olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
elee950021 wrote:
Besides being left or right handed, there are other factors such as using either your left or right eye for viewing or if you wear glasses and whether shooting horizontally or vertically. For me, I use my left eye which is stronger to shoot a horizontal scene and tightly brace the back of the pentaprism against my left forehead eyebrow area. For verticals, I use my right eye while my nose clears the pentaprism and I brace the camera above my right forehead.
Lately, with the usage of mirrorless, I've noticed that some photographers are shooting with "live view"
and holding the camera in front of them (like cell phones) which introduces other problems. Cheers. Ed
Besides being left or right handed, there are othe... (
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And, some of us have suffered physical impairments/impediments that make certain styles of supporting the camera difficult. A bad rotator makes "proper positioning" a pain in my case, my left arm does not like supporting the lens from underneath (and reminds me every time I do it), others have nerve problems, arthritis, etc. etc. My biggest complaint is that when I have the viewfinder to my face I always get facial skin oil (or plain sweat when hot) on my LCD. I solved that the other day by purchasing an attachment that places a larger/extended eyecup in place of the stock one. No more smudges on my LCD, best accessory I've bought in some time, a well spent $9.00.
I'm a viewfinder guy myself, but I do occasionally use Live View and focus with LCD, and that does invite many more positions and holding strategies.
John_F wrote:
Saying to hold the lens,camera by the ledt hand subsumes one is right handed. For us lefties, camera button layouts are problematical.
Ha. I'm a lefty also but don't have any issues holding the camera. Maybe because I'm "right fingered" from playing a trumpet through college? I am left eyed tho and that does create some problem with DSLR screens, but I use Live View whenever possible to avoid smearing the screen.
BebuLamar wrote:
I agree with you but I found cameras today with their large grip tend to encourage holding the camera only with the right hand. Also many would shoot in portrait orientation with the right hand above the camera so the right elbow is in the air.
Last fall I shot an entire motorcycle trials event one handed, holding on to the grip with my right hand and an umbrella in the left hand. It was raining during the entire event. Auto focus, which I normally do not use, 1/1000 shutter speed, low f stop, and auto ISO helped to save the day.
There are always going to be exceptions to any general rule. Yes you can hold a camera by one side, stretch your arm as high as it will go and try to photograph that celebrity buried in the crowd ahead of you. Or use no hands at all, set the camera on a rock and trip the self-timer. However as a general rule for Nancy Newbie to learn, just like catching a fly ball or riding a bike, “two hands for beginners”. One supporting, one controlling. Once that becomes second nature, whatever works for the situation.
JCam
Loc: MD Eastern Shore
Mr Bill 2011 wrote:
I guess proper form is great when you are young; by the time you are in your 60s or 70s, "whatever works for you" is the proper form. Much better to be comfortable than to introduce movement caused by stress or strain on a bad joint or muscle.
Hurray, At least one Hog recognizes the problems that us Seniors may experience. In my case is a continually sore almost 80 year old back that makes bending to use a tripod painful so I very seldom use one and instead substitute higher shutter speeds and ISO.
PS--I don't do portraits!
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
JCam wrote:
Hurray, At least one Hog recognizes the problems that us Seniors may experience. In my case is a continually sore almost 80 year old back that makes bending to use a tripod painful so I very seldom use one and instead substitute higher shutter speeds and ISO.
PS--I don't do portraits!
Hell getting old, but it sure beats the alternative... Keep on keepin on!!!!!!
larryepage wrote:
I also find that in some cases it is beneficial to rotate to the left slightly. Doing so can provide some improvement in stability vs. trying to shoot straight ahead.
I tried your suggestion of rotating to the left slightly, but found I was frequently missing the subject of the shot. (OK, sorry, just an attempt at a little levity--actually a pretty good hint).
JCam wrote:
Hurray, At least one Hog recognizes the problems that us Seniors may experience. In my case is a continually sore almost 80 year old back that makes bending to use a tripod painful so I very seldom use one and instead substitute higher shutter speeds and ISO.
PS--I don't do portraits!
For the record; I totally understand from personal experience what happens to us in the over-the-hill-gang. I posted this short piece for beginners of any age and still use those techniques learned over 50 years ago. Yes there are days where I don't want to move at all but when I do get out with this old and unsteady body proper technique is my crutch. ( I also use a tripod but it is tall enough that I don't have to stoop). I'm in my 80th year and sure do know about pain.
Problems are opportunities for us to see how ingenious we can be.
And again for the record, I am also legally blind but, see well enough to point a camera in the right direction and with my brides help, get it set up. Quit is a word in some foreign language that I'm unable to translate.
As far as this little thread goes, what is the worth of all that which we have learned in our long lives if we don't try to pass it on? To try to give others a step up?
This is how I hold mine. And this is why I don't like cameras without a viewfinder, you can't do that. You have to hold them like a Cell phone.
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
Rich1939 wrote:
For the record; I totally understand from personal experience what happens to us in the over-the-hill-gang. I posted this short piece for beginners of any age and still use those techniques learned over 50 years ago. Yes there are days where I don't want to move at all but when I do get out with this old and unsteady body proper technique is my crutch. ( I also use a tripod but it is tall enough that I don't have to stoop). I'm in my 80th year and sure do know about pain.
Problems are opportunities for us to see how ingenious we can be.
And again for the record, I am also legally blind but, see well enough to point a camera in the right direction and with my brides help, get it set up. Quit is a word in some foreign language that I'm unable to translate.
As far as this little thread goes, what is the worth of all that which we have learned in our long lives if we don't try to pass it on? To try to give others a step up?
For the record; I totally understand from personal... (
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Keep on keepin on my brother!! I hope I can do as well when I reach that milestone!
For "lefties" out there having trouble with camera button layouts, might I suggest a brand new drug, quite effective: AMBIDEXTROSE.
Best wishes
Al P. wrote:
For "lefties" out there having trouble with camera button layouts, might I suggest a brand new drug, quite effective: AMBIDEXTROSE.
Best wishes
Thanks Al, I'll check with my pharmacist ASAP.
Rich1939 wrote:
Our grand kids had no interest. But we have been blessed with a great-grandson that is coming on 18 months. It might be time to put a camera in his hands.
This is sad to me that no grand kids were interested. My Grandfather was a photojournalist and died before I was old enough to learn about photography from him. I can only imagine, and I often do, what he would have taught me, and how impressed he would be with today's digital cameras!
To the OP. I will have to pull out my camera and see, as I am not sure.
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