Tall photographers [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

Krzys

01-13-2010, 23:54

Do you ever find that you start to get lazy and not bother bending down for a photo.

It seems that whenever I make a day of shooting street I start to shoot from eye level a little too much and every single photograph is from a tall persons perspective :bang: Its fine if there are a couple of shots but not when it starts to become a visible habit.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2693/4273836678_5fda73dffe.jpg

Do you bend with your back or kneel down? How do you stop it from interrupting your flow?

Krzys

01-13-2010, 23:58

It just dawned on me that at least when I use a WLF I am high enough that people don't look like giants toppling over backwards in the photographs.

le vrai rdu

01-14-2010, 00:08

I am 1,85 m

I have to bend :/

bgb

01-14-2010, 00:17

I have never even considered the height thing, guess I'm happy to move around until i find the right position to take the shot from.
I'm only 6'5" so maybe not tall enough :) to have that problem

Roger Hicks

01-14-2010, 00:20

Age doesn't help. It's easier to bend down at 19 than at 59.

Cheers,

R.

bgb

01-14-2010, 00:33

At 53 and 6'5" what I really need is a Hasselblad with a waist level finder !

Jolly good idea another excuse for a G.A.S attack :)

buzzardkid

01-14-2010, 00:34

HA!

Finally it pays of to be average for once!

:D:D:D:D

Debusti Paolo

01-14-2010, 00:36

maybe a rollei tlr can be usefull!!

bgb

01-14-2010, 00:41

A Rollei might be nice but I'm holding out for a 'blad

There has to be some advantage to being tall and i will accept Hasselblad ownership if that's what must be done

Krzys

01-14-2010, 00:50

Street with a Hassy is hard. I am just going to use them for nice still landscapes in the future. :)

Arjay

01-14-2010, 01:28

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.

This has an added advantage: I can set the loop in such a way that the camera is stabilized by the right strap lug (seen from behind) in portrait orientation, so I can use fairly long exposure times. Also, if the loop is set correctly, my index finder will intuitively rest on the shutter release, so that actually taking the shot is a breeze.

Of course, I first had to practice a bit guessing my camera's field of view and aiming it right, but it's a lot easier than it sounds.

Here's an example of a shot taken in this technique:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4117625434_443a1d89b2.jpg

philipb

01-14-2010, 01:29

Any advance on 6'6" (1.98m)? Good for crowd scenes but otherwise looks like I'm using a step ladder. I've recently become quite keen on using my Rolleiflex T for making scenes look 'normal'.

Krzys

01-14-2010, 02:30

I have tried shooting from the hip and it takes practice. Honestly in a city like Brisbane things are boring and it is hard to find a person interesting enough to shoot. Most times I'd rather guarantee the shot than practice hip shooting. I still find something interesting every day though. I think of it as training for when I goto Vancouver and Toronto.

Dave Wilkinson

01-14-2010, 02:42

Age doesn't help. It's easier to bend down at 19 than at 59.

Cheers,

R. Treat yourself to a 'shooting stick' Roger!

ashrafazlan

01-14-2010, 02:53

I'm 5'7, sometimes I have to tip toe D:

Disaster_Area

01-14-2010, 05:10

You know... I never really thought about it but you're right... my street shots from my TLR always look more...natural? than a lot of my shots with an RF, guess I should practice bending more :) Everyone's always told me "oh... you're so lucky you're tall" but really all it means is a can reach the top shelf in the kitchen but I bump my head on doorways, public transit seats are always too small and know I find out it sucks for street shooting too!

chris00nj

01-14-2010, 05:41

I haven't had a noticeable problem, although many tripods always seem way too short for comfortable use.

Pickett Wilson

01-14-2010, 06:03

Interesting. Someone should do a poll to see what the average height of photographers is here. At 6' 1", I'm feeling pretty short here! ;)

furcafe

01-14-2010, 06:25

Same here @ 5'6". That's 1 reason why I don't prefer the waist-level perspective for street shooting: I'm too short already!

I'm 5'7, sometimes I have to tip toe D:

Nikkor AIS

01-14-2010, 06:35

http://rogaltacdesign.smugmug.com/Other/Lecia-M-2010/F1000030/764119253_XXUD9-L.jpg (http://rogaltacdesign.smugmug.com/Other/Lecia-M-2010/10913736_R6vV9/1/#764119253_XXUD9-A-LB)

Taken with a Leica M7 and a 15 Voigtlander on E6, cross-processed in C41.

Even though I'm 6'3, sometimes I wish I had more height:p.

Dave Wilkinson

01-14-2010, 06:51

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! :D.......o.k. all-together....awe! 'poor 'ole bugger'!!:)
Dave.

wgerrard

01-14-2010, 07:10

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

BTMarcais

01-14-2010, 07:14

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

01-14-2010, 07:16

blackwave

01-14-2010, 07:52

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

01-14-2010, 07:57

philipb

01-14-2010, 08:18

can you play basketball? ;)

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

No.

ferider

01-14-2010, 08:26

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

blackwave

01-14-2010, 08:33

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

01-14-2010, 08:48

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

01-14-2010, 10:12

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

01-14-2010, 12:26

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

Trius

01-14-2010, 16:47

Tall people have no reason to live.

bmasonoh

01-14-2010, 17:04

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

blackwave

01-14-2010, 17:59

Tall people have no reason to live.

Well sh*t.. I'm screwed!

cnphoto

01-14-2010, 19:10

Ditto.

I now look at coins on the ground and think, "mmm will that do more than 25 cents in damage to my knees, if I pick it up?"

I would pick up an £1 coin! But just barely.

I can't remember the last time I picked up a dropped coin, for this reason. The old 'one knee down, drop, tilt, bend at the hips, pick it up, straighten, push to the left and then lift my body up painfully' trick gets tiring fast. That's for sure.

If i dropped a paper bill / note or lens cap, well then the pains worth it I suppose :)

pakeha

01-14-2010, 19:42

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:D

Trius

01-14-2010, 20:01

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

BillBingham2

01-14-2010, 20:15

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

01-14-2010, 20:44

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

01-14-2010, 21:44

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..

Ben B.

01-14-2010, 23:39

Tall people have no reason to live.

:D Love that Randy Newman song... ;)

Ok, I'm 5'7" so I don't really qualify for contributing in this discussion but you should have seen me the last time I tried to shoot some portraits of my (taller) friends through a WLF! We had a great laugh!:D

I sometimes wish I was taller but never thought of that while holding a camera...

I don't see why that should be a problem. It's all a matter of point of view. And let's face it : having a point of view is very important in photography. Be it from above or from below ;)

Seriously, this whole question of height and perpective is a pretty unique specificity of photography as a art form. Could you tell how tall was da Vinci by looking at Mona Lisa or Michelangelo when you contemplate that Sistine Chapel ceiling? Cinema is different because there's a director and a cinematographer involved...

Ok, we photographers have less control on perspective. I definitely would take different photos If I was 7' tall. Not better nor worse, just different.

Tall photographers still have an advantage when a little shift in perspective is needed. I'd have to carry a stool with me all day long while they'd only have to walk like John Cleese in that "Ministry of silly walk" bit :D

Benjamin.

rbiemer

01-15-2010, 05:43

The bending down isn't too much of a problem (yet) but the getting back up is definitely an adventure!
Age doesn't help. It's easier to bend down at 19 than at 59.
Cheers,
R.
I've not had any trouble like this--I'm not tall, I am 5' 8" which was average when I got to be that height. Now I am short.
And still find most tripods seem too short for me.
Rob

reuno

01-15-2010, 05:54

This is the way to go, and bonus, you'll be able to catch some decisive moments !

http://parismages.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/couv-assouline.jpg

Krzys

01-17-2010, 02:51

reuno, that made my day!

"Do you play basket ball?" is the tall mans burden. I want to go and ask small people if they sweep chimneys.

DGA

01-17-2010, 03:14

I'm 6'3" (about 1.90m in the metric system) and I find my hight as an advantage.

Still, all of my pants are worn out on the right knee :bang:
I torn a pair of trousers once a year, in average.
So, I have to add those in my calculation of photography spendings :)

http://www.pbase.com/dotanga/image/99955903.jpg

aboudd

01-17-2010, 03:22

Age doesn't help. It's easier to bend down at 19 than at 59.

Cheers,

R.

Amen to that ... and try it a few years later as well :eek:

Al Patterson

01-17-2010, 04:53

Age doesn't help. It's easier to bend down at 19 than at 59.

Cheers,

R.

Yeah, I'm 54, so I've sat down on the ground from time to time to get a different view.

sara

01-17-2010, 05:22

Aww tall people hello! I'm a really short person (5' 3") and sometimes, I would like to be a bit taller so that I can take some tall people photos!

MCTuomey

01-17-2010, 05:36

bestest thread in awhile ...

i'm convinced my height is a disadvantage for reportage (1.93m/6'3"), and for portraits as well. looking up slightly at the subject generally provides a stronger perspective than looking down, imho.

sara, i'd love to be 5'3" when i'm out shooting.

like others have mentioned, i workaround by shooting a fair amount from the hip and chest, and trying set up shots from a seated or kneeling or even lying position.

just put down a modest pymt on an autocord to try the TLR thing. we'll see.

youngmrcurtis

01-17-2010, 05:40

I never even thought of the height issue until a recent trip around Europe. See, I'm about 5'7", and here in Ireland, I'm not too far off being average height, so my street shots are OK perspective wise. While in Europe I felt I was just pointing my my camera at people's chests or leaning back to get their faces in shot, the problem seemed to get worse the further east I got.

But, my height is good for where I am now, so I don't envy tall people that much, except when I'm at a gig looking at some tall person's back...

sjb79

02-01-2010, 05:57

I WIN!!!! (so far). I'm 6'9" but I've never really thought about the different perspective that I have to "normal" shooters. Luckily I'm still pretty flexible so bending down and getting on my knees is no problem.
As for the "do you play basketball" question, I generally respond with, "no, do you play short tennis??"