Gray Fox
Well-known
I may be in the minority, but I like one for several of the above-mentioned reasons. I have used one for sports photography and landscape work, but I also find it useful for the notepad, lens cleaning gear (spring here in the South with high pollen density more so than dust), a water bottle or two, energy bar, spare lens, and tucked in a pocket a couple model releases just in case "that shot" should come my way. For us older guys, the note pad becomes more essential than we'd like to admit. Here in the Hotlanta area, a very light weight, mesh backed vest is needed already with temps in the mid-80s F, much more so when summer arrives. Some extra film in a baggie is nice, too. Since I probably already look like an old dork I'll wear what I choose and find useful.
Sparrow
Veteran
.... where to start :shake-head:
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RanceEric
The name is Rance
Sounds like a good look. I might try it
hlockwood
Well-known
rbsinto
Well-known
I always wear one when I'm photographing. Been shooting with them for almost 25 years.
It carries everything I need so I don't need to schlepp a bag.
It carries everything I need so I don't need to schlepp a bag.
PatrickT
New Rangefinder User
Sounds like I may be the minority here, but I think they look incredibly dorky and scream "poseur" to me when I see someone wearing one. I would think that it would make you do the opposite of blending in...if anything you stand out MORE by the fact that you're not wearing "regular" clothing.
I can see how they would be helpful in certain situations, but if you're only walking around with a single camera and single lens...what do you need the vest for?
There's a guy in my local camera shop that wears one everyday at work. Never understood it. He never even has anything in the pockets!
I can see how they would be helpful in certain situations, but if you're only walking around with a single camera and single lens...what do you need the vest for?
There's a guy in my local camera shop that wears one everyday at work. Never understood it. He never even has anything in the pockets!
barnwulf
Well-known
Absolutely! I will add, when I was shooting landscapes I wasn't a wannabe, I was a professional and sold my work in a gallery for several years. It was my job. My vest was full of ND filters, graduated ND filters, polarizers and a half dozen rolls of 120 film, lens cleaning cloth, etc. Not that it makes a difference at all. Wear what ever works for you and your shooting situation. Jim
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GSNfan
Well-known
In psychology there is term called 'projection', it is the cause of 95% of all troubles in the world and human life in general.
RanceEric
The name is Rance
As a few have said, it's all about what YOU prefer.. If you like a vest, wear a vest.. If you feel more confident wearing it, then continue wearing it.. I personally don't like the look of it, and as I said, I'll stick with my Domke bags, but to each his own...
Sparrow
Veteran
That may well be true, but they still look a bugger ... speedos aside
GSNfan
Well-known
I don't know, and I don't want to "project" any sexual deviancy on people simply by their manner of clothing...
Sparrow
Veteran
... well that's good as we're a photo forum and have little need of that psychology mumbo-jumbo
Davidin10003
Established
While I don't wear a vest, I don't see any problem with it. And I think that there is some merit to the idea that it makes you more comfortable with what you are doing, and in turn that puts your subjects at ease.
The one thing that I just don't understand is the idea of hiding your camera, or somehow obscuring it. I mean, if you're carrying a big honkin' SLR around I can understand it, because staring down the lens of one of those is like having a howitzer aimed at you. But we're talking rangefinders here for the most part, and they just aren't that intimidating.
Someone I've learned a lot from convinced me that the best candid shots are not the "sneak attack" shots where the subject doesn't even know you're there. Instead, the rewarding ones are where the subject might have registered your presence, but they continue with what they are doing, because you are not threatening and you blend it. And a lot of that is achieved by having the right body language, the right approach, and even the right mindset. If you're happy and smiling, and know that you're capturing real moments of beauty, that will come through to your subjects. And if you're worried about looking creepy, you'll project that as well.
Whew, this was waaaay off topic, but in the end, if a vest helps you feel comfortable and in the groove, then go for it. Anybody who criticizes YOUR choice isn't worth your trouble.
The one thing that I just don't understand is the idea of hiding your camera, or somehow obscuring it. I mean, if you're carrying a big honkin' SLR around I can understand it, because staring down the lens of one of those is like having a howitzer aimed at you. But we're talking rangefinders here for the most part, and they just aren't that intimidating.
Someone I've learned a lot from convinced me that the best candid shots are not the "sneak attack" shots where the subject doesn't even know you're there. Instead, the rewarding ones are where the subject might have registered your presence, but they continue with what they are doing, because you are not threatening and you blend it. And a lot of that is achieved by having the right body language, the right approach, and even the right mindset. If you're happy and smiling, and know that you're capturing real moments of beauty, that will come through to your subjects. And if you're worried about looking creepy, you'll project that as well.
Whew, this was waaaay off topic, but in the end, if a vest helps you feel comfortable and in the groove, then go for it. Anybody who criticizes YOUR choice isn't worth your trouble.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Exactly. How many professionals have a deep problem with vests? And how many wabbabees who'd like to wear one but don't have the cojones and therefore transfer their insecurity to those who do wear them?
Sure they can look dorky. So can anything, if a dork is wearing it.
Cheers,
R.
Shac
Well-known
One advantage of a vest is when flying - it's a great place to stash equipment when airlines are especially tight on carry-on weights
bsdunek
Old Guy with a Corgi
You seem to have struck a lot of cords with this. I feel the same way. At 72, I really don't care what people think, although I do bath regularly. I have a very light mesh vest for Summer and a 'travel' vest for cooler weather, and like them. I don't load up the pockets too much, but film, filters, an extra lens or two works well. When we got married, my Wife told me her purse was off limits for photo gear - so you could call the vest a happy marriage maker.
Davidin10003
Established
Funny, my greatest fear of wearing a vest is that my wife would decide to comandeer the pockets for the contents of her purse, so she didn't have to carry it! As it is, I am frequently finding lip gloss and other unidentifiable objects in various camera bag pockets!
hlockwood
Well-known
We old codgers don't worry about dorkiness. That's a malady of the young; it goes away with advancing age.
Harry
Michael Markey
Veteran
I wear a gillet but I`m not sure if that counts as a vest as they generally only have a couple of pockets.
So when the pocket count rises above say four it becomes a vest ....yes.
Or is it the lack of sleeves ?
So when the pocket count rises above say four it becomes a vest ....yes.
Or is it the lack of sleeves ?
Ade-oh
Well-known
Here's a picture of me in Iraq wearing a photovest. It was great for carrying spare Kalashnikov magazines, grenades, satphone, first aid kit, batteries, an IV set and sunglasses... oh and a camera and a couple of rolls of film
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