Risking Gear To Get The Shot

By Jerry Monkman

In the last two weeks, I've shot photos from a canoe, a kayak, and while rock climbing, so it seems appropriate to deviate from my usual fare of software tips to discuss gear safety. I do most of my photography with two feet firmly planted on the ground and my camera securely fastened to a sturdy tripod. It’s pretty hard to damage your gear this way, though I’ve done it. However, like all outdoor photographers, I’m out shooting in dramatic places where there's the potential of hurting me or my camera, which means there are times when I want to photograph a scene or activity that puts my camera in danger of being smashed on a rock or requires getting it dangerously close to water. For some, the risk of breaking gear is not worth the photo, but for me, once I get a photo in my head, I have to take it, regardless of the risk to my gear. Of course, I do take precautions and most of them are fairly cheap and easy to do.

The first thing all photographers should do is insure their gear. The peace of mind this creates is a huge factor in being able to shoot freely without worrying about damaging your camera and lenses. Amateur photographers can do this relatively cheaply by adding a rider to their existing home owner’s or renter’s insurance. Pros need to get professional insurance, which can run several hundred dollars per year, but it’s worth the cost. Camera insurance is available though some photography organizations, like ASMP and NANPA, and also as part of business insurance (I get mine from the Hartford through Hill and Usher Insurance in Phoenix (http://packagechoice.com). I’ve actually never broken gear doing something risky, but I've broken lenses and cameras by accident in average places, and the insurance has saved me thousands of dollars.

Stay in good physical shape, through both aerobic and strength exercises. I’m surprised how rarely I hear outdoor photographers talk about this. Now, I don’t mean that all outdoor photographers need to be able to compete in the Iron Man, but we’re out there climbing hills and carrying thirty or more pounds of gear on a regular basis, and when your body is fatigued, you are much more likely to drop things, trip over things, and make those minor mistakes that lead to accidents involving you and your gear. When I was shooting this image of kids on boogie boards, I was constantly bumping into underwater rocks and getting hit by two and three foot waves I didn’t see coming. Having a basic level of fitness helped keep me upright and my camera above water. So if working off those extra pounds because of doctor’s orders hasn’t been motivation enough, do it for your camera!

Know your limits. This is true whether you are paddling, skiing or mountaineering. I often kayak in four- or five-foot swells in the Gulf of Maine with my camera just dangling around my neck. This usually makes my paddling companions nervous as can be, but with 10-plus years of sea and whitewater paddling experience, I know my limits in a kayak when it comes to keeping from going under. I’ve developed the muscle memory so that when I’m looking through the viewfinder and I unexpectedly get hit by a wave or boat wake, my hips know how to respond to keep me from capsizing. That wasn’t true 10 years ago, so I would take extra precautions in all but the calmest conditions. Also, I’m not a great skier, so if I’m shooting out on the slopes, I keep my gear stowed in a well-padded pack until I can safely stop and get my camera out.

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