vertical shooting: which hand up?

[Yokosuka Mike]

I’m reminded of helicopter pilots
They play such games, but not when lives are at risk.

Is there a point to this thread?

Think less, shoot more

 

[LCSmith]

I’m reminded of helicopter pilots
They play such games, but not when lives are at risk.

Is there a point to this thread?

Think less, shot more

I believe the question was raised more out of curiosity than a desire to know whether a correct method existed.

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I believe the question was raised more out of curiosity than a desire to know whether a correct method existed.

I bet you're right. But, I was in a bad mood and now I'm feeling like I was a jerk for making such a thoughtless post. So, I'm sorry.

Life goes on.

Mike

 

[c.poulton]

About 95% of my photos are shot vertically.

 

[d_c]

Right handed, left eye shooter, almost always right hand raised when shooting vertically.

 

[robert blu]

I believe the question was raised more out of curiosity than a desire to know whether a correct method existed.

I bet you're right. But, I was in a bad mood and now I'm feeling like I was a jerk for making such a thoughtless post. So, I'm sorry.

Life goes on.

Mike

🙂 yes, correct curiosity is the main reason.

For many years (decades maybe) before digital I shot almost exclusively to produce slide shows, I had three Pradovit projectors synchronized via a special unit with music and things were much easier when images were all horizontal.

I stopped to do this years ago, but the habit to shoot horizontally persisted.

Lately I shoot more in vertical as well and I find myself not very "spontaneous " in doing it. Easier with right hand up but I do not like the position of my right elbow, I find it somehow intrusive specially if in a crowded place.
So the other position left hand up is more comfortable but I find the camera less stable. And sometimes I find myself using the thumb to shoot. Nice to know I'm not the only one!

At the end to answer my own poll I'm in the camp sometimes clockwise, sometimes counterclockwise depending on ...I do not know what!!!

And this is the main reason behind this poll, not a first world question...simply a way to speak a little bit each other about our habits...nothing special 🙂

And I desire as well to thanks all the friends who took part in the discussion, we are all different, we have different habits, different cameras, different ideas, different age and eyes 🙂

robert

PS: by the way I think that shooting vertically or horizontally or tilted is an important point in the photographic language but this should be the topic for a different thread !

 

[Arbitrarium]

Depends on the camera.

For an SLR with viewfinder in the centre, there's not much difference in comfort holding it whichever way, but if it's a long rangefinder with viewfinder in the left corner, holding it right hand up just feels a bit ridiculous.

I tend to rotate it clockwise just because it involves fewer elbows going all over the place and it's a bit less conspicuous.

 

[robert blu]

Depends on the camera.

For an SLR with viewfinder in the centre, there's not much difference in comfort holding it whichever way, ...

Probably this is the reason for which most of my friends whom I asked this question didn't have any preference !
robert
PS: I'm the only RF shooter among them !

 

[dave lackey]

Probably this is the reason for which most of my friends whom I asked this question didn't have any preference !
robert
PS: I'm the only RF shooter among them !

I have no real answer here... I am so screwed up it is just a matter of what it takes. Left Eye dominant!🙂

Hasselblad=Square (no rotation)
Hasselblad 645=Rectangle (rotate as required, sometimes upside down, lying on the ground, or on tripod with ballhead, L bracket or tripod drops etc)

Nikon Film SLRs=Rectangle (same as above)
Nikon Digital SLRs=Rectangle or Square (Usually on tripod... L bracket if rotating)

Leica X1=Rectangle LCD held at a distance, rotating as required handheld (clockwise or counter clockwise)

RF ( I don't have one at the moment)=Usually right hand on top when rotating handheld.

 

[PaulDalex]

I voted right hand down.
But I shoot exactly as Presspass says, except that I always use the index finger.
Using the thumb would give me a sense of instability and imprecision

 

[rodt16s]

Voted right hand, there's been an odd occasion the other way round
Was thinking it feels easier to wind on with the right hand up
I mainly shoot RF

 

[robert blu]

Many interesting answers and comments here, thanks everyone.

Just because I'm curious in a week of RFF gallery I found horizontal pictures are more or less three times the verticals and 8 times the squared!

Now I'm trying to learn to shoot vertical more often 🙂

robert