vertical shooting: which hand up?

[nikon_sam]

Very left eye dominate, shoot with right hand up ALWAYS...I guess I get this from starting out with film and developing my own prints...it's easier to work with negs that flow in the same pattern...and I rarely use the extra shutter button that some newer bodies have...I prefer to keep it turned off due to accidental firing...
It irks me to watch someone shoot and flip their camera anywhich way...my own daughter does this...
Kids with their phones probably have a set pattern due to shutter button location and their dexterity...

Edit: Never use thumb...it doesn't feel right...index finger always...

 

[presspass]

Neither hand up. Right hand under the body and fire the shutter with right thumb. Left hand cradles the lens to focus. Both elbows tucked in close to the body for stability.

 

[Bike Tourist]

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

Way back when, I fancied magazine covers. Not big mass market publications, of course, but special interest mags where an unknown photographer might be accepted. I shot horizontals and verticals for potential covers almost 1:1. I guess I still have the habit.

 

[leica M2 fan]

I do a lot of vertical shooting with the right hand up but if it looks like the picture is better with left hand up I do it that way. No problem either way.

 

[seany65]

For me, it's right hand/shuter button side up.

I'm trying to get out of the habit of having my elbow sticking out like a sore thumb. I'm also trying to get into the habit of having my hand around the front of the camera and pressing the button with my second finger. This a little awkward, but does seem to offer a bit more support.

 

[Spavinaw]

If I'm using the typical P&S camera, in order to keep the flash higher than the lens, I have to shoot left hand up. I am right eyed. When using an RF or SLR I still shoot left hand up most off the time, but I may occasionally shoot the other way. Why? I don't know!

 

[Sumarongi]

Also the size and position of the viewfinder plays a role; anyone who has ever tried a camera with its viewfinder on the extreme right hand side (Belmira, Baldamatic II and III, e.g.) will agree that one sometimes has to be inventive 😉

Regarding Barnack-style cameras, see here:

http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page356.htm —— 4. HOLDING THE CAMERA.
😉

 

[DougK]

Ugh, I confused myself and selected the wrong option. I actually shoot verticals with my right hand on top.

 

[thechanster69]

As a left eye shooter, I generally do a CCW rotation with right hand up, and has been mentioned above, resting camera on forehead helps. Also, shooting with handgrip helps to stabilize too. Sometimes I’ll rotate with left hand up, for elbow space reasons, etc.

 

[Bike Tourist]

Ugh, I confused myself and selected the wrong option. I actually shoot verticals with my right hand on top.

It's too late. This goes on your permanent record! 🙂

 

[CMur12]

Right hand on top, always.

I'm left-eyed, right-handed, and left-footed.

- Murray

 

[dmr]

I very seldom do vertical format, but when I do it's usually left hand up, left eye on the viewfinder, right hand on the shutter, which sometimes can be a bit awkward.

 

[gb hill]

I voted sometimes but it really depends on wether I’m shooting a slr or a rangefinder. If you look at j. scooter’s avatar on page 1 of how he’s holding his rangefinder that’s how I prefer to hold mine.

 

[markbakovic]

if portrait==True:
if directionalLighting.azimuth<=160 or directionalLighting.elevation>=80:
cameraRotate(90)
useEye = "Left"

else:
cameraRotate(-90)
useEye = "Right"
#make best use of giant Balkan nose as viewfinder shade

 

[BlackXList]

I switch left and right eyes a lot, but always right hand up, finger on the button.

 

[Rob-F]

For mw, the camera is steadiest with elbow down and resting on my chest, clockwise rotation, thumb on shutter release.

 

[KenR]

Neither - when I use my Mamiya6 there is never a need to rotate the camera, which is one of the many reasons why I love shooting with it. Otherwise with less enlightened cameras, left hand up.

 

[View Range]

You missed one other option. For those of us who use a camera with a built-in vertical grip, you just keep using the camera normally. The camera is just reoriented in your hands.

 

[Peter Jennings]

Neither hand up. Right hand under the body and fire the shutter with right thumb. Left hand cradles the lens to focus. Both elbows tucked in close to the body for stability.

This! Well, except for the thumb...
I shoot about 90% of my photos in vertical format (and it has nothing to do with phones). It’s just how I see things. For me, shooting right hand up is simply awkward and wasteful. It requires twice as much physical effort to get the camera to your eye. I’m right handed and right eye dominant. Shooting with the shutter button in lower position is both easier, more stable, and stealthier.

 

[Keith]

You missed one other option. For those of us who use a camera with a built-in vertical grip, you just keep using the camera normally. The camera is just reoriented in your hands.

The pro DSLRs are great in this way. Even though my D4 is a bit of a bus it makes vertical shooting a breeze.