Save Your Camera’s Life: Never Let It Hit The Ground Again

As an automotive editorial photographer, there are times that one must be in grave danger, and put their camera in grave danger as well. To this day I have not found any one way to make rolling shots safer, while keeping them true. You can always rig your shot, which we will get into at another time, but there is something about real rolling shots that is amazing, and pure. In putting yourself in danger, your camera is also in danger. Trying to wrap the neckstrap around your hand just doesn’t work at 70 mph, it unravels and flops in front of your lens blocking the shot and putting your camera in a position to hit asphalt and do a high speed, shattering, tuck and roll into a ditch. All your driver has to do is hit a pothole big enough for you to lose your grip and thousands of dollars goes tumbling across a highway. The feature below was shot for Modified Magazine, the image on the top half of the second page was shot at approximately 70 mph on a highway somewhere in New Hampshire.

After doing a few of these shoots I began to speculate the potential damage that could happen if I lost grip on the camera,  and began the search for a solution. Camera stores had no clue, it was like I was asking for a cherry pie at Weight Watchers, they were completely befuddled. For a little while I contemplated constructing my own device and marketing it for my fellow photographers, I simply don’t have the time or the sewing skills to complete this task. One day my travels took me to Eastern Mountain Sports for some shock cord, and I presented my quandary to one of their associates. The woman appeared puzzled for a second, but not nearly as perplexed as the trained monkeys in the camera store, then began to lead me to the ice climbing section. (I am a climber, but not an ice climber, my suspicion was “She’s flat out bananas.”) It glistened like a ray of sunlight was highlighting it through the clouds, it was an ice axe leash. As the associate took it from the wall I was getting excited, it wasn’t exactly what was in my head but it was damn close.

Ice climbers use an “ice axe” to claw into ice and hold their weight from falling, it is a wonderful tool. However it depends on human factors that can be fatal (if you lose your grip). Falling from a cliff must be a terrible way to spend an afternoon, so at some point in time an ice climber invented the “ice axe leash” which is meant to hold your body weight if you happen to lose your grip on your axe. The leash that the associate pulled from the wall was the Black Diamond Slider leash, which I personally don’t see as a fool proof method, my perplexity must have shown for she was quick to chime in, “They make more than that style, we simply don’t carry them, but i can show you in the catalog.” … “Lead the way outdoor sports goddess, show me the solution.”

This quest had been going on for nearly six months and there it was, in all of its glory, the Black Diamond Lockdown Leash. The slider can loosen on the wrist, all that tightens it is a brass tube that is hard to tighten when your on the job, the Lockdown, however, acts like a noose. If weight or force is applied it does exactly what it is called, it locks down cinching on your wrist and saving your camera (or you) from certain death.

There are a plethora of neckstraps in the world, personally I prefer the Tamrac N-45 quick release, and attach the Black Diamond Lockdown leash to the female end that is permanently mounted to the camera so you can remove the neckstrap in windy situations without removing the Lockdown. (It also prevents breakage in the event the neckstrap quick clips fail.) Knowing your camera is safe makes it easier to keep your mind free to compose the shot as your wish. Happy shooting!

**www.shooteditpublish.com advises that you DO NOT attempt to create shots like this, it is extremely dangerous.

Tweet It  Delicious It  Digg It  Stumble It