Prepared for anything or just compulsive... How much gear is too much?

     So I visited an Antique Truck Show in my hometown today.  I knew that there were going to be some good photo opportunities so I packed my trusty Think Tank Retro with what I thought I "might need" and away I went.  For those that are not familiar with the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, MO, it is big.  Big is an understatement.  The Fairgrounds encompass over 50 acres within the fence and it being a "truck show", they utilized pretty much every inch of the grounds for this particular show.  Hell, I was wore out just walking to the gate from where I parked... 

     Why was I so "wore out"?  First off, I'm old...  Ok, not that old at 47 but maybe a little "under exercised" :(  I would like to think that a big factor in my fatigue was my lugging a fully loaded Think Tank Retrospective 40 bag.

     For whatever reason, when packing the bag to go to the truck show, this is what I packed:

          Nikon D7100
          Nikon D800
          Nikon 14-24
          Nikon 24-70
          Nikon 70-200
          Nikon 50mm 1.4
          Nikon SB-910
          Circular Polarizer
          ND Filter
          Cleaning kit
          Remote Shutter release
          Spare SD cards
          Spare batteries for both bodies
          Strap
          Pad & pen
          2 sets of batteries for the 910

     Obviously the fact that I packed so much gear to go to a Truck show was asinine.  The bag felt like it weighed 75 pounds after about 2 hours and I never needed all that gear anyway.  I only used the D7100 & 24-70 the whole time...

     So why do we overpack for every gig?  I know that the easy answer is because "we want to be prepared for any eventuality".  Ken Rockwell is very public about the fact that 90% of what he does, he does with a body and a 35mm.  Seriously, no outfitted bag with expensive "what ifs" - he literally leaves the house with just 1 body with a 35 attached.  In his blog he states that he knows what he will be shooting before he leaves the house so he knows what he is going to need. 

     I had a photography professor last year give us an assignment on a class field trip to Big Bear.  The assignment was a "scavenger hunt" of shots using only a 35mm.  The assignment was difficult at best and to be honest, I didn't do very well.  Think about that - in the mountains with only a 35mm!!!  The assignment was obviously brilliant in it's simplicity as it made us really think how to "get the shot" with all that we had but I certainly wasn't loving it that day...

     So why do we over pack now?  The easy answer is that we "want to be prepared" but the deeper issue is that we over pack and bring to damn much gear because we are not confident enough in our abilities and rely on our gear as a crutch.  I am as guilty as anyone, if not more.  I seriously brought over $10,000 worth of gear to take pictures of trucks.  What was I thinking? 

     The lesson to be learned here is that before we even think about heading somewhere to shoot we just need to give it some thought.  What are we shooting, indoor or outdoor, and what is our access???  Then just bring the bare essentials.  I am going to work very hard at this approach going forward because it does make me think and it will make me a better photographer by trying to figure out how to get the shot with whatever body & lens is in my hands at the moment and my shoulder hopefully won't be so sore next time :(