Position Position Position

[redangel]

What position have you adopted to get a choice aspect on your pic. As a beginner I tend to stand/crouch....but is that enough? Just interested if this is another dimension I could add to my photos that I could be missing...any funny stories of of course welcome!

[kja]

Any position I need to be in to get the shot.

I've climbed up high on very unsuitable objects, dug a trench in the sand, rolled around on my belly, slithered across floors, contorted around immovable objects, backed into the ocean up to my waist...

One of the easiest ways to push yourself is to shoot the same scene in five or six different ways:

- standing

- crouching

- laying down

- try to find something to elevate you and stand on that, too

Then move to the other side of your subject (or 90 degrees, or whatever, just use your feet and move) and repeat. If you can do a complete circle around your subject you'll be very surprised at the difference this very simple exercise can make and it'll really help you pre-visualize for "real" photo opportunities.

Don't want to go to all that bother? Flip your camera into vertical/portrait orientation instead of normal/horizontal. Most people shoot the vast majority of their images horizontal and going vertical can instantly bring a dramatic change to the scene.

[PossumCorner]

Photographing flowers is good contortionist training, especially the little ground orchids. I still prefer to use a tripod when the conditions allow which isn't that often unless the action is in a fixed area. For a longer day (event) with a tripod where a lower aspect is needed, something like a milking stool or low beach chair avoids the stressed crouch and chin forward pose: no wonder photographers have bad backs. At calisthenics the other day it was mostly sitting or lying on the ground, without tripod because their action pieces were unpredictable. I guess the answer is "whatever it takes".

[persephone]

I have to use a table tripod these days for down low shots.. my knees are not up to kneeling/assisting me to rise from a prone position-

but, yes, you may need to do all sorts of things to find 'that' angle/perspective!

Edited January 31, 2010 by persephone

[Ashanali]

I so need to get Alex to take photos of me when I'm shooting weddings.

I start standing then realise I need to get lower, so I'll crouch. Then I need to get lower so I will sit on the ground, then I need to get lower but I don't want to ruin my clothes so I end up contorting myself basically in half to get the camera close to the ground without my shirt touching the ground. I've had a few people point out, "um, what are you doing sitting like that?" I know it must look very strange.

[kja]

Ash - yoga is very good for this

[gila]

I so need to get Alex to take photos of me when I'm shooting weddings.

I start standing then realise I need to get lower, so I'll crouch. Then I need to get lower so I will sit on the ground, then I need to get lower but I don't want to ruin my clothes so I end up contorting myself basically in half to get the camera close to the ground without my shirt touching the ground. I've had a few people point out, "um, what are you doing sitting like that?" I know it must look very strange.

Yeh I've done that. But I usually just say "bugger it!" and end up lying down in the dirt.

Why is it that whenever you need to kneel or get down low, the ground is always covered in litte rocks and twigs that embed themselves in your knees/elbows??

[Kirislin]

This is often where I find things difficult. It's hard for me to squat, crouch or bend over. I eventually do but it's a major operation getting down, and then up again.

[TerraNik]

Don't want to go to all that bother? Flip your camera into vertical/portrait orientation instead of normal/horizontal. Most people shoot the vast majority of their images horizontal and going vertical can instantly bring a dramatic change to the scene.

I'm the opposite!! Someone wanted some horizontal photos I've taken of the dogs... There were NONE aside from a few action shots!!!!!

I was belly down in mud to take a photo once! It was worth it! I've sat down in a puddle once, too!

[Ripley]

Note the tide coming in if you are with a tripod at the beach on dusk.

Worst position I've been in, on bare knees with broken coral cutting them, crawling along to photograph an uncommon seabird. Or banged up against the boat and its railing photographing albatross, timing the shutter click with the roll of the (smallish) boat so as not to get any heads in the shot.

[SchnauzerBoy]

Any position to get the shot... but trying to keep the camera held in to my body to get the best stability is often the hardest part!

[Heidii]

I am a serial squatter....classy!

[Ashanali]

Imagine that squat position with your bum on the ground, legs slightly extended in front and leaning forward with your elbows on the ground. That's one of my usual positions.

[kja]

Imagine that squat position with your bum on the ground, legs slightly extended in front and leaning forward with your elbows on the ground. That's one of my usual positions.

hehee - +1 and balasana with my knees spread out and arms forward is the other way usually how I end up LOL

[redangel]

At Expo one of my photo crouches went horribly wrong.....taking a pic of a friends dog, knees down, shuffled back...my left knee found....ugh lets say it was not nice.