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Leaving the House without a Memory Card: So Glad It's Not Just Me

By Colleen Wheeler
June 19, 2008 | Comments: 4

In my day job, I get to read a lot of great stuff about how to establish solid work systems that will keep you photographically prepared. So why do I show up for the final baseball game of the season without a memory card? Because apparently, it happens to the best of us, including Scott Kelby who has a wonderful self-effacing story about both he and his shooting buddy setting up for a golden hour shoot of the New York skyline, only to realize neither of them had free memory. These kinds of stories are great for reminding ourselves that we're human. For more co-misery, check out Derrick's podcasts on "Learning Things the Hardway." Any wonder why people love these stories?

4 Comments

Harold Davis said:

Funny Colleen! Would you believe I've shown up for shoots without batteries, memory cards, or tripod (all on different occassions). On one hard-to-organize night shoot, I opened my bag to find I was missing...my camera. Hard to shoot without it.

June 21, 2008 9:46 AM

Jeffrey Friedl said:

Worry about dust in the memory-card slot, or in the battery compartment? Not at all. If I were to leave it open for a year or so, I might give it a little blow before inserting a card, but I normally have a card in all the time, except for the brief spans when I'm downloading from the card. I leave the door open just in case I forget to put it right back, which I sometimes do.

June 20, 2008 7:14 AM

Colleen said:

You know, Jeffrey, those simple solutions are always good. Do you worry about dust? Or area you not leaving it open as long as I inevitably would?

Scott's idea of a checklist seems sane, but I would probably see it and say, "Oh, I've ready that a million times, I know it by heart." And then not actually check it.

June 20, 2008 7:09 AM

Jeffrey Friedl said:

It won't help to ensure that you always have a non-full card, but to make sure I don't go off without a card in the camera, I always leave the compartment door open until I replace the card. The same for the battery.

June 20, 2008 1:29 AM