Happy Sunday everyone - Today's unexpected lesson is - "Make sure you have your cleaning kit with you when you go out and shoot!!!" I found myself at my grandparent's lake house a few years ago after shooting for a couple of weeks in the Black Hills. I was so very excited to try out some new long exposure techniques. So excited, in fact, that apparently I forgot to do even the most basic of lens checks before I went out to shoot. I got the shots, experimented a little bit, made a few ghosts, and generally felt pretty good about what I had grabbed for that day. I didn't have my computer with me on this part of the trip, but when I got home and pulled the files in I saw my greatest nightmare. Apparently, the lens had been covered in dust from a previous shoot, and I had neglected to clean it off. Even a quick check with a simple blower would have saved the entire hour I spent cleaning the dust off of the few keeper frames I saved. Even after that work, there are still numerous spots that could be touched up. So, here is the lesson from one amateur to the next - make sure you have a portable cleaning kit for when you are in the field: blower, lenspens, cloths, etc. I also carry a couple of lens wipes for emergencies now as well. Anything that can be fixed in the field saves soooo much time in post later. Let's stay prepared out there everyone - Enjoy your Sunday -
Lake Enemy Swim, South Dakota- Ghost on the Dock