Shooting from the hip

[Phew!finder]

I’m not, not going to take the shot just because I can’t get my noggin in the position of my chosen perspective.

This is why I take hip shots once in a while; to get a low angle shot quickly and without kneeling...

EDIT: just realised this perfectly illustrates ebino's comment.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

What people really need is a Nikon F with waist-level finder and a 28/4 or 35/2.8 Perspective Control lens.

Maybe I should give that combo a try. And an E-Screen. Has to be an E-Screen.

and to add- Some companies make adapters for mu-43 cameras that convert lenses for full-frame 35mm into perspective control lenses. Do something useful with the crop factor.

 

[MCTuomey]

I tried using a 45mm tilt-shift lens on a EOS 3 a couple of years ago, shooting mostly from the waist. I agree with Brian's comment. Hard to get anything useable shooting active subjects without a WL finder, unless it's a set piece, especially if movements are involved. I'd like to try it again with a quieter camera on pre-established scenes. That EOS 3 lets everyone know when the shutter trips ...

 

[ryan26]

if you know your lens inside out, why should you have to look through the camera???

 

[DNG]

Umm, I don't think it is rude at all, In fact, on my walks I have to shift my body in an awkward side turn to aim the camera 80% of the time, and the people see what I am doing pretty plainly in fact.
Because they are under 10 feet away at the most.

Here are a few I took from the hip about an arms length away with my M5, The quietest shutter of all M's. He absolutely knew I was taking his picture., I had to wind the film after each image.

But, he was from Germany, and from what I tell, folks over there are not as paranoid as us Americans (I guess the terrorists won after-all )

All taken in a 15mm period with a 28mm lens..

Just Do It

 

[DNG]

It generates boring photos. I have yet to see a good hip shot.

Hm - but that only happens if you shoot in such a way that you can't imagine what the camera is seeing. Then, of course, the pictures will be rather random.

With a little technique and practice, you should be able to change that situation, and still have reasonable control over what you shoot when 'shooting from the hip'.

I agree, shooting from the hip, takes technique and practice and pre-visualizing the image the best you can... that means "You know your lens field of view even at low angles.

 

[Renzsu]

Hip shots can be fun, sometimes it's nice to have a few surprises (even though I usually have a pretty good idea how the shot will end up looking) on a roll, no?
Imho no less valid than a regular shot, in the end it's all about the photo, not how it was taken.
(Adding to that, I'm a pretty tall guy, sometimes it's nice to get a lower perspective in my shots.. and yes, usually I just get myself lower, but hey, sometimes it pays to be lazy).

 

[Arjay]

I feel that hip shots are becoming so ubiquitous that all of them look pretty much the same... Usually from a low angle, diagonal shots (not the best angle for composition) and that is also due to the fact that most of the shots were taken while on the move -- to make detection almost impossible.

True, but it doesn't need to be like that. One can also hold the camera near to one's chest and shoot a little sideways. When doing that, it becones a lot easier to actually develop a feeling what the camera is going to see. I used this technique on the Oktoberfest, when large crowds are moving. In such a situation, you wouldn't have any chance to take any reasonable pictures from the hip or from any low point of view.

OTOH, when in large masses of people, you don't have to worry so much about being inconspicuous, because the people's attention level will be much lower. They will worry much less about what you do with your camera. If you then use a modern DSLR, you can even use autoficus for your shots: Set AF to continuous and enable face detection if your camera has that feature. Youl'll be astonished about your hit rate.

Now, combine this mode of shooting with a spirit level in your camera's hot shoe, and with a little practice, you'll get reasonably level shots that won't have that 'hip shot' look any more.

All the following shots are 'hip shots' taken with a DSLR with active camera autofocus (working apertures were f2.,8 and f4.0):

 

[dyao]

one thing I hate about hip shots is how it makes the photographer look like he's 3 feet tall. the world is not very interesting when viewed from waist level, imo.

 

[Wcarpenter]

I do it a lot when traveling with my family. Often, I don't have time to stop and compose, so I just fire a shot off from the hip. I've become pretty good at visualizing where the frame lines are. I certainly don't think it any less legitimate a form of photography.

 

[shyoon]

If it gets you the image, then all is fair game.

 

[ebino]

True, but it doesn't need to be like that. One can also hold the camera near to one's chest and shoot a little sideways. When doing that, it becones a lot easier to actually develop a feeling what the camera is going to see. I used this technique on the Oktoberfest, when large crowds are moving. In such a situation, you wouldn't have any chance to take any reasonable pictures from the hip or from any low point of view.

OTOH, when in large masses of people, you don't have to worry so much about being inconspicuous, because the people's attention level will be much lower. They will worry much less about what you do with your camera. If you then use a modern DSLR, you can even use autoficus for your shots: Set AF to continuous and enable face detection if your camera has that feature. Youl'll be astonished about your hit rate.

Now, combine this mode of shooting with a spirit level in your camera's hot shoe, and with a little practice, you'll get reasonably level shots that won't have that 'hip shot' look any more.

All the following shots are 'hip shots' taken with a DSLR with active camera autofocus (working apertures were f2.,8 and f4.0):

When you look through the viewfinder, you decide what would be in the frame, you compose and arrange things, you decide where your subject would be in the frame, you decide to frame horizontally or vertically, use shallow dof or long etc... you make all these decisions, even if its in fraction of a second. But what has happened is that by taking that picture you have tried to communicate something, and used the space in the frame and what was visible through it.

Now that is a photograph, and its your photograph. It says more about you as a person and a photographer than you could imagine. its personal and a window to your thinking. How successful that picture is not important.

That was photography on a personal level. When you shoot from the hip, what happens is that you simply aim at what you perceive to be something interesting and you shoot. you might have an idea of what it would look like, but that is not the same as seeing everything through the VF... What has happened is that you have simply allowed the camera to interpret the scene for you, you have disconnected yourself from the scene. Hence most hip shots look impersonal and detached because its not through 'your' vision that we see that world, but through the eyes of the machine -the camera.


Having said all of this, and of course its my personal view, i would still admire a good shot no matter if its from the hip or not. but on a personal level, i'd rather like to see what the photographer wants me to see. and has framed accordingly.

 

[Brian Levy]

When I shoot from the hip, or thereabouts it is usually b/c I am using a waist level finder. Oh, this is a rangefinder forum so I guess it does not count.

 

[Keith]

I find the low perspective of hipshots gets boring very quickly and if it's a person's sole output for street shooting it doesn't grab me and I find their work limited and uninteresting as a result.

I do think it's a legitimate technique though and have no issues with it as such.

 

[back alley]

A friend photographer once said, shooting from the hip is taking something from somebody without looking at them and without saying thanks -its just rude.

What are you thoughts about shooting from the hip?

i think your friend needs to re-evaluate his entire existence...

 

[Rayt]

When I use the SWC for street the only way to use it is from the hip.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

you might see some things more precisely if you look through the viewfinder (especially the edges and tilting of your frame), but you miss others (or even the whole shot) that you might have seen if you had shot 'from the hip'. both are absolutely legitimate, I don't see why they shouldn't.

having 'control' on things when you look through the viewfinder is an illusion, if you ask me. you never control anything, all you can do is do your best and pray for the rest.

I do prefer framing a shot through the viewfinder, but I won't step back from a shot just because I would have needed to shoot 'from the hip'. and that happens a lot.




...is a good shot less good after you found out it has been taken 'FTH'? (hey what a cool new abbreviation!)

 

[ebino]

you might see some things more precisely if you look through the viewfinder (especially the edges and tilting of your frame), but you miss others (or even the whole shot) that you might have seen if you had shot 'from the hip'. both are absolutely legitimate, I don't see why they shouldn't.

having 'control' on things when you look through the viewfinder is an illusion, if you ask me. you never control anything, all you can do is do your best and pray for the rest.

I do prefer framing a shot through the viewfinder, but I won't step back from a shot just because I would have needed to shoot 'from the hip'. and that happens a lot.

You can't capture everything, you decide on what falls in the frame and that is your picture... You should know that no one is pressuring you to capture everything. don't treat yourself like a worker who must have a certain level of productivity. Photography has never been about quantity, its always quality. some of the top photographers would be happy to have one or two great pictures, five is really the highest level and only people like HCB hit ten or more.

...is a good shot less good after you found out it has been taken 'FTH'? (hey what a cool new abbreviation!)

I'm afraid the answer is yes. But forget about me, if tomorrow you wish to put a portfolio together and send it some places or show it to some of the experienced photographers, they will be "very" particular about this issue -I'm talking of lets say a magnum workshop or something of that level.

There is also the issue of are you a good photographer or an editor, you can shoot a lot FTH and then skillfully edit later, but would you still feel good about those photos and be proud of them? I think these are issues that you have to deal with if you take photography seriously and raise above the common lax amateur circles.

 

[chris7521]

My favorite shots of people are of them unaware or posed. I am also a huge fan of inexpressive portraits. They seem that you are seeing the real person so to speak. So if you have to sneak shots to do so, I'd say go for it. From the hip or otherwise.

 

[Chris101]

Dan, "hip shot" is a collective term for shots taken without looking through the viewfinder, not necessarily from hip level. One can take uninteresting pictures from nearly any elevation.