Any professional photographer can instantly tell what the person in this picture is doing wrong. Can you?
Hint: look at the camera strap.
The quickest way to tell an amateur with a fancy DSLR from a pro before they even begin shooting is to watch where they hang their strap.
When I was just a baby photographer in college, I hung my strap from my neck and an older, wiser student named Ray Whitehouse nearly jumped out of his skin setting me straight. Pros hang their straps from their shoulders for some very good reasons.
Amateurs put it over their necks, like the woman in the photo. Now every time I see shooters with their gear dragging on their necks like medieval torture devices — which is pretty much anytime I see anyone with an expensive camera — I wince.
The first and most important reason for this is back pain. Cameras are heavy — especially when they have top-tier lenses attached. And they're a lot to haul around even if you're carrying them properly. If you carry them wrong, however, they can do real damage.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
