Timing is the essence of cool and a great photograph is the essence of timing. Nothing highlights your coolness quite like a perfectly timed photo. Smartphones have made this easier but it still requires skill, patience, and a good old-fashioned knack for knowing when something awesome’s about to happen.
And do it gracefully. There’s nothing worse than seeing someone madly fumble around with their SLR, nearly choke themselves with the strap, and then awkwardly fire off a shot with the lens cap on. If you want to take quick shots like a boss you’ve got to know exactly how your spirit stealer works. Familiarizer yourself with the interface, know precisely which pocket it’s in, do a couple of practice reps. You want to be able to draw and shoot your camera with the cold-hearted efficiency of a gunslinger.