Gourmand wrote:
While trying to be diplomatic, my main reason for the post is that I know there are many beginners who are picking up all sorts of tips on UHH. If just one of them reads through all this and changes the way they've been holding their camera; well, they will have made my day. Happy shooting to all!
When I first read this thread, I thought of it as how photographers are perceived by other folks or how we "look" while taking pictures and operating cameras. I did not think of it as a tutorial on camera ergonomics and methods of holding the camera steady to avoid blur, etc. You do, however, make a good point.
Fortunately, a camera is not quite a dangerous as a loaded firearm. If we hold it improperly we will not be injured by the recoil, or accidentally kill anyone or ourselves by losing control of the weapon. Worst case scenario, we drop it on a hard surface and incur a nasty repair bill.
As for the actual camera handlg technique, I suppose I can write a book- at least a decent essay. Besides steadiness, there are many other aspects. There is very basic stuff that, as important as it seems, is often excluded from these online conversations.
Lots depend on the photographers, dexterity, the equipment in use, the ergonomics design into the care or the lack thereof of those aspects. Not everyone has the same physical attributes or deficits and different jobs and different gear require different approaches. You do not need to be a ballet dancer, an acrobat, or an athlete to have a natural sense of balance, most folks do, otherwise, they would all fall over when they walk or drop everything they carry. I do not think there are uniform instructions that apply to every person and every camera. If a person has a particular weakness in any of their muscles, they will natualrr learn to compensate by altering their grip, position, or stance and figure out a workaround method. Others might require some additional aids such as tripods, monopods, belt pods, various brackets or grips, or some other form of improvisation utilizing straps.
There are certain kinds of work that requr very precise camera positioning in relation to the subject. In portraiture, for example, it is critical that the photograph asses the lighting, expression and position and expression in the eyes for the camera position and be able to direct the subject and evoke expression from behind the camera. If you ask the subject to "look at me" and you are standoff the subject lens axis, the chances are, you will get off-center or vaccine expressions in the eyes or lose "viewer eye contact" with the subject. It is important that you can hold the camera steady or use a tripod and have comfortable access to the viewfinder at all camera positon and elevations.
If for some reason you are forced to use a slower shutter speed in a handheld situation, you need to practice camera steadiness as to how you are gonna brace yourself and the camera. Even your breathing control is important and the way you squeeze the shutter release. If you are using a long or heavy lens, you need to find the camera's center of gravity and balance accordingly. Sometimes you may need to improvise steadiness by utilizing a wall, ledge, tree, pillar or pole for additional support.
Think of the old proverbial "one-armed wallpaper hanger" and do not try a one-handed grip just to look savvy and cool. This is not a sick joke- I once trained a veteran who lost part of his arm in a firearms accident, in wedding photography, in the days of film press cameras. He managed to shoot smoothly, fast and well.- extremely well! If you have both arms and hands use them! Get a grip! Select equipment that is compatible withte the size and strength of your hands. Practice and learn to operat your camera without havg to fumble with the controls. With practice, you will develop "musical memory" like typing or playing a musical instrument and various operations will become second nature.
Once the came becos an extension of you hands, it will more easily become an extension of your heart, your mind, and your imagination.