Bob W wrote:
...wise or foolish? Discuss.
I'm going skiing for the first time at the end of February. I expect the
Alps to be alive with the sound of the James Bond theme within about 5
minutes of me strapping the planks to my feet.
Anyway, I will take a couple of film cameras. I assume that it is unwise to
ski with a camera round my neck, but presumably I could carry one in a small
backpack, next to the parachute. I imagine also that it will be quite
difficult to take pictures with ski gloves on.
Does anybody have any experiences, hints and tips about Alpine-style
photography that they'd like to share, please?
I have to be perfectly honest here. If this is your first time skiing,
you'll have enough on your mind learning how to wrestle with the skis
and get down the mountain in one piece without also having to deal with
a camera. One of the first things they teach you when you take ski
lessons is how to fall, and how to get up on your feet again. Your
first day you will spend a lot of time on your butt, and some time flat
on your back, on your stomach, on your knees, on your side, rolling head
over heels, and so on.
I don't mean to discourage you from going. I love skiing. But the
camera is going to prolong and augment your skiing learning curve, while
adding frustration and unnecessary risk to your equipment.
Get a few shots near the base of the ski lift. Get a few in the lodge.
Then leave it in the car.
On the other hand, if you're a good skier, don't hesitate to take it
with you.
A few weeks ago I took my wife skiing for her first time. I've been
doing it for 23 years (since I was about 13 years old). In college, I
would go once or twice a week after class. I decided it would be fun on
our recent excursion to bring along my *ist-DS. I carried it in a
hip-bag (a Tamrac convertible). It worked out fine. But this was
because I knew we would be spending our time on the beginner runs, and
that *she* would be doing all the falling, not me. At one point I was
skiing along with both her poles and my poles in my left hand, and my
*ist-DS in my right hand, snapping pictures as she worked on perfecting
the snow plow technique. ;) If I had gone with my brother instead, who
is a better skier than I, the camera would have stayed home because when
I'm with him we tend to ski in terrain that's pushing the limits of my
skill, and I am just about assured of taking one or two good spills
throughout the course of the day. It's no biggie falling flat on your
butt when all you're falling onto is your wallet. But if you're falling
on a couple thousand dollars worth of camera equipment, that's an
unhappy moment.
