The Loss of My Most Valued Photographic Tool

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In March I took a great trip to Yosemite National Park to photograph very dramatic snow covered scenery. (See here for few of my favorite Yosemite photos.) Running around from location to location, chasing the light or just exploring new locations, I ended up with several photos I was quite happy with. Focused on getting the right positioning, exposure, and perfect composition like most photographers I lugged my gear around taking it for granted… camera, lenses, battery, CF cards, filters, tripod and cable release.

I’m not proud to admit on past trips I’ve had an occasional run of bad luck breaking one thing or another. On this trip I lost something which previously I never gave much of a second thought to and which I’ve since realized is one of the most critical components of my photographic arsenal. What could possibly be so key and why?

The answer… my cable release.

I’m not out to say one piece of equipment is more important than another, but for me it just so turns out that the often overlooked cable release is what I’ve come to depend on more than almost anything else. Unfortunately as I’ve found when you lose something or something breaks in the field you discover how creative and resourceful you can be. Barring a catastrophic camera body failure with most things you can find a work around, but one of the few things that you can’t work around completely is the lack of a cable release.

Keep in mind I’m not just talking about the impact of losing a piece of equipment. I’m talking about losing something that is an extension of ones mind and body critical to the creative process. Perhaps like a brush to a painter the cable release for me is a tactile tool of creation.

What’s so significant about a cable release? The standard answer is that you can use it to capture sharper images by minimizing vibration to your camera and use it for long exposures. What I realized beyond these things is that it has enabled me to create a particular look or style to my work.

To this point I’m sure for others unknowingly there is a piece of equipment that plays heavier than another in applying ones personal style to photography. My challenge to you, can you identify what that piece of equipment might be before you lose it in the field? I’m not sure I’d have consciously come to this realization until I lost my trusty cable release and boy have I become a grumpy photographer ever since. Well… at least until my replacement arrived.

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Posted by Jim on 05.11.2007 at 12:03 am
Tagged: California, Links & Articles, Locations, Photography, Yosemite

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Brian Auer

Aside from my camera body and my lenses, I think my tripod would be the next worse thing to lose -- or more specifically, my ballhead. Other than that, I don't use a lot of other equipment while shooting, unless I need something for special occasions. I probably should get a cable release rather than relying on the timer. And I'd also like to get a flash cable for the times I do indoor work.

Rafa

Jim, I hear you. I always carry 2 cable releases in my bag. Yes, I'm paranoid that way. But even I have forgotten to take them sometimes, for instance, when changing cameras from bag to bag. In those cases the timer feature in the camera comes in very handy.

Guy Tal

Reading the title I was going to ask if you lost your mind :)

Yeah, I carry a spare cable every time. Been there too.

Guy

jim

Guy LOL
A very sharp response. Fortunately I haven't lost my mind yet. Looking beneath the humor you make a fantastic point. The art of photography is all about vision and creativity. The mind is indeed the most critical photographic tool. Fortunately I've yet to hear of someone leaving it behind on a trip.

Susheel

For me, my most valued photographic tool would be my Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. No way I'm leaving that behind... but yes, I get what you mean.

Mike

I recently had an experience were I lost something I use all the time. My shoe mounted bubble level. I lost it somwhere in Little Lakes Valley...fortunatly I realized I lost it at the next stop to take photos, so I backtracked the trail and found it. But for me that's one of the most important pieces of my equpiment (after camera, lens and tripod).

As for cable release, I find in a bind you can use mirror lockup and timer setting to take a delayed photo similar to what you can do with a cable release.

jim

Mike thanks for commenting... I can definitely see how losing a bubble level would be problematic. It's always interesting to hear/read what tools people depend on that might otherwise be thought of as minor or not so important.

The problem I had with the cable release is that the self timer method only works for exposures 30 seconds or less. Anything more the cable release is required.

Edie

My camera doesn't have a port for a cable release. I've gotten into the habit of using the self timer for shots that require stillness.

Cheers,
Edie