I’m stoked to announce a new sponsor: Black Rapid, makers of the finest camera straps on the planet.

I stopped using camera straps about eleven years ago, about the same time I started using a chest pack to carry my camera.  I started with the cheap-o Canon strap that came with my camera, then moved on to what was a hi-tech solution at the time, an Op Tech neoprene strap.  I never felt 100% confident that the strap or one of the plastic Fastex buckles wouldn’t break, sending my camera careening to the ground with catastrophic results.  Perhaps this fear was directly related to the fact that I was shooting more climbing photography at the time.  Neither strap was terribly comfortable and I eventually gave up, going strapless (insert prom dress jokes here) for many years.

And then I tried a Black Rapid strap.  Well designed, built for comfort and security.  Black Rapid straps use the tripod screw on the bottom of your camera as an attachment point.  This allows the camera to hang upside down, making it very easy to put the camera into action.  That, combined with the innovative sliding mechanism, means you can go from camera at your side to camera at the ready and in action in one quick draw motion.  And comfort – yeah, you won’t find a more comfortable camera strap.  The wide, padded and adjustable strap carries the weight of even a pro DSLR w/ a longer zoom lens with the utmost comfort.

One of my other sponsors, Acratech, will soon launch a product called the Swift Clamp that makes Black Rapid straps even more utilitarian.  The Swift Clamp is a Quick Release (QR) clamp that attaches to the screw on your Black Rapid strap.  Your camera attaches securely to the Swift Clamp using any Arca Swiss compatible QR plate.  This makes it super simple to switch between using your camera with a Black Rapid strap or a tripod, as is often the case with me.  Genius!

Black Rapid offers several models of straps.  There are basic models, one designed specifically for women, a strap that carries two cameras and finally, the model I favor, the RS-5 Cargo.  Several small pockets on the strap allow you to carry a point and shoot or iPhone, memory cards and other small accessories in a handy location with quick access.  They’re not all about straps, though.  They’ve got a great line of small camera bags and accessory pockets, as well as some innovative rear lens caps called Lens Bling that make it easy to distinguish which lens is which in a bag full of look-alike lenses.  You know, if you’re so fortunate as to have several expensive lenses in your bag at any one time.

I’d like to thank Black Rapid for placing their faith in me to represent their great line of products.  I look forward to developing a long-term relationship with them and sharing their products with my guided and workshop clients!