think color for sports, nobody had film fast enough, and there was no burst rate. I can get better pictures at ISO 6400 and f:2.8 than I ever could with 800 ASA even at f:1.4.

I'm impressed with the state of art of camera sensors. My 800 has about 14.3 stops of dynamic range at F:100, the D810 about 14.7. That is just impossible to get my head around. I don't think I ever used film that could do that well.

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