Every photographer should have a backup of all their files. Images, book keeping, contracts and agreements etc.

Yesterday I picked up this little unit from LaCie (pronunced la - see)that I plan to use a s my backup while shooting tethered to my laptop computer.  Even though I keep duplicates of each image on my laptop' hard drive, I can't hep feeling that I need to safeguard against a catastrophic event that might take down my laptop hard drive at the worst possible moment.

Imagine having spent days planning, hours shooting and just before you pull up your files for editing, the hard drive bails. It won't spin up, or the whole things just starts to smoke.  With an external back up scheme, your chances of getting the job done increases exponentially.  I will probably get another in order to have multiple copies stored in different physical locations in the future, but this is a good start.  I'm waiting until I upgrade my laptop before I settle on an additional external as the input ports have changed over time. 

Ask me how much I would recommend you to have backups for all your necessary files and client projects. I'll tell you that crap happens, and you simply don't know when that might occur.  Case in point, I have replaced 2 hard drives from my desktop computer. I did not back up all the files, unfortunately and lost many important files. I have since learned my lesson, and you should too.

This hard drive cost me just over $160 with taxes and will potentially save me thousands should a big problem occur that takes out my laptop drive. (or the entire unit gets stolen) I know with all certainty that it is a worthy investment. No hesitation. For a more robust backup solution, take a look on YouTube for a video by pro photographer, Chase Jarvis as he outlines the lengths he and his crew go to in the name of insuring the safety of their work >>> ​https://youtu.be/Y-6EQo6it7Y

Down on my belly in the muck, broken twigs, bugs and general forest waste. That's simply what it takes at times, to get the angle and the image.

There are times when my work takes me out of the comfort (?) of my work room and into the not-so-clean-and-tidy real world. Such as was the case lately, when I shot a series of images for local sporting goods retailer, Fontaine Source for Sports.

We headed out to the Harold Town Conservation Area for a few hours of mountain bike excitement. All in the effort to create awe inspiring images that demonstrate the product and show what fun and joy you can have when fully engaged.

This visit, the second of two, was a bit more enjoyable than the first, as we didn't have the flying, biting insects to contend with. And, I was lucky enough to return with all the equipment I arrived with. Always a bonus.

While I wasn't cycling, I did have to deal with a couple arms-full of photo gear while trudging along the same trails as the guys riding. No, I didn't take a nose dive down a hill or trip over one of the myriad branches, boulders, tree roots etc. I did, however have the pleasure of watching others do it. (Sorry, no photos) I believe that there were 3 minor crashes, during the second trip to the trails.  No blood or broken bones, but a bit of concern for expensive bikes.

To grab the sensation for the viewer, I felt the need to incorporate a flash or two. Tall trees and low sun angle, meant for a pretty dark scene. The flash clamped to a tree branch in these photos, for example, meant that the riders (Ben Logan above and his friend, Cody) were crisply illuminated against the dark trees. No modifier. Just a 1/8 CTO gel on the flash head for a touch of warmth. The dark trees tend to cool the light, so the CTO is warranted.
All the images were inspected for blunders and very basically edited in Adobe Camera Raw, and that's about it for adjustments. The gems were delivered to Ben at the store where he transferred them to a USB drive. Now the images are proudly displayed on the wall-mounted TV screen for all the visitors to enjoy.
Now honestly, how could I just sit at an office all day when I can have this kind of fun? Sometimes getting dirty is what it takes, and it's way more fun.
​