If there's anything the Internet loves more than cat photos, it's pointing out to people that they're doing something the wrong way.
In this video, portrait photographer Irene Rudnyk responds to complaints that she has received in YouTube comments about the way she chooses to hold her camera vertically. For her entire shooting career, she has always held the camera vertically with the shutter button toward the bottom. As it turns out, many people have been systematically taught that this is wrong, and that holding the camera vertically should always have the shutter button towards the top.
After doing a little digging, Rudnyk claims she coincidentally found that male photographers almost always teach the shutter on top method, while it was only female photographers that taught the shutter on bottom preference. For me personally, I too was taught that shutter on top was the only correct way after first starting out doing it shutter on bottom. I changed up my style to not look like a fool, and now it's just muscle memory. But Rudnyk's demonstration as to why this style of shooting might not be comfortable to women was news to me, and I think knowing this we should back off a little on the assertion that all photographers need to work one way or they are "wrong."
What's your preferred way of holding the camera vertically?
I think she should hold the camera in whatever way is most comfortable for her. HOWEVER, a MUCH bigger problem is that she needs to take the lens cap off.
THe proper way to hold a camera is steady. Unless you want jittery photos. Then not steady. OK. thanks bye.
Old as dirt photographer here. She is using her left eye and holding the camera in a way that she can steady it for her body type and strength. Don't overcomplicate this. The only two things you need to know is "hold it steady so you get the shot" and make sure your stupid elbows aren't in the way of the other photographers and people sitting next to you. As a very young photographer I learned that lesson very quickly when sitting next to a bunch of photographers shooting NBA basketball games. Nothing pisses off a photographer, whose on deadline trying to get the shot, more than your elbow in front of their lens.
From her pics and videos, Irene seems to be left-eyed.
For anyone who uses her or his left eye on the viewfinder, grip down will probably be more comfortable because their nose will stick out past the prism beside the top plate of the camera. Likewise, anyone who uses their right eye to look through the viewfinder will find the grip-up orientation more comfortable. Using a camera the other way round means that the user's nose is jammed against the rear LCD. So, for Irene, and all other left-eyed photographers, holding her camera the way she does seems to be the more natural and comfortable option.
It has always struck me as strange that camera designers have never taken into account that the vast majority of their users have a nose that sticks out in front of the eye that will be placed next to the viewfinder. (Leicas are probably the most left-eyed-unfriendly cameras.)
I am right-eyed, and I normally use the camera grip-up, but will change it over whenever it feels more convenient to do so, for example, when bending down, but I always use my right eye on the finder. I always keep my left eye open so that I can see what is going on outside of the frame - quite often there is something more interesting there. Grip-down blocks my left eye view. Exactly the opposite applies if you are left eyed.
Do what works for you. Me, I shoot manual, rangefinder cameras, usually with heavy, large-diameter lenses.
When I need a vertical shot, I support the lens with my left hand. It's easier for me to focus and control aperture with my support hand. In the process, I have to be careful not to block either of the rangefinder windows.
That leaves me with the shutter release up top. Not right or wrong -- just practical.
Jason Lanier says you are all wrong...
I like to hold my camera upside down and use my thumb to press the shutter release. It makes for a more challenging experience when composing the shot. Plus, flipping it in LR is very satisfying.
Quite simply there is NO right or wrong - whatever puts you camera in the most stable position is the correct way. My goal is support the camera with my left hand on the balance point/lens (elbow braced against chest) and remove any weight/strain on my trigger finger.
This typically means shooting 'down' with both elbows braced against the chest, but depending on body position (eg crouching) I may revert to 'top' shooting.
Those who are adamant that 'top' shooting is correct should consider how they shoot landscape (ie elbows against chest for rigidity). It makes logical to me that we'd want to achieve the same goal of support when turning the camera.
And there is the gender-related cultural explanation that is, actually, at least 30 years old.
The idea is that women tend to take "space saving" postures and men tend to take postures that consume more space. That's a distinction noted between Western men and Japanese men as well, and, indeed, camera manuals from Japan display an "elbow down" posture for shooting verticals.
So the supposition is that "elbow out" is just another example of "manspreading."
However, back in the days of cameras with relatively heavy mechanical linkages with plunger releases, the "elbows out" position did provide a tighter grip that better separated the hold on the camera from the action of pressing down the plunger, and thus promoted a sharper image (shutter speeds were slower back then, remember, with ASAs rarely above 400).
There I was, shoulder to shoulder with about 20 other photojournalists, trying to get the shot. We were about four deep in a courthouse corridor, jostling for position. In the front row some guy (and in those days, they were all guys), was holding his camera with the button on top, his elbow blocking the shot for those behind. "Put your arm down!" someone shouted and elbow immediately disappeared as the photographer switched to button down. Not only had he extended professional courtesy to his colleagues, but he also had a better chance of a clean shot in the low light with his camera supported with his elbows against his body.
With the lighter bodies (like the Sony Mirrorless that I use) I find that I need to support the lens as much, if not more than the camera. That support for me means I cradle the lens which forces the shutter button to the top in portrait mode. I suspect (but can't recall) that I held my big heavy DSLRs just the opposite.
Shutter button up is the most efficient way biomechanically.
She doesn't even understand why that is.
The right hand is not supposed to hold the camera's weight by the grip, the left hand is supposed to hold the entire camera by the lens. The left wrist is straight and the lens is resting on the palm, so there's no tension in the wrist, and the right hand is there only to press the shutter, no tension, no shudder while squeezing the shutter button.
Shutter button down introduces too many points of tension.
First of all, the camera weight is supported by her fingertips which will get fatigued quickly and introduce camera shake. On top of that, the same stressed hand is supposed to press the shutter which makes it even more likely to shake the camera because the center of gravity of the camera is now above the shutter button. Lastly, the left hand can't even help effectively because her left wrist is not straight nor below the camera, but holding the lens from the side.
That's science and facts, not a matter of preference.
Without watching the video, I think her problems may stem from not removing the lens cap. But is there a right way? After a wrist and thumb injury, I hold my camera differently than "the right way." I often rest the lens on my forearm. Holding the lens from underneath causes a lot of pain.
Oh thank goodness! With Sony now firmly in the the picture, I was worried we wouldn't have something meaningless to replace the old "Canon vs Nikon" debate....
I have a 3rd option. One handed left-hand operation...
90% of the ladies I've seen hold their cameras the way it is in the "wrong" photo, regardless of experience or their standing in the photo community. For them, it's more comfortable. That it makes no sense to me is moot. The fact is, they like it, and they get results that they (and their clients) are satisfied with.
And really, does it matter?
If anything, I'd say the young lady in at the beginning of the video has a bigger problem -- the lens cap needs to come off before she can shoot anything.
I hold it the "traditional" way. But I'm developing arthritis in my right fingers, so I'm going to try holding it your way. Right or wrong, it's best to work with your body's ergonomics. Also, to your question about boobs, I've got big boobs and they do get in the way. I compensate by pulling my right forearm to the center of my chest, which also wreaks havoc on my shoulder.
I know I'm late to the game but the way the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 lens tripod mount bracket is set up with it's hash marks is for Bottom Shutter button shooting. There is a red dot marked on the right of the lines that lines up perfectly with the black line on the top of the lens for vertical shots which sets the shutter button on the bottom. I have always shot with the shutter button up...that's the way I was taught. But I will try to shoot with Shutter Button down or make another red dot on the lens so that I can set it up to shoot with the shutter button up! ;)