Refer to checklist!

Springtime in Eldorado Canyon. Eldorado Springs, Colorado, 2015

That was the mantra back in my aviation days when preparing for takeoff, during the climb, leveling off at cruise altitude, for descent, the approach and landing, and in the case of some unusual problem in the cockpit.

As photographers, it would be a dern good habit to “Refer To Checklist” prior to starting a new shoot.

Take today, for instance. I shot the first twenty or so frames of water and waterfall action at ISO 1600. No wonder I needed my thick ND filter to slow down the shutter speed! Lucky for me that today’s cameras perform pretty well at high ISO–just a little extra noise reduction in post took care of it. Still, I wasn’t getting my max dynamic range…

Then, upon switching lenses, I proceeded to shoot my telephoto on the tripod with the Vibration Reduction (VR) switch still ON.

THEN, I proceeded to shoot all kinds of gorgeous water abstracts before I realized there was big blob of wet mist in the center of my lens.

Hate it when all that happens.

Here’s a sample photographer’s pre-flight checklist then:

–Is the battery fresh? Memory card(s) empty and reformatted?

–Lenses clean? Tissue or appropriate cloth on hand to clean off the mist/dirt?

–ISO reset to desired number?

–Aperture priority (or whatever mode you will use) set?

–Other settings reset as required? (Color balance, focus mode, bracketing, etc.)

–Mirror lock-up and exposure delay set? (If working from tripod.)

–VR switched off? (If on tripod.)

Feel free to customize your own checklist.

I guess I need to strap mine to my pilot’s knee-board to keep it close at hand and to avoid excessive buffoonery at the scene of action.