vertical shooting: which hand up?

[robert blu]

I know, it is a strange questions from somebody who is shooting since many decades, but after a discussion with a friend I'm simply curious to know what other are doing:

When shooting vertical do you rotate your camera clockwise (left hand up) or counterclockwise (right hand up) ?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I rotate it to have camera on my forehead.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I am a lefty, which is why I shoot counter clockwise.

 

[raid]

I am a “righty” for my hands and “lefty” for my legs/feet!
For varticals I rotate the camera counterclockwise. I get around 40 % of the time vertical images.

 

[ruby.monkey]

But do you finger your button, or thumb it?

 

[Archlich]

Assuming we're talking about the right arm/forearm complex, it would be easier anatomically to perform pronation than full supination. The later requires more spinal involvement.

But the real world scenario always changes.

 

[j.scooter]

Right hand up

 

[michaelwj]

I wonder if we can dig a little deeper? I can understand people using their right eye would put their right hand up, and the left hand for left eyed folk. I can’t see how it would be comfortable to do it the other way, but I’m only me. So, is anyone putting the opposite hand up to the eye they use?

 

[Dogman]

Whichever feels best at the time.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Whichever feels best at the time.

Yep, same goes for me.

Best,
-Tim

 

[robert blu]

I wonder if we can dig a little deeper? I can understand people using their right eye would put their right hand up, and the left hand for left eyed folk. I can’t see how it would be comfortable to do it the other way, but I’m only me. So, is anyone putting the opposite hand up to the eye they use?

Interesting point: actually sometimes I found myself shooting with left hand up and looking through the viewfinder with my left eye, when I usually look with my right eye.

 

[Bike Tourist]

Ccw, right hand up. No need to change grip.

Speaking of horizontal/vertical, it seems to me that among newer photographers, they tend to shhot far more horizontals than verticals.

 

[robert blu]

...
Speaking of horizontal/vertical, it seems to me that among newer photographers, they tend to shhot far more horizontals than verticals.

Yes. The new generation is used to TV screens, movies screens, computer screens and this makes (just my opinion of course) more spontaneous to shoot in the same way. Me too, even if no more young 🙁 I'm more inclined shoot horizontally and sometimes I have to "force" myself to shoot vertically. I need more vertical exercise 🙂

The similarity horizontal photographs and TV or movies was also brought up by Ralph Gibson in a recent interview.

robert

 

[phaedrus]

Left hand up, thumb on the shutter release.

 

[mike rosenlof]

I wonder if we can dig a little deeper? I can understand people using their right eye would put their right hand up, and the left hand for left eyed folk. I can’t see how it would be comfortable to do it the other way, but I’m only me. So, is anyone putting the opposite hand up to the eye they use?

I think this is probably the reason behind the choice people make. "Which eye dominant?" is the key, not right vs. left handed.

 

[retinax]

Right hand up. I use my right eye. Exceptions are when there is no space for my right elbow, like when I'm leaning against something or it's crowded, or when pushiing the camera against something to steady it requires this orientation.

 

[retinax]

Yes. The new generation is used to TV screens, movies screens, computer screens and this makes (just my opinion of course) more spontaneous to shoot in the same way. Me too, even if no more young 🙁 I'm more inclined shoot horizontally and sometimes I have to "force" myself to shoot vertically. I need more vertical exercise 🙂

The similarity horizontal photographs and TV or movies was also brought up by Ralph Gibson in a recent interview.

robert

Hmm but most people are used to shooting vertically because phones can be held more easily that way... which leads to the infuriating inflation of videos in vertical format, probably the majority of phone videos on youtube etc.. Does that really not translate into still shooting?

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I'm very left eye dominant and I am ambidextrous but write with my right hand primarily. Cameras are always designed with controls at the right hand. I always rotate the camera so it is resting on my forehead. This method is inherently a little more stable than using the right hand in the clockwise rotation which causes the wrist to lose a lot of its control and stability.
Phil Forrest

 

[narsuitus]

It depends !

I rotate nothing when shooting square images.
I rotate the film back when shooting my RB67.
I rotate the film back when shooting my 4x5 inch view camera.
I rotate counterclockwise (right hand up) when shooting rectangular images with my small format cameras.

 

[raid]

But do you finger your button, or thumb it?

Never use the thumb 🙁
What is wrong with me!