I wear my neck strap around my neck

kshapero

kshapero

South Florida Man
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I just read a Ken Rockwell article. He said a neck strap should be worn only on the shoulder if you want people to think you are a pro. The few times I was paid to shot photography, I wore my neck strap around my neck. So he is wrong.:mad: Or am I?:rolleyes: LOL.
 
I think Rockwell takes himself too seriously....
(although it is his website so i guess he's entitled to do so)
I'm also not a pro, or even a great photographer so I have no idea. I'm just a refugee of the Dslr generation, point,click,review, delete, repeat process until one good image is shot.
 
Posing is better done in front of the camera than behind it.

I figure as long as I'm not a slob, the strap is wherever it needs to be at the time, neck, shoulder or wrist.
 
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I wear orange crocs. Other than out of style what does that make me?

Perhaps Ken is looking to take the lead from Erwin P for the most wasteful comments in cyber-space?

B2 (;->
 
If you spend time thinking what other people think of you and your camera strap, you miss the magic moment and defeat your own purpose. Straps are safe but can get in the way sometimes.
 
I feel sorry for poor old Ken. I like his older lens reviews for example, as these seemed balanced and thoughtful but he has become very strident and annoying in many of his articles more recently in which he insists on making silly comments that seem designed to get people talking. Which they do - but not of course in a good way. And although I used to defend him he now turns me off somewhat too, sadly. Too many over the top statements that even if I don't actually disagree are stated so dogmatically and with apparent attempt to annoy that, well, he succeeds.

As to the camera over the shoulder it is my preference too, for "cool". And I suppose you could argue its more flexible in terms of how you use the camera. But you pay a price. I have dropped one camera dinging it (it was an older film camera - I will not mention the brand in case you cry) and am constantly almost dropping others as they slide off my shoulder while I am concentrating one something else. Make no mistake if security is your aim, around the neck is the only way to go. If you must wear it draped on the shoulder like a shoulder bag at least make sure you have a strap that is "grippy." I have a Billingham Bag - a Hadley Pro that tends to ride on one shoulder too but fortunately it has a rubber backed leather shoulder pad on its strap (bought as an accessory) that keeps it in place pretty firmly.
 
I don't wear it around my neck, but I do have the manufacturers strap with big yellow letters and use it as a wrist strap, so what ? I know I'm not a professional, why does he care ? How does it detract from his work ? He reminds me of our ex-governor here in illinois, blah, blah, blah.
 
"Looking like a pro" means that people notice you. Which is the last thing you want. If you want to do some real photography, put on a fanny pack, tuck your golf shirt into your pleated khaki shorts, put on your sports-beverage-branded cap, and shoot with your cell phone.
 
I think the dogmatic part of Rockwell is equal parts good advice based on experience and a healthy dose of irreverence. Most of it boils down to "This is what I used and what I thought of it, but why not go shoot some photos of your own now."
 
I imagine if you call it a "neck strap", that's where it should be. I suppose that is why one leading camera maker calls theirs a "carrying strap".
 
Rockwell only writes to generate traffic for his website, so he can maximize money flow - he will write just about anything that yields eyeballs. His website is one of the most useless things out there on the internet.
 
It depends on the weight of your camera. A Leica M is light enough to be worn on the neck, even a MP. I read in Deborah Copaken Kogan's book "Shutterbabe" that the recommended Leica carrying position for photojournalists is around the neck, with the lens against your body so it is protected when you are not using it.
 
mabelsound said:
"Looking like a pro" means that people notice you. Which is the last thing you want. If you want to do some real photography, put on a fanny pack, tuck your golf shirt into your pleated khaki shorts, put on your sports-beverage-branded cap, and shoot with your cell phone.
Click to expand...
I'm getting my madras shorts out of the closet.
 
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