Inconceivable!

I packed my camera today.

While that might sound like a simple and quick task it actually took me more than three and a half hours to complete.

The problem is that I can't take my full camera kit with me. I just don't have the room for it. So, I chose two lenses, one body, cleaning cloth, dust brush, 3 batteries, a lens petal, 7 CF memory cards and a UV filter.

Non-photographers are probably wondering what more I could want. The answer is an additional list longer than the one of what I'm taking. A tripod, my remote cord, two other lenses, an additional hood, and more CF memory cards would top that list.

As a photojournalist I was accustom (especially shooting sports) to carrying two camera bodies, a point-n-shoot camera, and a backpack full of lenses and baubles of great wonder. I shot NFL, MLS, wildlife, Police/Fire/EMS news and combat troops in conditions ranging from frigid snow to hurricane winds and rain. I've shot assignments from inside the cockpit of aircraft, in armored vehicles and inside a burning building. Through all of it, I never thought I had enough gear.

Now, I am headed to Africa with the bare minimum of what I would want to take to photograph squirrels in the park.

However, that shouldn't be a valid reason for not making great pictures. I have to remind myself that I started in photography with cameras whose technical ability are now dwarfed by my cellphone. Even then I managed to get the shots I wanted.

Photography is all about understanding light, motion and color. Knowing your equipment, and its limitations or advantages, is important. When you combine the artistry with the mechanics of photography, you will always get the shots you want.

And, to hedge the bet, shoot with your camera set on burst mode. Just saying.