Take Nothing But Pictures, Leave Nothing But Footprints
If your spouse (okay, statistically speaking for this site, your wife) found out how much you truly spent on photo gear in 2008, what would she do?Why, she would grab one of your 5-section compact light stands and beat you to death with it, that's what she'd do. Fortunately, the light stand would still be usable for whoever bought it at your estate sale, because those little things are built like tanks.
The cops would first suspect your wife (they always check out the relatives first) and go about collecting evidence. And you'll be happy to know that a crime scene photographer would be using a little off-camera flash, as described in this quickie crime scene photography tutorial.
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Posted at 8:25 AM.
52 Comments:
REDRUM ....My wife HATEs the "Shining" .. whenever I want to mess with her I'll say "redrum" in a throatly kids voice... drives her nuts.
What wifes don't know about your gear, won't hurt them! :-)
Yeah, my Techie husband has the same obsession but with circuit boards, microscopes and other assorted electronics. I told him this year, we're going to Cabo. It's cheaper!
Also, spelling error. You typed 'build', s/b 'built'. Funny post.
And post intros like that are what keep me coming back. Thanks for throwing in the humor David, it keeps the technical a little more approachable.
I am a wife and Im the one buying all the camera stuff so it does go both ways. He knows how much I spent on MOST of it.
Melissa-
Ah, you found one of the little intentional mistakes I like to throw in to test people... Congrats!
(Fixed - thx!)
:)
-D
They don't ever do it that way on CSI --- Horatio surely knows all about on-axis fill....
Hey David,
Don't forget about your gay readers... And no, I don't want my boyfriend to find out how much I spent on gear in 2008.
This article's title is also famous around urbexers...
Ha! Even though I've honest about all my purchases with my wife, it was still quite a bit in 2008 when I think about it. Two bodies, a few lenses, and more economical light gear (thanks to this site). 2009 looks to be just as bad-- er, I mean good.
Hi David, what surprised me this time round was the number of books and instructional DVDs I'd bought over the year (Yours, McNally's Annie's, LSM, etc). This sort of detailed insightful stuff just wasn't around a few years ago, imho. And it's the web, the global community, that has brought this cornucopia of learning to our doorsteps - and guys like you who have helped point the way.
My son has recently gotten into photography and it has brought our relationship closer together as we both learn from each other and share knowledge. I got him the makings of a starving student kit and seeing him oustrip the old man in skill and vision is a sheer delight.
So, thanks, man. Worth every penny.
Whenever I buy photo gear I always factor in the potential expense of a divorce attorney.
So far I haven't needed one but I see medium format digital in my future...
Susan should start a blog for the wives. "Photo widows".
All the women could share their frustration at our gear-spending, while helping each other organize eBay auctions after we die.
Of course, the odd nightshade cookie recipe would be in there, as well. For purely informational purposes, of course.
All my purchases have to be screened and approved by my spose/banker first. Although that's probably a good thing...
No wife, no money, no problem. She'll have to know my spending priorities before she takes the dive with me.
Guess I'm Just lucky, my wife is into it as much as I am heck I think she probably spent more than I did this year (not counting what I ruined when I fell in the creek, D300 and 3 lenses. Insurance helped with that some) She even bought me the Strobist DVDs for Christmas.
David - Ahh, so that's why your wife has her favorite shovel! Bury the evidence!!
In my case, my wife is the gear-geek and is now fixated on the new RadioPoppers.
At least I have the benefit of using her gear once in a while when I've been a good boy. Sometimes when we cuddle before bed I'll whisper sweet-nothings into her ear, you know, suggestive little things like "One Dee Ess Mark Three, Baby" and “I love how you work that 580 Mark Two, Honeybun” yadda yadda yadda
Well, let's see. I have 3 Nikon bodies, 2 digital and one film. I have 3 SB800s, 3 light stands, 3 prime lenses, and 3 camera bags. I have 3 EX-wives. Coincidence? Probably not.
Nice use of personal props in the family photo there - a good stealth tip!
Or if your husband thinks he knows how much money you have spent on camera equipment, he would tell where he had just booked his next hunting trip! Way to easy to spend $$ on photography.
thanks for your blog!!
kathyt
She said I obviously don't have enough stuff and thinks I need a 105 DC. It helps that she is my #1 portrait model as I try out new techniques and equipment.
Ha ha.
One thing...
The wife is now going to kill you for digging up the garden putting holes and burying all sorts (mainly those receits for the gear no doubt, locked up tight in a metal cases...)
I was going to show my wife the funny post because it certainly rings a bell in our house, but then I realized she'd probably quiz me to death until I answered that dreadful question. So for now, the cute post is just for my eyes. Cheers, Randy
The case for not marrying. SWMBO and I maintain separate accounts, pool our housing costs, and a have a don't ask, don't tell policy on personal expenditures. It's worked well for 22 years.
Actually my girlfriend did find out how much I spent on gear in 2008 and I mean EXACTLY, down to the penny since I keep recipts for everything.
That's why I'm unfortunately single again... :(
Ha...in our house, my wife tries to help figure out what else we can forgo in order to spend more on photography. Not such a bad thing!
Enjoying the Strobist Lighting Seminar on DVD. In "light" of your comments on editorial lighting, I wonder if Bad Brad had any idea how he was being lighted...
people.com/people/article/0,,20250507,00.html
PLEASE! If anything ever happens to me and I pass away... PLEASE! Do not let my wife sell my equipment for the same price that I told her it cost!
Thanks! :)
My musician boyfriend and I have a great situation... he spends hundreds on instruments, and I spend my hundreds on photo gear.
Note: This does not work for most people. Telling your wife she probably spends more on clothes will also have you end up in the ground.
So David, what did you get caught buying this time?
Hey David,
2 Hensel AS Tria's, a wind machine and a boat - she's finally on to me. Buying Aperture 2 for tethering broke the camel's back and my business checkbook and my eBay account is banned. What will I do with eBay - read this blog instead - I hear you say. At least I can still afford Pho in Rosslyn once a month. Life isn't so bad I suppose.
Fink
I just had to laugh when I read the first line. My wife is the silent but deadly type. I know she did not oversee the huge box that contained the 8X10 Kodak 2d. She hasn't even commented yet. I bet she's waiting for just the right moment (could be months or years) to remind me about how she never said a thing at that time. Looks like I could be in for a real surprise sometime down the road when I envitably have forgotton the whole situation. Now I just wonder what it is I'll just have to accept later on? A wellness trip to Hawaii? for one....(guess who). Who knows.
Guess with my purchases from last year we could have already been there.
I told my wife that it was my duty to help stimulate the economy...and then I bought a 400mm 2.8, 3rd body, 580 EXII, few stands, more PWs...good haul. I guess she was ok with it 'cause 1. She didn't hit me over the head with the 400 and 2. She gave me the Strobist Lighting Seminar DVD collection for Christmas!
Ha ha, you've absolutely right David - best not let our better halves know how much this really costs.
Must admit I felt guilty saying that we needed to watch the money and then replace my studio lights. But hey they were paid for on the business and until I go fulltime it makes sense to re-invest everything back into the business :-)
Hey, do you think this is going to turn into a "confessions of a photographer..."?
PatB Photography
Just wanted to say that your blog is SO informative!! I'm keeping it bookmarked for quick reference. You have definitely put in so much time and effort. Thank you SO much!!!
Stacey
Ontario, Canada
Over the holidays I counted up the cost of all my photo gear except videos and books. It was way too much but I look at it this way. If I had put that money in my retirement plan it would be gone. Shop on!
I don't even want to think about how much I spent on photo gear in 2008...but yes, my wife often wants to murder me for my obsession.
This is why I'm taking her to spain to help her forget. Or is it so I can take pictures...one of those...
GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!
FWIW, I'm trying to buy all of my photography gear before I get married! :-)
That way, she'll have no reason to complain.
Btw, anyone want to loan me $20K so that I can fix myself up with a really neat Profoto lighting set-up? Oh yeah, and if you want to throw in "a little" extra so that I can get the new Hasselblad H3DII-50, it will save me thousands of dollars in marriage counseling. Thanks in advanced!
:-P
My partner had no idea I had multiple speedlights until -- and I'm blaming you David -- I set two of them up on stands to bounce off the ceiling light my family Christmas dinner this year, as per a Strobist tutorial. Good thing is he thinks I only have the two used for that shoot :) I certainly hide the gold Nikon boxes, that's for sure!
I try to ignore the packages that arrive at our home, knowing full well that my husband has spent more money on camera stuff. It would be easier to swallow if I occasionally got a nice photo book of my kids! No, I haven't seen one of those in two years! What really irked me though is after spending forever setting up to take our photo for our Chistmas card, I ended up with a picture that had a huge shadow across my face because he was screwing around with new lighting equipment!!
First... She knows how much I spent on scuba equipment and underwater photo gear and I'm still alive. Of course, it helps that I buy her new ice skate boots and blades on a regular basis ($500 for blades... ouch!) It also helps that she's a bit of a photo bug herself... And it takes real nice pictures of the skating dresses she makes and sells.
Second... The article on taking crime scene photos was excellent. It really struck a chord and I think most people (particularly the folks in Hollywood) have no idea what all goes into taking accurate and LEGALLY ADMISSIBLE photographs.
Is it just me, or do others RSS feeds have an ad at the bottom for a Lincoln Memorial Photo (www.tinyurl.com/wvrb/)?
It has just started to show up in the past two blog posts..........
My husband doesn't buy me jewelry - he buys me photo gear. This Christmas 3 Pocket Wizards. Lucky me!
My wife would say I didn't spend enough or that she get equal amount of gear. She actually had to talk me into buying the 5D Mark II for myself.
Up until know she did not ask how much is costed, but it is probably around 4000 euro’s since I just took up photography thanks to the blog of the strobist. Before that I had a normal life. ROFL.
@ Elastomom
I'm single, so I don't have to justify my spending to anyone, but I think that you not only deserve a nice photo book of the kids, but a weekend at a spa as compensation for the pain and suffering of the Christmas card pic.
It's all in presentation. New camera two years ago @$1400. Sell now for $650.00. That is $31.25 per month. A dozen golf balls is $40.00. Barely enough for a round a week for a month. Add in green fees, cart rental, libations, and gas... Photography is positively high value-low cost.
Kicked off 2009 by doing the movie poster for Voice! This is a total product of Strobist, from the lighting techniques to the very duct taped light mods.
http://www.nathanaelgassettphotography.com/blog/
Thought you might want to see some of the fruits of your labor. :D
_Nathanael
Since buying the girlfriend a DS Lite for xmas, fewer eyebrows are raised about gear. She knows I'll come back with (mocking her usual tone) 'do you REALLY need THREE carrying cases? You only have ONE DS!' lol Now if I could convince the people at COACH to come out with a DS case, I'd be free to upgrade to a new body!
When asked what I wanted for Christmas this year, I told my husband, "Anything we put on the wish list for the business." Come Christmas morning, I was delighted to find 3 Pocket Wizards, the Strobist Lighting Seminar DVDs, and an Orbis ring flash hidden throughout the house!
I'm looking forward to when he surprises me with other goodies from that wish list. Unlike a box of chocolates, that list doesn't come with an expiration date.
As for Stormin's comment, I'm now whispering, "IMac you" and "You're such a Cintiq-y husband" in his ear while he's asleep!
I thought ahead on this subject .. I married a fellow photographer :) .. so it's not uncommon for me to see a surprise package on the doorstep and her say "Oh yeah I found this awesome muslin background online and just had to have it for the studio." ... and when I ask what would you like for your birthday she comes back with "How bought we get a new lens to play with." .... ahhhh it's like heaven LOL
I've posted a short tutorial on how to fabricate a simple lens-mounted diffuser for utilizing a camera's pop-up flash for macro photography. It cost little or nothing to make, so it shouldn't evoke any complaints from the financial sector. Perhaps a similar idea has already been expounded here, but I did a quick search of your site and didn't see it; my apologies if this is already old-hat. Anyway, for anyone who might be interested, here's the link: http://home.earthlink.net/~mikelevyonline/Macro_Photography.html
My greatest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my camera gear for what I told her it cost!!!
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