Burning Man 2014 Pt 1. Burning Man Photo Preview {Principles}

posted September 1, 2014 in Photographer Resources

Welcome to my blog post series chronicling Burning Man 2014! If you are just joining us, stay tuned for the 7-part series:

Cleaning playa dust on gear is like changing diapers: it stinks, isn’t fun, yet the job must get done. And the results are worth it!

I reminded myself this as I dusted off my gear after Burning Man 2014 (click here to see more details from this year). I felt prepared as a Scout and photographer for the Burning Man DocTeam 2014. And what an amazing year! I was fortunate to photograph over 100+ couples and families, met several amazing photographers, enjoyed quality time in our Freaks camp, and re-connected with old friends and made many new ones as well. And I was super excited to bring along my brother from Hawaii and two good friends from Denver.

If you’d like to study the guts inside a photographer’s bags and understand WHY I chose to bring certain creative tools, this video is a gift for you (filmed by Tim Boatman)!

*** In sum, don’t let ‘stuff’ hold you back, but listen more to your creative right-side of the brain over your analytical left-side. ***

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Be creatively prepared. Experience plays a big part in dictating gear. Just don’t fall into a rut. What worked once, won’t always. There’s a difference being prepared as an artist, versus Boy Scout prepared. You never want to be kitchen sink prepared for a shoot. That ship won’t sail. Worse yet, all the other kids will laugh at you. Creatives know how to do more with less, which forces ingenuity and resourcefulness. You want to bring everything you’ll need, nothing you don’t. Therein lies the fine line on when to lug the kitchen sink. Just because we can bring the kitchen sink, doesn’t mean we should.
Don’t try and control everything. Choose gear that allows you to be consistently creative. Intent makes art, not accidents. Even Jackson Pollock had a vision for paint splatters. We have to accept responsibility that every creative decision we make in the final image comes with intent.
Learn from pain. Know your gear inside and out, which includes capabilities, limitations, and quirks.Three options when it comes to lugging gear: Deal, Delegate, or Leave At Home. If cramped shoulders result in an epic image you bring home, Deal with it. Complain only to your spouse or assistant. If you loath the idea of lugging, Delegate to an assistant. Some call this dumping outsourcing, but it frees you to think creatively. If you sign your work, and the vision comes from you. Whereas a beauty dish, ring flash or C-stand might fall under the Leave At Home, there’s nothing like busting out the perfect creative tool to differentiating your work when you need it.
Balance quality with quantity. So much of choosing gear is personal preference, closely aligned to style, patience, time, effort, and risk. I rely on the gold standards, which includes at least one trusty light source I count on no matter what. The sun doesn’t count. I won’t tout brand names, but “go-to” gear can be a tad more expensive, a bit heavier, but is worth it’s weight in gold for reliability. If I want a signature look, that’s where big strobes and associated light modifiers come into play.