Tall photographers

[Dave Wilkinson]

I have an annoying handicap to crouching for a shot! - it's called arthritis 🙁....you should see the performance - if I drop a lens cap!....or worse still - a £1 coin! 😀.......o.k. all-together....awe! 'poor 'ole bugger'!!🙂
Dave.

 

[wgerrard]

I'm 6'4". Holding the camera steady becomes more difficult if I bend more than a shoulder scrunch. Probably an age thing.

 

[BTMarcais]

Any advance on 6'6" (1.98m)? Good for crowd scenes but otherwise looks like I'm using a step ladder.

I could USE a stepladder sometimes... only 5'3" here. 🙂

At least I rarely have to worry about hitting my head on things...

-Brian

 

[matt352]

Being 6'4" myself, this sounds like familiar problem to me.

For this reason, I am practicing what I call IYVF (ignore your viewfinder) photography: I use my Hexar with a 35mm or 28mm lens and hold it at waist level, either in portrait or landscape orientation. I use the camera strap to form a loop around my wrist to secure the camera from accidentally being slapped out of my hand.

I do this, too, but with a 40. Timing and aiming to frame what I'm looking for are a trip. To retain some stealth, sometimes I focus and get an idea of the frame at my eye, then move the camera down to my chest to make the exposure.

 

[blackwave]

I'm about 6'8" and I can definitely see it in my photos sometimes. I just look at it as a small factor that sets me apart. Why would I want to crouch and take the same perspective as everyone else? I'm in the top 1% of height, so I'm gonna use it 🙂

Edit: On a side note, "blending in" for street photography is rather challenging!

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I'm about 6'8" and I can definitely see it in my photos sometimes. I just look at it as a small factor that sets me apart. Why would I want to crouch and take the same perspective as everyone else? I'm in the top 1% of height, so I'm gonna use it 🙂

Edit: On a side note, "blending in" for street photography is rather challenging!

can you play basketball? 😉

 

[philipb]

can you play basketball? 😉

That'll be in the top three most annoying questions, ever!

No.

 

[ferider]

6'4". Often on my knees or on the ground when taking photos. It's part of it.

 

[blackwave]

I've noticed I'm getting a little bit older because I used to get, "Do you play basketball?" Now I get, "DID you play basketball?"

Both are equally irritating 🙂

 

[besk]

Ha! I went with the waist level on the Hasselblad in my 30's even though I am "only" 6 feet tall. It made a difference in the perspective in my opinion.

When I started losing my hair in my 40's I changed to an eye level on the Hasselblad for vanity reasons. Twenty years later, I don't really care!

 

[bgb]

I Hate Basketball

I Hate Basketball

I've noticed I'm getting a little bit older because I used to get, "Do you play basketball?" Now I get, "DID you play basketball?"

Both are equally irritating 🙂

I get that a lot too and boy is it getting a little old ... I have a few well practiced replies but I'm not going to use that sort of language on this forum.

I have found the height good for getting stuff off the top shelf... usually for little old ladies in the supermarket

I don't blend it either but what can you do 🙂

Still think a Hasselblad with a waist level finder might be cool, at least i would look like i know what I'm doing

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Well....I reckon it's o.k. - making cracks about the big guys!.....when there is around 3000 miles of water - in between!😛.....but then they might take a vacation! 😱
Dave. 😉

 

[Trius]

Tall people have no reason to live.

 

[bmasonoh]

My heart goes out to all the tall people. At 5'7" I wish I had more height especially in crowds!

 

[blackwave]

Tall people have no reason to live.

Well sh*t.. I'm screwed!

 

[pakeha]

you old guys, thanx for pointing out what those of us under 50 have got to look foward to, i1m gonna pick up every coin i see while i still can🙁

You tall guys, haha😀

 

[Trius]

Bring back the 50c piece, and the decision will be more difficult ...

 

[BillBingham2]

Both Kodak and Leica made some right angle finders you can use somewhat well away from your eye. Not impossible to find, the Leica was expensive (but not overly) and the Kodak was either a bargain or expensive (it cycled a lot), not sure where prices are these days.

Another option would be to build your own viewfinder out of a mirror, hot shoe, and thin metal. Would take some work and smarts and a few errors but might be worth it in the end.

'Blad are big and loud, TLRs very different for that. While I'm sure I will get 5hit for suggesting this, I love the LCD on my GRD III for this. I really like a 25 for street shots and have found that it's so wide you have some room. I've tried IYVF approach with a 28 and not had a lot of luck in streets. Over the head I rock with anything up to a 85mm.

This issue is kind of why I love the Nikon F/F2 and the waist level finder.......

B2 (;->

 

[bgb]

So 'blads are big and loud huh just like me !

Ok i will reconsider and look at a tlr

Never really thought about how height affected the photos ...interesting thread

3000 miles of water ain't nothing Dave ... NZ might be backward but we do have airplanes

🙂

 

[denmark.yuzon]

i am 6ft.. my height is above normal here in my country.. im not that tall, but not short.. but i do a little bending over sometimes.. and crouching too..