This thread reminds me of the two times I just happened across newsworthy photo
events, only one of which I had a camera with me. The Associated Press paid
me a whopping $10 or so for the images which were transmitted nationwide.
That happened in 1961 or so while I was a photojournalism student at Ohio
State University. I was in my second year and all I could afford was a
measly Petri 2.8 rangefinder. The school provided us with Rolleis, but for a
carry-everywhere camera, I had my trusty Petri. It was actually a nice
piece.
In any event, one fine day while driving my dilapidated car down Lane
Avenue near the Ohio Stadium, I spotted a huge white bull lumbering down the
road and passing slow traffic as it pretty much kept to the white line in
the middle. Then in my rear-view mirror, I spotted a motorcycle carrying a
rider and passenger, both wearing white lab coats, with the passenger
twirling a lariat. It was like something out of a Mel Brooks film, except
that was before Mel Brooks made any films.
Needless to say, as the cycle passed me and neared the bull, which by
then was ambling along the roadside, I pulled over and captured the
proceedings on my Plus-X and Petri.
The series of photos showed the cycle giving chase, the passenger trying
to rope the bull (which, by the way, had fled the nearby veterinary
college), the eventual capture and the roping of the beast to some nearby
construction equipment. The Associated Press bought the photos, which
positively thrilled me because it was my first-ever sale. If I recall, I had
to process the stuff, make the prints and even deliver it all to the AP
office downtown. And I was very happy to do it.
Years later, having left the photo end of journalism for a lengthy stint
at an editor's desk, I was enjoying lunch hour in downtown Cleveland where I
was news editor of the now-defunct Cleveland Press.
As I walked past Ninth and Euclid, I heard a yell, felt a thud next to me
on the sidewalk as a scaffolding missed by five feet or so, and heard
another thud seconds later as a window washer hit the concrete from eight
floors above.
I looked up. Directly above me, a second window washer was dangling by a
rope harness as some office workers were scrambling to get him inside. The
suspense and drama were palpable and were made to be photographed. I reached
for my camera. Alas, it was not on me. I had gotten out of the habit of
carrying one. And that, folks, is one of the last times I ever went anywhere
without at least one camera within arm's reach.
Usually, I have an Olympus XA loaded with 800-speed film, or an Olympus
Stylus in a pocket somewhere. One of them, or something very similar, is
usually just a part of my wardrobe.
If I plan to actually take pictures as part of a walk, I carry any one of
a number of SLR and lens combos, depending on my mood. If I'm doing any
candid street shooting, my weapon of choice is a lightweight and handy Canon
QL GIII rangefinder.
Quite often, however, the XA or Stylus is in a pocket somewhere.
If you have aspirations to have your breaking news photography published,
the first rule is to be able to take a picture.
Sorry for being a bit long-winded, but you have jogged some wonderful
memories here.
As far as keeping any loaded camera in my car, I always put one in a foam cooler that I keep in the trunk. That cooler is used when I'm transporting a camera outfit on a vacation or whether I keep it there for longer periods. Even in 90-degree heat, I have never had film ruined or lens lube leak. As I write this, I have a spiffy Pentax UC-1 in the trunk right now.
What I find equally as handy as having a camera around is the battery kit I always keep in that cooler. It fits into a small pouch and consists of eight AA cells for flashes, 8008s, N90s and N2020/N2000 Nikon bodies or any of the winders or drives for my other Nikons, Pentaxes, Minoltas and Canons; the special battery needed by my N6006 or N6000; four AAA cells for my MD-E winder or SB-E flash; a CR2 for any APS camera I own; a couple of the 123A cells for my N70 Nikon or assortment of P&S cameras; a couple of 625 mercury cells for my Canon rangefinders or Gossen Luna Pro meter, and a couple of the MS76 button cells for my Olympus XA and assorted other 35mm classic cameras.
I check these batteries annually to make certain they are OK. Then I rotate them into the batteries I actually use, so they are not wasted. Whenever I leave the house for the day, I always have a spare battery available this way, no matter what camera I decide to sling over my shoulder. Unless, of course, it is my venerable Pentax H1a or H3v, which use no battery.