Observing

You take advantage of opportunities you have — that’s true at least for any photographers I’ve ever met. When there’s roofers on the roof you take photos of roofers.

While observing, I was thinking how lucky I’ve been in my adult life not to have to work at such a physically demanding job. In my teens I worked several summers as a farm hand, very physically demanding, and perhaps it was this experience which set my course on finding an easier way to make a living. Even discounting this, roofing was never a possibility for me as I’m not comfortable with heights and I can’t handle long periods in the sun with my fair skin type.

Watching these experienced roofers I began to see an efficiency. No wasted efforts and few trips up and down the ladders as possible.

Even as in this photo, when a short break is taken it may be in place (on the roof) and serve double duty as an opportunity to consider the next section. But since I can’t read minds, it could well be he’s thinking of a nice cold one when he gets home today. :-)

In processes we repeat often, it’s natural to try and make them as efficient as possible — same in photography. When taking a trip we carefully tailor the gear we pack to our expectations of where we’re going. We acquire different cameras to fit our needs for certain types of photography. We purchase and learn software, reducing the steps, processes or time required to make the photos we envision. We’re always looking for the latest gadget, tip or workflow that makes things easier, or in some cases simply possible.

It’s in our nature, doing the best job as efficiently as possible.